Quiz Writing is Exhausting

Answer: Robert M. Utley

Robert M. Utley, born in October, 1929, in Bauxite, Arkansas, is the former chief historian for the National Park Service. Mr. Utley has written at least 16 books on the American west. The Robert Utley Award is given out annually to the best book on military history and the western frontier of all of North America. He also became a board member of the Friends of the Big Horn Battlefield in 2001.

"A Life Wild and Perilous" is a compendium of historical facts about a number of the mountain men, including John Coulter and the French/Shawnee George Drouillard who both accompanied Lewis and Clark. He also writes of Edward Robinson, John Hoback and Jacob Reznor who began trapping together with Manuel Lisa, and who died together while trapping on the Snake and Boise Rivers. They, along with others, were killed, scalped and dismembered by a group of militant Snake Indians. The three men will go down in history, not because of their trapping ability, but because they were most likely the fist white men to see the area that would soon be looked upon as the heart of the Rocky Mountain fur trade. Although they did not write books about what they saw, and the trails they took, they did share the information with a select few other men who made use of it, even to the point of knowing the easiest way for the later wagon trains to cross the Rockies, South Pass.

Additionally, Utley writes of better known mountain men, such as Jedediah Smith, Jim Bridger, Kit Carson and many others. Add to the narrative many pages of additional information in the way of notes as well as a huge list of sources and an index, and this is the first book that anyone interested in the mountain men and the fur trade of the US Rockies should seek out.

And you think "Quiz Writing is Exhausting". Try traversing more than a thousand miles of unknown land, mountains, rivers and deserts, while trying to keep your scalp. That's "Exhausting".

Answer: This Reckless Breed of Men

Robert Glass Cleland, born in 1885, was an historian who taught for over 30 years at Occidental College, in the Los Angeles area. He is the author of a great number of books, most of which have to do with the history of California, or of things Californian, and of Mexico.

"This Reckless Breed of Men" was originally published in 1950 and republished in 1976. This book fills in a niche that many historians writing of this period ignored, that of the Southwest fur trade. He writes of Jedediah Strong Smith, James Ohio Pattie and Joseph Rutherford Walker (although he, along with many historians of that time spelled Walker's middle name "Reddeford" which is incorrect), as well drawing maps showing the various southwestern trails the trappers and traders used. Dr. Cleland also gives an amazing bibliography as well as an index.

There have been a great number of historical finds in the ensuing 64 years since this book was written, but for the most part Dr. Cleland's words hold up to be true, which shows how well he researched his subjects.

If you think "Quiz Writing is Exhausting", try traversing any of the trails from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to California, as Pattie did. That's "Exhausting".

Answer: John Garrison Johnston

The book "The Avenging Fury of the Plains" was written by Dr. Dennis McLelland in part to correct the many errors about John Johnston that were in the book "The Crow Killer: The Saga of Liver-Eating Johnson". He has done a great deal of research and the book not only gives a lineal rebuttal to errors in the other book, but also tells about Garrison, who was from Little York, New Jersey, and how he became to be called Johnston. (Note the "t". Most authors omit it.) Dr. McLelland also includes photos of Johnston as well as some of his friends, a timeline of his known activities, an index and a bibliography. As a spoiler I will say that although Johnston fought a number of different Indian tribes, he never did fight the Crow tribe. Also, unlike many of the mountain men, whether well-known or not, he did not die in the mountains or on the trail. He died in the Los Angeles Veteran's Hospital in 1900. But, even with these spoilers, the book is well worth reading, if for nothing else but to see the pictures. Further, if you have read the earlier book this one will open your eyes to the truth.

If you think "Quiz Writing is Exhausting", try being a "woodhawk" at Fort Hawley, Montana Territory, during a battle with the Sioux. That's "Exhausting".

Answer: Williams

Alpheus H. Favour wrote "Old Bill Williams, Mountain Man" which was first published in 1936. Favour was born in Massachusetts in 1880, and moved from New York to Arizona in 1917. He was not a historian but rather a lawyer. Other than this one book, he only wrote a monograph about the law. Even so, his fine and thorough research still holds good in the eyes of historians.

William Sherley Williams was born in 1787 in North Carolina. He was a good trapper with an itchy foot and a flair for languages, all of which held him in good stead later in life. He probably lived more with the Indians than did any of the other trappers, taking an Osage wife with whom he had two daughters.

Old Bill, unlike others of his breed, liked to travel by himself, earning the nickname "Old Solitaire". Although he was accepted by all whom he met with, he was never a leader, such as Jed Smith or Jim Bridger. He lived a rip-roaring life though, and seemed to enjoy every bit of it. His last trip was to try to bring out baggage from Fremont's failed expedition, the one that Williams had warned Fremont not to attempt. Williams went into the mountains and never came out. But there's so much more about the man in between birth and death; so many more adventures and feats. It's a book worth reading and wherein you will find out why he was controversial in his own time, not only today.

If you think "Quiz Writing is Exhausting", try leading Fremont's brigade over a mountain pass in a winter storm, after having tried to talk Fremont out of doing it. That's "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".

Answer: Thomas Fitzpatrick

Leroy R. Hafen was born in Nevada in 1893, and for thirty of his working years he was the Colorado State historian. He also taught at Brigham Young University in Utah, among others. He is looked upon as a preeminent historian of the mountain men and the fur trade. He has written over 40 books about the area and that time in history. He published "Broken Hand" in 1931.

Thomas Fitzpatrick was born in 1799 in Ireland where he was given a good education, as compared to three-quarters or more of the mountain men who were illiterate, or close to it. Nevertheless, at 17 he ran away, and by 23 had ended up in St. Louis where he joined the Ashley expedition to follow the Missouri River to its source. Others who signed on also were Jedediah Smith, Jim Bridger, Jim Clyman and more of the later important names in the fur trade. And that began the interesting and full life of Tom Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick was a leader of men as well as, later, the first two wagon trains to the Oregon Territory, via South Pass which Hoback, Reznor and Robinson, and in later years, Stuart had seen. He was also a sometime guide to both Fremont and Kearney. He also negotiated the Fort Laramie Treaty, which was the largest council of Plains Indians ever brought together with white men.

His nickname was caused when a musket exploded in his hand and took off two of his fingers. The Indians then began calling him "Broken Hand, Chief of all the Mountain Men".

Fitzpatrick had more than his fair share of scrapes and Indian battles. Along with Jim Bridger and some others, he bought what had been Ashley's company and named it the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. That lasted for about four years.
The man was witness to a number of the important events in the history of the mountain men and the fur trade, and some of the reason for that is that he was more honest and honorable than many of his colleagues. No more spoilers. Do read the book to see how one mountain man made good and is even buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC, albeit in an unmarked grave.

If you think "Quiz Writing is Exhausting", try outrunning, by horse and foot, thirty Blackfoot Indians who are out to kill you. That's "Exhausting".

Answer: Hugh Glass

"The Saga of Hugh Glass: Pirate, Pawnee and Mountain Man" was written by John Myers Myers, who was born in Northport, New York, in 1906. He never finished college but in later years, because of his expertise in writing, he taught it at Arizona State University. His books ran the gamut from fantasy, through both history and historical fiction of the West, to poems. His book about Hugh Glass was published in 1963.

Hugh Glass, born around 1780 in Pennsylvania, was another of the very hardy breed of mountain man. Allegedly, he was captured by the pirate Lafitte and was required to join him, or die. Eventually he escaped from Lafitte and was said to have lived for four years with the Pawnee before he escaped from them to make his way to St. Louis. Once there he joined the Ashley-Henry expedition as a beaver hunter. After fights with various Indian tribes and other toils, Glass was given his biggest challenge. He'd gone into a thicket, according to one historian, to pick fruit and met up with a female grizzly bear with cubs. The bear mauled him very badly before she was killed by his friends. (One story says he killed her himself, but that seems rather hard to believe when he's being mauled virtually to death.) The leader of the expedition named two men, John Fitzgerald and 17-year old Jim Bridger, to stay with Glass until he died so that they could bury him. They bandaged and fixed him up as good as they could and waited...and waited. Finally, fearing Indians being near and feeling that Glass would be passing away very soon, they took his things and left him. They wanted to catch up with the main group so they wouldn't be alone in such a hostile area. I won't spoil the rest of the book for you, but suffice it to say that Hugh Glass did not die of the bear's tender embrace. The book reads well, almost like a novel, and there is a small bibliography. It is a worthwhile read with the rest of Glass' life story being told. Incidentally, for those of you that travel, there is a marker telling the Glass story outside of Lemmon, SD, on Shadehill Reservoir.

If you think "Quiz Writing is Exhausting", try walking. while badly injured, with no weapons with which to bag game for 200 miles from the site of the "Wrestle" to Fort Kiowa. That's "Exhausting".

Answer: Osborne Russell

"Journal of a Trapper" by Osborne Russell was edited by Aubrey L. Haines from the original manuscript, which is now in the Yale University Library. It was first published in 1914. Haines edited his version in 1953 and it was published in 1955.

Russell was born in Maine in 1814, ran away to sea, soon gave that up and went to work with traders and trappers in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He signed up with Nathaniel Wyeth's expedition to the Rocky Mountains in 1834. When Wyeth had Fort Hall built, Osborne stayed there for eight years, trapping and hunting. Later he joined the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and stayed even after the merger with the American Fur Company, which became the controlling interest. When the fur trade declined he became a free trapper, and then finally followed the emigration to the Oregon Country in 1842 where he helped to found the government of the state of Oregon. Russell then joined a neighbor to go to California for the 1849 gold rush, before coming back to Oregon again. Eventually he returned to California.

This book is a jewel. This was a literate man telling you about an area where, in those days, you could probably never have gone, but would have loved to have seen. There are maps, notes, a nice bibliography, an index and copies of letters to Russell's sister in Maine, sent from Oregon. It's a very different book then are most of the histories or biographies about the fur trade and the mountain men, and it's one that shouldn't be missed,

If you think "Quiz Writing is Exhausting", try traveling from Independence, Missouri, to the Green River for the 1834 Rendezvous. That's "Exhausting".

Answer: Jedediah Smith

Barton H. Barbour was born in 1951 and received his PhD in 1993 from the University of New Mexico. He has worked as an historian for the National Park Service, as well as various universities both in the US and in Canada. He has written five books about the fur trade and how it affected the country. Barbour has received numerous honors for his articles and books about the west.

Jedediah Strong Smith was born in the Susquehanna River Valley in western New York state in 1799. He was killed in the spring of 1831, at all of 32 years of age. In those 32 years he became one of the biggest names in the fur trade and mountaineer society, as well as with the general public. The historians haven't found out a lot about his earlier life, but his later life is well documented. He left home at 23, nine years before his death. What he did, and where he went, and what he went through in those nine years is worth two books. And, that's what I'm recommending to you. Dale Morgan, probably my favorite historian of the era, wrote "Jedediah Smith and the Opening of the West" which was published in 1953. I didn't think it could ever be topped, but in the years since then more research has been done and more papers about and by Smith have been found, as they have with many of the mountain men. (Something which I hope will continue for the next 60 years, too.) Because of that, Mr. Barbour had access to data and information that Mr. Morgan did not have which puts a different take on parts of Jed Smith's life, and events that occurred. First, read Dale Morgan's book. Then, for dessert, read Barton Barbour's book. By then you will know as much as can presently be known about Jedediah Smith and all the events of his short, but amazing, life. Enough spoilers, few as they are, have been given already. You'll even find out why he wore his hair longer on one side of his head than he did the other. You must find the rest out for yourself.

If you think "Quiz Writing is Exhausting", try traveling from the Rendezvous at Bear Lake, across the Great Basin and the Sierra Nevada mountains into California and return. That's "Exhausting".

Answer: Across the Wide Missouri

Bernard Augustine de Voto, born in 1897 in Ogden, Utah. He interrupted his education because of World War I, but returned and graduated in 1920 from Harvard. In the late 1920s he returned to Harvard to teach part time while he began to seriously write. "Across the Wide Missouri" was the second book of a trilogy. In addition to the Pulitzer, it won the Bancroft prize. As an historian, he became, first off, an expert on Mark Twain, curating and editing his papers. In later years he gravitated to writing about the West, including editing "The Journals of Lewis and Clark" in 1953.

This book tells the story of the end of the Rocky Mountain fur trade and, therefore, of the mountain men. The book begins in the early 1830s and finishes at the end of that decade. He writes something about most everyone who was anyone during those years and before. There are copious notes to be read which truly add to the book, as well as wonderful maps and a large appendix. Although De Voto wrote about the end of an era, he makes it seem not an ending but a ongoing piece of the history of the United States.

I'd say if you were to read only one of these, this would be it, but I can't. It's an excellent book, but so are the others. They're all different, with the newer ones having the benefit of archival discoveries and papers found in attics that were given to universities and museums, during the years since the earlier ones were written. Further, because this is about the end of the era, it would be best to read one of the earlier mentioned compendiums first.