How did Hobo Jack from "American Pickers" get his nickname, especially since he seems
to own most of a town?
And what about those rumors he died?
Keep watching to find out all about him.
History's "American Pickers" is jam-packed with colorful characters working their hardest
to get the best deals possible on cars, collectibles, and other high-priced items.
Among the most beloved in the show's rogues gallery is Hobo Jack, a nickname for antiquer
Jack Sophir.
The cheerful native of Litchfield, Illinois, owns a lot of property in his small, rural
town and tends to pan up the most interesting things for host Mike Wolfe to pick through
and ultimately buy from him.
Sophir is skinny, bearded, gray-haired, and has a penchant for breaking into tune and
playing the guitar.
Thus far, he's only appeared twice on the show, in Season 2's "Hobo Jack" and Season
6's "The Return of Hobo Jack.
But those two appearances won him a lot of fans thanks to his steely skills at the negotiating
table.
It's perhaps not surprising to learn that there's much more than meets the eye when
it comes to Hobo Jack.
"American Pickers" has previously come under fire for being a hair less than fully authentic.
So it's perhaps not a big shock to learn that Jack Sophir currently lives a life that has
little in common with a hobo's.
According to the Herald Weekly,
"In real life, Sophir actually owns quite a bit of property, on which he’s got a nice
and comfortable home, and he is seen regularly bidding on big-ticket items in auctions."
"All of my life, I've been collecting remnants of the Victorian Era."
So you might not spy the spry collector riding the rails, but you're likely to encounter
him in places such as the Wayside Antique Mall and other locales around his Illinois
hometown.
While this revelation may disappoint some Hobo Jack fans, it's worth noting that he's
never been anything less 100% honest about his point of origin.
"Video Bob" Whiteside, who runs Sophir's official website, is perfectly frank about the multi-hyphenate's
collegiate background, and he speaks of his moneyed youth as well.
A profile published in The Telegraph in 2015 also revealed that Sophir is the son of artist
and sculptor Dorothy O. Young.
As Sophir told The Telegraph, "My mother discouraged me from becoming an
artist because she said the main way to make a living with art was by teaching, and she
knew I was too shy and introverted for that."
The article also explained that Sophir's parents wouldn't fund his art school education, so
he ended up paying his own way at the Washington University School of Fine Arts.
Sophir then reportedly spent years traveling before buying property and settling down in
Litchfield.
"Hobo Jack" Sophir isn't just a collector.
He's also an author with multiple published works, and a musician with a CD in circulation.
According to his official website, he's released three books to date.
The latest of these is 2015's "Amazing Adventures of the Tramp Prince."
Per its official synopsis,
"[T]his book contains very controversial opinions about health, animal rights, human rights,
government and injustice.
Many of these discussions are with a toad."
Sophir's other works include the 2008 novel "Time in a Box," which focuses on the journeys
of Patches the dog and Backwards The Railroad Bum, who become separated when Patches leaves
their life to go soul searching.
Sophir also authored "Get a Horse: A Unique Collection of Early Automotive Humor from
Turn of the Century Magazines" in 1989.
Additionally, Sophir produced an album called "The Best of Backwoods Hobo Jack: Original
Songs by an American Picker."
Sophir not only writes and sings his own songs, but he also plays guitar, harmonica, and banjo.
Hobo Jack apparently isn't Sophir's moniker of choice.
His unforgettable nickname came from "American Pickers" host Mike Wolfe.
In fact, on his official website, Sophir bills himself as "Backwoods Jack," forgoing the
"Hobo" entirely.
In 2011, it was revealed that Sophir gained the name "Backwoods Jack" due to the locale
of his cabin.
Sophir's collaborator, Bob Whiteside, explained in a YouTube video,
"Buzz Potter and Captain Dingo asked me about who Jack really was and a little about him.
I answered, 'He lives by himself on a winding road in the backwoods.'
They both smiled and said, 'That's it, Backwoods Jack.'"
"Every hair of his beard, he was so interesting to look at."
Whiteside also claims that the History channel came up with the Hobo Jack nickname, not Wolfe.
In a note on his official Facebook page, Sophir confirmed Whiteside's story and added that
he'd been performing as Backwoods Jack for 10 years at hobo festivals before receiving
it as his official Hobo Road name at Marquette, Iowa, during a gathering.
Any way you slice it, Backwoods Jack is a name that comes by honestly.
According to The Telegraph, Sophir lives in a cabin with two dogs on his property, and
the structure lacks running water or electricity.
He does, however, use a generator when he needs it.
"Hobo Jack" Sophir began collecting things as a child.
He told Traveling Adventures of a Farm Girl,
"I can't explain why I collect.
I remember around seven, walking home from school and looking for treasure, which I never
found.
I just have a treasure hunter mentality."
Sophir's favorite things to collect are classic cars and car parts, as he told The Telegraph,
"I've owned probably 100 cars in my life, and I still have 30 of them."
He also makes money restoring and selling vehicles, a hobby which originally caused
friends to suggest he contact the "American Pickers" producers.
"American Pickers" has been dogged by rumors that one of its cast members has died on more
than one occasion.
For instance, when Frank Fritz left the show, several websites circulated false rumors that
he'd passed away.
Then, in 2016, The Telegraph posted a bogus notice that Jack Sophir had passed away to
their Facebook page.
It's since been immortalized in a screencap on Sophir's official website.
He responded in a statement, joking,
"How many people get to read their own obituary?"
He also included a modified quote from author Mark Twain, writing,
"The report of my death was an exaggeration."
"What happened to Hobo Jack?
He died in a junk-o-lanche."
While Sophir definitely isn't dead, he might be considering spending more time smelling
the roses.
According to The Telegraph, Sophir expressed interest in moving to San Francisco, where
his daughter lives.
But regardless of whether he's living in the middle of the country or on the west coast,
"American Pickers" fans will always root for their beloved hobo.
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