Advanced American History
Jedidiah Smith
December 9, 2013
Jedediah Smith was one of the most famous explores of the 19th century. Smith was a mountain man who was the first discover the “Southern Pass” which is now known more famously as the Oregon Trail. He was also the first to journey through the Mojave Desert and the farthest parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains. His death at a young age brought him fame and a still living legacy of one of the greatest trailblazers to ever explore the unknown.
Jedediah Smith was born on January 6, 1799 in Jericho New York. Jericho has now been renamed Bainbridge. Very little is known about Smith’s parents except that his father ran a general store in which he was found guilty using counterfeited money and to save the family name moved the family to Erie County, Pennsylvania in 1810. It was here that “Diah” as his family called him, learned to read and write. A physician by the name of Dr. Titus V. G. Simmons was his instructor and in 1814 gave Smith a copy of the Lewis and Clark journals. It was said after reading this book that Smith would never let this pamphlet leave his saddle bag. The book was found in his saddle bag at the time of his death. In 1817, the Smith’s again moved westward to Ashland County, Ohio for unknown reasons.
In 1821, Smith left Ohio to journey to Illinois looking to gain a job to help his family. Finding nothing Smith then headed south to St. Louis, Missouri and responded to a call for men headed by General William H. Ashley. Ashley was the part owner of the American Fur Company and was looking for scouts to help lead his trappers as far as the Yellowstone River in southern Montana. Smith joined and his journals records show that he was one of the top hunters of the expedition. Smith was sent with a group of men up the Missouri River where he learned to trap and hunt the many buffalo that inhabited the area at the time. In 1822, Smith received orders to head back down the Missouri and reunite with General Ashley and his small group of trappers. Upon arrival, he found the Arikara were massacring the company. Smith survived the attack and Ashley made him Captain of his brigade. In 1823, Smith took a band of his newly gained men and headed farther into the Rockies. Coming upon a band of Crow Indians, Smith made a crude map of the area and asked the natives to help them find the ocean. They were able to direct him and Smith started for the northern pacific.
In 1824, Smith found his route and named it the south pass, for Lewis and Clark had taken a more northern route through the Rockies. He returned to Ashley’s company and found himself as Ashley’s new partner in the American Trade Company. The other founder, Major Andrew Henry had retired from the fur business while Smith was away. During this time, Smith received the significant facial scarring that he was known by. While trying to save a fellow hunter, Jim Clyman, Smith was mauled heavily by a great Grizzly bear. He survived but his scarring was very visible. In 1825, General Ashley retired from the American Fur Company and the business was left split in three sections. Jedidiah received one third of the company, David Jackson another, and William Sublet the final part. Smith took his company and went south of the Colorado River in search of new trapping grounds. Following what is now the Santa Fe Trail, Smith made his was all the way to California.
During his journey to California, Smith discovered the Mojave Desert and some of the great southern tribes such as the Comanche and Apache. In 1827, Smith was reported to have sold 1500 pounds of beaver furs. He then led his company back into Utah and based his camp in the Great Salt Lake region. Not being able to stay settled for any amount of time, Smith again set off for California on the same path he had taken before. He was joined by eighteen men and two women. He again did very well on his beaver trapping but when he arrived in California he was driven out of San Jose by authorities who claimed that Smith’s company was taking to many skins. He left and headed north to Oregon. Here he again did well trapping but had a run in with a French fur company over a stolen ax. In the end five of the eighteen men were killed and Smith retreated to the Hudson Bay Company fort and their replenished his goods and made a pact that from that point on he would keep the American Fur Company east of the Hudson Bay lines.
In 1829, Smith led a small brigade of men into Blackfoot country to trap. The navigated down the Powder River with the help of boatman Jim Bridger. They took a good amount of fur but were forced to flee the area when a large band of Blackfeet came upon them and killed thirteen of Smith’s men. Smith quickly headed down the river to a point known as “Wild Point.” He then sold his share of his furs and retired from the American Fur Company on October 11, 1830. Smith then began his journey back to St. Louis, on his arrival he sent 2500 dollars to his family in Ohio and got a job sketching maps for newly birthed trading companies. In 1831, Smith became involved in the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and took a position leading wagon trains on the Oregon Trail. In late May he was said to have ridden away from the train to go scout for water. He was never seen again. His pistols and rifle were later found in the hands of Comnacheros and his other belongings scattered about in the northern part of Arizona. Most people believe it was a Comanche attack that killed him.
Today Smith is still remembered for his outstanding bravery and navigational skills. He would discover first the Oregon Trail and later the Santa Fe Trail which would become major trade routes and travel routes for settlers. He blew open the door to trapping fur in the west and would discover many new tribes of Native Americans. A bold and brave soul indeed.
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Jedidiah Smith
December 9, 2013
Jedediah Smith was one of the most famous explores of the 19th century. Smith was a mountain man who was the first discover the “Southern Pass” which is now known more famously as the Oregon Trail. He was also the first to journey through the Mojave Desert and the farthest parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains. His death at a young age brought him fame and a still living legacy of one of the greatest trailblazers to ever explore the unknown.
Jedediah Smith was born on January 6, 1799 in Jericho New York. Jericho has now been renamed Bainbridge. Very little is known about Smith’s parents except that his father ran a general store in which he was found guilty using counterfeited money and to save the family name moved the family to Erie County, Pennsylvania in 1810. It was here that “Diah” as his family called him, learned to read and write. A physician by the name of Dr. Titus V. G. Simmons was his instructor and in 1814 gave Smith a copy of the Lewis and Clark journals. It was said after reading this book that Smith would never let this pamphlet leave his saddle bag. The book was found in his saddle bag at the time of his death. In 1817, the Smith’s again moved westward to Ashland County, Ohio for unknown reasons.
In 1821, Smith left Ohio to journey to Illinois looking to gain a job to help his family. Finding nothing Smith then headed south to St. Louis, Missouri and responded to a call for men headed by General William H. Ashley. Ashley was the part owner of the American Fur Company and was looking for scouts to help lead his trappers as far as the Yellowstone River in southern Montana. Smith joined and his journals records show that he was one of the top hunters of the expedition. Smith was sent with a group of men up the Missouri River where he learned to trap and hunt the many buffalo that inhabited the area at the time. In 1822, Smith received orders to head back down the Missouri and reunite with General Ashley and his small group of trappers. Upon arrival, he found the Arikara were massacring the company. Smith survived the attack and Ashley made him Captain of his brigade. In 1823, Smith took a band of his newly gained men and headed farther into the Rockies. Coming upon a band of Crow Indians, Smith made a crude map of the area and asked the natives to help them find the ocean. They were able to direct him and Smith started for the northern pacific.
In 1824, Smith found his route and named it the south pass, for Lewis and Clark had taken a more northern route through the Rockies. He returned to Ashley’s company and found himself as Ashley’s new partner in the American Trade Company. The other founder, Major Andrew Henry had retired from the fur business while Smith was away. During this time, Smith received the significant facial scarring that he was known by. While trying to save a fellow hunter, Jim Clyman, Smith was mauled heavily by a great Grizzly bear. He survived but his scarring was very visible. In 1825, General Ashley retired from the American Fur Company and the business was left split in three sections. Jedidiah received one third of the company, David Jackson another, and William Sublet the final part. Smith took his company and went south of the Colorado River in search of new trapping grounds. Following what is now the Santa Fe Trail, Smith made his was all the way to California.
During his journey to California, Smith discovered the Mojave Desert and some of the great southern tribes such as the Comanche and Apache. In 1827, Smith was reported to have sold 1500 pounds of beaver furs. He then led his company back into Utah and based his camp in the Great Salt Lake region. Not being able to stay settled for any amount of time, Smith again set off for California on the same path he had taken before. He was joined by eighteen men and two women. He again did very well on his beaver trapping but when he arrived in California he was driven out of San Jose by authorities who claimed that Smith’s company was taking to many skins. He left and headed north to Oregon. Here he again did well trapping but had a run in with a French fur company over a stolen ax. In the end five of the eighteen men were killed and Smith retreated to the Hudson Bay Company fort and their replenished his goods and made a pact that from that point on he would keep the American Fur Company east of the Hudson Bay lines.
In 1829, Smith led a small brigade of men into Blackfoot country to trap. The navigated down the Powder River with the help of boatman Jim Bridger. They took a good amount of fur but were forced to flee the area when a large band of Blackfeet came upon them and killed thirteen of Smith’s men. Smith quickly headed down the river to a point known as “Wild Point.” He then sold his share of his furs and retired from the American Fur Company on October 11, 1830. Smith then began his journey back to St. Louis, on his arrival he sent 2500 dollars to his family in Ohio and got a job sketching maps for newly birthed trading companies. In 1831, Smith became involved in the Rocky Mountain Fur Company and took a position leading wagon trains on the Oregon Trail. In late May he was said to have ridden away from the train to go scout for water. He was never seen again. His pistols and rifle were later found in the hands of Comnacheros and his other belongings scattered about in the northern part of Arizona. Most people believe it was a Comanche attack that killed him.
Today Smith is still remembered for his outstanding bravery and navigational skills. He would discover first the Oregon Trail and later the Santa Fe Trail which would become major trade routes and travel routes for settlers. He blew open the door to trapping fur in the west and would discover many new tribes of Native Americans. A bold and brave soul indeed.
Click Below for a exciting word search
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