11. There was a manumitted African-American who made quite a name for himself as a mountain man, as the book's subtitle reads, "Black Mountain Man and War Chief of the Crows". What was this man's name, which is also the start of the title of the book?
From Quiz Quiz Writing is Exhausting
Answer:
Jim Beckwourth
"Jim Beckwourth: Black Mountain Man and War Chief of the Crows" is a book written by Elinor Wilson and published in 1972. Ms. Wilson was born in 1914 and was raised in Trinidad, Colorado. At the time of the writing of this book, she was a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and was a professional writer. She undertook a very hard task in trying to prove that James Pierson Beckwourth (ne Beckwith, the story being the author changed the spelling of his name) was not the greatest liar the world, or at least the Rocky Mountains, had ever seen.
Jim Beckwourth, born in 1798 in Virginia, was the son of Sir Jennings Beckwith and a mulatto slave held by him. The family moved to St. Louis when Jim was about 11. He was educated there, and then he apprenticed to a blacksmith from whom he ran away. He eventually signed up with Ashley and headed west to begin his adventurous life, including living with the Crows for a number of years. He also ended up dying amongst them. Whether he was ever looked upon as a "chief" of the Crow Nation is up for discussion amongst historians. He was, though, a trapper, trader, scout, explorer, hotel keeper, dispatch carrier, storekeeper and prospector at one time or another during his life. Dale Morgan, a historian with an encyclopedic knowledge of that area and time rather liked Beckwourth, since he felt that being a gifted liar in those days, over the evening campfire, was far better, and much more appreciated, then being dull and boring.
In 1856, Beckwourth dictated his life and adventures to T. D. Bonner, a man who wanted to be a journalist. In those days, books and pamphlets about the people living out of the "civilized" areas, were in big demand. Since Bonner was really in the project for the money, it is more than possible that discrepancies and exaggerations, if not out-right lies by Bonner, crept into the book, even more than those Beckwourth, the braggart, may have told Bonner, if any. Beckwourth's life is well worth reading about, whether or not all that any of the books say is true. He was a leading member of the mountain men and fur trappers group. We know that for certain. This book has the usual notes and bibliography and even more pictures than most have.
Incidentally, please understand, most of the mountain men seemed to tell stories; Beckkwourth seemed to tell bigger ones more often.
If you think "Quiz Writing is Exhausting", try being an Army scout during the Seminole campaign. That's "Exhausting".