Forty Years a Fur Trader on the Upper Missouri (Classic Reprint)

Human documents are always interesting, and those which attest the development of the Great West will claim rightful place in literature till the final word concerning- that to which they relate shall have been spoken. Such finality in Western history is still afar; it is to be attained by none now living. The field of research is much too wide; and if it be not exactly virginal, nor even have lain quite fallow, the workmen are as yet too few to gather in the immense outstanding crop. The history of what Transmississippian State or Territory has been brought fully up to date? That of not one. Young as most of them are in comparison with a Massachusetts or a Virginia, some are oJder by far than their reputed ancestors; Arizona and New Mexico had quite a literature before any Plymouth Rock or Jamestown acquired a place on map or in mind. Reviewing what has been done already for the better settled side of the great river, I am oppressed by a sense of the story yet to be tol

Table of Contents

CHAPTER I (1807-33) My Parentage and Early Life; France - America - Baltimore - St Louis- Des Moines Rapids-Keokuk-Captain Throckmorton-Interpreter Blondeau-St Louis-Ashley's Outfit in-Sublette and Campbell-Determined to Engage in the Fur Trade in 1833-Recommendation Secured-American Fur Company Declined-Rocky Mountain Fur Company Accepted-Good-by to Civilization-St Charles-Lexington -The Matter of Mulesx; CHAPTER IT (1S33 ); Over the Plains to the Rocky Mountains; Composition of the Party - Their Guests-Hard Times Begin-Poor Fare-Guard Duty-On the Platte-First Buffalo-Boiled Bull Beef-From Poor Bull to Fat Cow- The North Platte-Chimney Rock-Laramie-Kicking against the Pricks-A Good Samaritan-Bullboats-The Usual Orgies-South Pass of Continental Divide-A Fugacious Trinity-Green River Rendezvous-Bonneville's Stockade,15; vii; viii; CONTENTS; CHAPTER III (1833); From Green River Rendezvous dv the Bighorn and the Yellowstone to