Trader: Manuel Lisa, 1772-1820
European fur traders had to work years to develop trust and a working relationship among the tribes they encountered. Those who were successful in doing so were also valuable explorers, guides, interpreters and agents between Native peoples and the federal government. Manuel Lisa, 1772-1820, was one of those who filled this gap.
Manuel Lisa or Manuel de Lisa, was born in 1772 in New Orleans, Louisiana Territory, while it was under Spanish occupation. Little is known of his early life or how he got into trading with Natives, but by 1789, while still in his teens, Manuel was working as a trader along the Mississippi River. He established an early trading post at New Madrid, Missouri and later moved operations to the Wabash River. By 1796, he had married a young widow from New Orleans. He established his wife and family in St. Louis, Missouri. While still married to Polly Chew, Lisa in 1814 established an alliance with Omaha leader Big Elk by marrying Big Elk's daughter, Mitane. He had children from both of these relationships. Such liaisons weren't unusual on the frontier or out west. Establishing kinship within a tribe was essential to a trader's being accepted by the Natives and trusted by them. Particularly in tribes where there was a matrilineal kinship system, status came through the wife and her relatives.
Later, Polly died and Lisa married again, Mary Hempstead. He later took her to live with him in Nebraska. She gained custody of his daughter Rosalie, by Mitane and had the girl educated. She was the only child of Manuel Lisa to survive to adulthood and have children of her own. While all this was happening, in 1799, Lisa petitioned the Spanish government and was given a land grand in Missouri. By 1802, he had set up trading in St. Louis and earned a trading monopoly from French officials. Lisa was able to build strong trading ties with the Osage, but after the U.S. bought the Louisiana Purchase in 1804, U.S. authorities favored other men, suspecting Lisa of being a Spanish or French agent. U.S. authorities stymied his efforts to forge trade links in Santa Fe, so Lisa gathered an expedition of his own and in 1807 reached the mouth of the Bighorn River, where he established Fort Raymond, named for his son. It was the first such outpost in the area. Lisa dispatched John Colter, who had also served with Lewis and Clark, to the mouth of the Yellowstone to trade with the Blackfoot. Colter was the first European to see what is now Yellowstone National Park.
After leaving Fort Raymond in 1808, Lisa established the Missouri Fur Company, based in St. Louis. It was a joint venture with old business rival Pierre Chouteau, William Clark and others. He returned to Fort Raymond in 1809 with a larger expedition, and also established the first Fort Lisa near what is now Bismarck, North Dakota. Over the ensuing years, Lisa made several trips to and from this fort to St. Louis, his business gradually rivalry and overtaking Astor's American Fur Company interests in this location. It was at Fort Lisa in North Dakota that Sacajawea died about 1811. He would establish another Fort Lisa near what is now Omaha, Nebraska. At each outpost, he soon gained the trust and respect of the Natives through honest trading practices, giving them full value for the furs they traded.
When the War of 1812 happened, fears arose that the British would encourage the upper Missouri tribes to attack American outposts. Natives loyal to Britain burned the Nebraska Fort Lisa and most fur trading business was suspended during the war. Lisa had developed extensive relationships with the Natives of the upper Missouri and, through the auspices of William Clark, was appointed a U.S. Indian Agent. He visited several tribes, urging them to stay neutral in the conflict, or to back the United States by warring against tribes who supported the British. After the war, he resumed his trading expeditions and expanding his trading network. He later invited the leaders of several tribes to St. Louis for a treaty parley with the Americans. He died at Sulphur Springs, now a suburb of St. Louis in 1820.
Over time, Astor bought up the remains of the Missouri Fur Company, though his company was no longer actively trading by the 1840's.
Manuel Lisa or Manuel de Lisa, was born in 1772 in New Orleans, Louisiana Territory, while it was under Spanish occupation. Little is known of his early life or how he got into trading with Natives, but by 1789, while still in his teens, Manuel was working as a trader along the Mississippi River. He established an early trading post at New Madrid, Missouri and later moved operations to the Wabash River. By 1796, he had married a young widow from New Orleans. He established his wife and family in St. Louis, Missouri. While still married to Polly Chew, Lisa in 1814 established an alliance with Omaha leader Big Elk by marrying Big Elk's daughter, Mitane. He had children from both of these relationships. Such liaisons weren't unusual on the frontier or out west. Establishing kinship within a tribe was essential to a trader's being accepted by the Natives and trusted by them. Particularly in tribes where there was a matrilineal kinship system, status came through the wife and her relatives.
Later, Polly died and Lisa married again, Mary Hempstead. He later took her to live with him in Nebraska. She gained custody of his daughter Rosalie, by Mitane and had the girl educated. She was the only child of Manuel Lisa to survive to adulthood and have children of her own. While all this was happening, in 1799, Lisa petitioned the Spanish government and was given a land grand in Missouri. By 1802, he had set up trading in St. Louis and earned a trading monopoly from French officials. Lisa was able to build strong trading ties with the Osage, but after the U.S. bought the Louisiana Purchase in 1804, U.S. authorities favored other men, suspecting Lisa of being a Spanish or French agent. U.S. authorities stymied his efforts to forge trade links in Santa Fe, so Lisa gathered an expedition of his own and in 1807 reached the mouth of the Bighorn River, where he established Fort Raymond, named for his son. It was the first such outpost in the area. Lisa dispatched John Colter, who had also served with Lewis and Clark, to the mouth of the Yellowstone to trade with the Blackfoot. Colter was the first European to see what is now Yellowstone National Park.
After leaving Fort Raymond in 1808, Lisa established the Missouri Fur Company, based in St. Louis. It was a joint venture with old business rival Pierre Chouteau, William Clark and others. He returned to Fort Raymond in 1809 with a larger expedition, and also established the first Fort Lisa near what is now Bismarck, North Dakota. Over the ensuing years, Lisa made several trips to and from this fort to St. Louis, his business gradually rivalry and overtaking Astor's American Fur Company interests in this location. It was at Fort Lisa in North Dakota that Sacajawea died about 1811. He would establish another Fort Lisa near what is now Omaha, Nebraska. At each outpost, he soon gained the trust and respect of the Natives through honest trading practices, giving them full value for the furs they traded.
When the War of 1812 happened, fears arose that the British would encourage the upper Missouri tribes to attack American outposts. Natives loyal to Britain burned the Nebraska Fort Lisa and most fur trading business was suspended during the war. Lisa had developed extensive relationships with the Natives of the upper Missouri and, through the auspices of William Clark, was appointed a U.S. Indian Agent. He visited several tribes, urging them to stay neutral in the conflict, or to back the United States by warring against tribes who supported the British. After the war, he resumed his trading expeditions and expanding his trading network. He later invited the leaders of several tribes to St. Louis for a treaty parley with the Americans. He died at Sulphur Springs, now a suburb of St. Louis in 1820.
Over time, Astor bought up the remains of the Missouri Fur Company, though his company was no longer actively trading by the 1840's.
Comments
Post a Comment