Western Pioneer, Businessman and Diplomat. He entered the service of the American Fur Company in 1829 and established fur trade on the Upper Missouri by 1833. He was in charge of trade at Fort McKenzie, Dakota until 1840 then Fort Union and Fort Laramie. To reestablish fur trade and save forts from abandonment, he served as superintendent of the Upper Missouri Outlet which included all forts on the Yellowstone and upper Missouri rivers till 1847. He established Fort Benton, the first permanent settlement in Montana and married Na-Ta-Wis-Cha a Blackfoot maiden about 1840. In 1851 he was appointed as interpreter and special agent of the U.S. Government in making treaties with the Indians and was referred to as Major from then on. In 1855 he contributed to the successful negotiations with the Blackfoot and Gros Ventres Indians, permitting the survey through their territory for a Pacific railroad. He blazed trails from Fort to Fort and to Indian camps which were later followed by settlers and today are routes of highways. For nearly half a century his high character and ability enabled him to make major contributions to the development of the Missouri Basin.
Western Pioneer, Businessman and Diplomat. He entered the service of the American Fur Company in 1829 and established fur trade on the Upper Missouri by 1833. He was in charge of trade at Fort McKenzie, Dakota until 1840 then Fort Union and Fort Laramie. To reestablish fur trade and save forts from abandonment, he served as superintendent of the Upper Missouri Outlet which included all forts on the Yellowstone and upper Missouri rivers till 1847. He established Fort Benton, the first permanent settlement in Montana and married Na-Ta-Wis-Cha a Blackfoot maiden about 1840. In 1851 he was appointed as interpreter and special agent of the U.S. Government in making treaties with the Indians and was referred to as Major from then on. In 1855 he contributed to the successful negotiations with the Blackfoot and Gros Ventres Indians, permitting the survey through their territory for a Pacific railroad. He blazed trails from Fort to Fort and to Indian camps which were later followed by settlers and today are routes of highways. For nearly half a century his high character and ability enabled him to make major contributions to the development of the Missouri Basin.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
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