Utah history encyclopedia, 1994 jedediah strong smith 17981831 was a fur trapper and explorer credited for being one of the first white men to explore much of what is now utah. A scholarly and well written volume of jedediah smith, which may well serve as a base for a complete history of the fur trade of the west. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover jedediahs. In late may, 1825, on the weber river near present mountain green, utah, 23 freemen trappers deserted from. Utah historical quarterly, volume 84, number 4, 2016 by utah state. A biography of smith and in effect a history of the mountain men up to 1831 when smith died. We offer here an interactive map of smiths southwestern travelsthe route accompanied by smiths diary excerpts and historical photos of places he and his men traversed. The area known as utah was part of mexico until the end of the mexican war. Candy moulton is a frequent contributor to the renegade roads column in true west magazine.
Louis, missouri in 1822, determined to become a trapper. Taken from the utah history encyclopedia links added5smith spent the winter of 182829 at fort vancouver. Prior to his arrival in 1826, almost no american trappers had scoured oregon, and none produced maps to rival the significance of smiths master map, which he drafted. Material in the utah history to go site may be reprinted for noncommercial, education, or media use. According to some, jedediah carried two booksthe bible and the lewis and clark expedition. Jedediah smith knew this was the perfect job and he took it.
Jedediah smith blazing the rockies legends of america. All that is needed is to acknowledge the utah state historical society. Japanese monograph 110, office, chief of military history, department of the army. Jedediah smith and the opening of the west internet archive. In 1822 he joined a furtrading expedition to the rocky. They were mostly fur trappers looking for new hunting grounds. And in 1982, the 1941 edition of utah, a guide to the state was revised and enlarged by ward j. Mountain man and fur trader jedediah smith casts a heroic shadow. After 75 years of obscurity following his death, smith was rediscovered as the american whose. These are essential books for the shelf of any student of utah history. Few have attempted and one has achieved such a task.
Walker as in the days of noah, when holy writ confirms there were giants on the earth, early mormonism had its share of large and imposing figures. History early exploration in the 1770s several spanish explorers came near the area of presentday nevada but it was not until half a century later that fur traders venturing into the rocky mts. Jedediah smith and the mountain men, in a sense, fill in the. Jedediah smith american western expansion the fur trapper. Jedidiah smith for god and wild west it was late afternoon with the sun sunken low behind the high surrounding hills.
I have never heard of jedediah smith until i went to college. Jedediah strong smith, one of americas greatest trapperexplorers, is born in bainbridge, new york. The wyoming native leading the organization has written western history books including the spurwinning biography chief joseph, coedited a short fiction collection and. Includes a map entitled the travels of jedediah smith in the west 18221831. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, a few more people arrived. Jedediah smith is one of the most fascinating of the mountain men and his story, the life he lived reads like an adventure novel.
Terms from chapter of land i love by a beka books learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Jedediah strong smith outstanding explorer, trapper, trader and devout christian. In 1827 smith journeyed to the american river near sacramento, california, and then crossed the sierra nevada and the desert to return to the great salt lake. General outline of orders and plans, office, chief of military history, department of the army. In 1822, in answer to an ad in the missouri gazette, he became a fur trader in the rocky mountains.
He was the first angloamerican to travel overland to california via the southwest, and he roamed through more of the west than anyone else of his era. The online version provided here includes only smith s original text. Negotiated the gadsden purchase acquiring land in arizona and southern new mexico. Jedediah smiths 1826 and 1827 southwest expeditions are heralded as some of the most significant of western american history. Smith came across s nevada on his way to california in 1827. The society encourage scholarly research and writing, with particular emphasis on the accomplishments of jedediah s.
The earth will appear as the garden of eden u of u press. Readers guide to the mountain men of the american west. After jedediah smith led his party across south pass in the spring of 1824, he went north, accompanied by six men, to the hudsons bay companys flathead. Jedediah smiths explorations in august 1826, smith led a group of trappers on his first trip to california, which landed him in some trouble with the mexican authorities.
The travels of jedediah smith, published 1934, fine arts press, santa ana. List of books and articles about nevada history online. Jedediah smith, in full jedediah strong smith, born january 6, 1799, bainbridge, new york, u. Jedediah smith and the opening of the west dale l morgan university of nebraska press, 1964 price. He accompanied ashley and henrys furtrapping brigade bound for the rocky mountains and spent the next decade as a mountain man, gaining renown as. Jedediah smith was born in new york in 1798 and would become the most extensively traveled mountain man in the unknown western territory during his short life. Jedediah strong smith 17991831 the oregon encyclopedia. List of books and articles about utah history online. A single line of dusty, trail worn trappers trudged slowly through the brushy bottom, leading their pack horses down the valley in search of water and a place to camp. Utah division of state history a division of the department. He made his mark as one of the most respected american pathfinders.
Jedediah smith, trader and explorer who was the first american to enter california from the east and return from it by an overland route. Jedidiah smithfor god and wild west 17011800 church. The research center is available to respond to requests for records and information by phone and email. Imagine the stories that would be available to us had more of the mountain men been able to document their adventures. All utah state history staff is working remotely and can be reached via email. For over twenty years history to go has been a rich source for utah history, mined by teachers, students, researchers, and the public. Jedediah strong smith was born in bainbridge, new york, on january 6, 1799. Louis, missouri, where he found employment as a hunter with william h. Jedediah smith and the opening of the west by morgan, dale l. You can find a staff directory under the about us tab above. Praise a scholarly and well written volume of jedediah smith, which may well serve as a base for a complete history of the fur trade of the west. Jedediah smith ranks at the top of mountain man accomplishments, and yet he was. We are very fortunate that this journal came to surface as it is of major historical significance.
From the back cover a scholarly and well written volume of jedediah smith, which may well serve as a base for a complete history of the fur trade of the west. In 1822, jedediah smith, a twentythreeyear old new yorker, arrived in st. This man who maintained his belief in god among men who took pride in their roughness and even debauchery became one of the most respected of them all. Jedediah strong smith january 6, 1799 may 27, 1831, was an american clerk, frontiersman. Smith, jedediah strong, 17991831, fur trade publisher indianapolis, bobbsmerrill. Smith was the first white man to cross the future state of nevada, the first to traverse utah from north to south and from west to east. Jedediah strong smith 17981831 was a fur trapper and explorer credited for being one of the first white men to explore much of what is now utah. While many of the commonly held beliefs about jedediah smiths religious background and affiliation would require the support of more historical documentation than is currently available, jedediah smiths life and subsequently developed popular legend provide an. Jedediah smith and the opening of the west bison book s jedediah smith. Trappers of the far west, bison books, 1983 mountain men exploring jedediah smith and the opening of the west. Mormon leader who founded the colony of deseret near great salt lake utah. Chapter land i love a beka history flashcards quizlet.
In 1822, before jedediah smith entered the west, it was largely an unknown. Jedediah smith and the opening of the west university of. Recent anthropological studies have produced evidence that the utah area was inhabited as early as c. Jedediah smith and the opening of the west bison book s.
Publishes books and journals especially in american history, the american west. The online version provided here includes only smiths original text. He skirted the great salt lake and headed toward utah lake. As a young boy he learned to hunt and fish in the forests of upstate. Jedediah strong smith was one of the first and, arguably, the most important of the american trappers and explorers who penetrated the interior oregon country in the 1820s. The rugged country on the west side of the teton range, between yellowstone and grand teton national parks, is a wilderness area named for jedediah strong smith, who came west as one of the trappers organized by william ashley in 1823. Young jedediah moved with his family as they pressed westward in an effort to remain at the frontier. Conflict in canyon country and editor of two documentary accounts of mormon history. Started first successful overland journey through utah to the pacific coast from this vicinity august 22, 1826. Smith explored a stunningly large area of the far west during his short life. Jedediah smith author of the gunslinger in technicolor. The other two mens names have been lost to history.
Mountain man of the american west famous explorers of the american west only 1 left in stock more on the way. Jedediah strong smith was born in what is now bainbridge new york in 1799. Jedediah rogers state historian and coeditor, utah. After receiving some education and a strong religious upbringing, he made his way to st. For 17 years, she edited the western writers of americas roundup magazine. One of the most influential explorers was american john c. Utahs first methodist pioneer jedediah strong smith.
Japanese monograph 102, office, chief of military history, department of the army. Among the american mountain menfrontiersmen, explorers and pathfinders of the early 19th centuryjedediah strong smith was one of the most remarkable. Jedediah smith, born in new york state, took to the western wilderness as a young man. Jedediah smith is the author of jedediah smiths journal of the first expedition to california 5.
Jedediah strong smith january 6, 1799 may 27, 1831, was an american clerk, frontiersman, hunter, trapper, author, cartographer, and explorer of the rocky mountains, the north american west, and the southwest during the early 19th century. These men included jim bridger who found the great salt lake and jedediah smith who discovered a pass through the rocky mountains. Second expedition to california jul 1827 3 jul 1828. Discover librarianselected research resources on utah history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. These books provide valuable introduction and notes along with smith s journals. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features.
Included among other morgan titles reprinted as bison books is jedediah smith and the opening of the west. Inasmuch as mormon history is an integral part of utah history, and one cannot always distinguish between them, it may be appropriate to add a few works of mormon history. During his nine years as a trapper for ashley and henry and later for the rocky mountain fur company, the mild and christian young man blazed the trail westward through south pass. The group followed the colorado river in search of new hunting grounds and were attacked by mohave indians, losing several men. Jedediah smith and the mountain men, in a sense, fill in the gap between the california gold rush and lewis and clark. Early american methodism and the exploration of the american west share a common pioneering ancestor in jedediah smith. Jedediah smith opening west by morgan dale abebooks. After 75 years of obscurity following his death, smith was rediscovered as the american whose explorations led to the use of the 20mile 32 kmwide. These books provide valuable introduction and notes along with smiths journals.
Jedediah smith and the opening of the west by dale l. In 1822, before jedediah smith entered the west, it was largely an unknown land, a wilderness, he wrote, of two thousand miles diameter. Jedediah smith, one of the nations most important trapperexplorers, is killed by comanche indians on the santa fe trail. During his nine years as a trapper for ashley and henry and later for the rocky mountain fur company, the. View jedediah rogers profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. Mormons, miners, padres, mountain men, and the openi. Jedediah smith elko, nv california trail interpretive center.
Born in 1799, he was the first american after the astorians to cross west over the continental divide, rediscovering south pass. Fur trappers, including jedediah smith and jim bridger, worked in the area and held rendezvous in utah. Jedediah strong smith 17991831 mountain man, explorer, and trailblazer, smith was born on january 6, 1799, at bainbridge, new york but, was raised in pennsylvania and ohio. Jedediah smith s journal is one of the few sources of information about the lives and travels of the mountain men of the early 1800s. While many of the commonly held beliefs about jedediah smiths religious. Godfrey is the managing historian of the joseph smith papers and previously worked as a historical consultant on environmental issues. First expedition to california 7 aug 1826 3 jul 1827. The jedediah smith society is an organization dedicated to researching the history of jedediah smith. Few have attempted and none has achieved such a task. William ashley of a fur trade company set out an add for 100 strong men willing to fur trade all across the unknown territory.
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