FRONTIER LEGENDS

Explorers, Trappers, & Traders

More Lists: Back East | Explorers | Gunfighters | Heroes |  Lawmen | Native Americans | Outlaws | Outlaw Gangs |

Pioneers | Scoundrels | Soldiers | Trail Blazers & Cowboys | Vigilantes | Women | Others

Index   1 2 3           Summaries  A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z  

Lewis and Clark West to the Pacific by Frank R. "Bob" Davenport. 

 Photo and Copyright held by: Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage

 Foundation, Inc

Many of these explorers and frontiersmen were the first non-Indians to see the vast regions of the American West. Leaving civilization behind and following rivers, crossing great plains, and scaling mountains, these men paved the way for the many pioneers and fortune seekers who followed in their footsteps. The history of the fur trade is filled with stories of adventure, daring, and savage warfare. Competition was stiff in the fur trade and not only were they involved in hostilities with the Indians, upon whose land they trod, but also against each other, competing fur trade companies, and other countries who claimed the land upon which they did business. Their isolated lives in the wilderness also included extreme temperatures, blizzards, and battles with wild beasts, many tales of which can never be known.

• Jefferson Blackwell - A fur trader who worked with John Gannt in the upper Rocky Mountains.

• Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville (1796-1878) - A French-born army officer, frontiersman and explorer of the American West, Bonneville is best known for blazing portions of the Oregon Trail.

• Daniel Boone (1734-1820) - Frontiersman, pioneer, surveyor and Indian Fighter who blazed the trail known as the Wilderness Road in 1775.

• James Bowie (1796-1836) - An aggressive frontiersman, pioneer, explorer, and commander of the volunteers at the Alamo, where he died.

• Alexander K. Branch (1798-1841) – Also known as Jose de Jesus Branch, he was frontiersman and trapper who worked in the southwest and the Rocky Mountains.

• Francis Ziba Branch (1802-1874) - Sailor, trapper and trader, he was one of a group who opened what became known as the Old Spanish Trail from New Mexico to California.

• Elias Brevoort (1822-??) - Frontiersman, trader, and author, Brevoort was well acquainted with the Santa Fe Trail and southwest.

• James Bridger (1804-1881) - An accomplished trapper, scout, and mountain man, Bridger was one of the first non-Indians to see the natural wonders of what would become Yellowstone Park.

• Robert Campbell (1804-1879) - Fur trader, merchant and Indian Commissioner, he often worked with William L. Sublette. 

• Christopher "Kit" Carson (1809-1868) - Carson was a daring and brave explorer, mountain man, trapper, scout, soldier, and buffalo hunter.

• Touissant Charbonneau (1767-1843) - A French-Canadian explorer and trader, and a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, best known as the husband of Sacagawea.

• Francois Auguste Chardon (1795-1848) - A fur trader who became part of the Upper Missouri Outfit of the American Fur Company.

• The Chouteaus - Early French traders and trappers who operated west of St. Louis, Missouri in the latter part of the 1700s and early 1800s.

• William Clark (1770-1838) - Explorer and geographical expert who co-lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

• John Colter (1774?-1813) - Frontiersman, explorer, fur trapper, mountain man, and army scout credited with the being the discoverer of the Yellowstone area.

• Columbia Fur Company (1821-1827) - Started by former members of the North West Company, the firm did well and was bought out by the American Fur Company in 1827.

• William Craig (1807-1869) - A frontiersman and trapper, Craig worked along with other better known traders including William Sublette and Jedediah Smith.

• Davy Crockett (1786-1836) - Frontiersman, explorer, and American folk hero, Crockett a represented Tennessee in the U.S. Congress, served in the Texas Revolution, and died at the age of 49 at the Battle of the Alamo.

• Alexander Culbertson (1809-1879) - Fur trader and buffalo hunter who worked with famed trader, Kenneth McKenzie.

• John Day (1770?-1820) -  A fur trapper and frontiersman, he worked for both the American Fur Company and the North West Company.

• Edward De Morin (1818-1902) -  Trapper and Trader who worked for the American Fur Company.

• Joseph Dickson (1775-1844) - One  of the first known mountain men, he, along with Forrest Hancock, followed Lewis and Clark up the Missouri River.

   

Index   1 2 3           Summaries  A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z  

From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Old West Books - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected a number of Old West books for our frontier enthusiasts.  For many of these, we have only one available.  To see this varied collection, click HERE!