Lead Mining on Upper Missouri, 1865 Andrew was often a man in the right place at the right time. His travels west from Pennsylvania got him noticed by William Henry Ashley just as the fur trade was getting started, and Henry profited from the association. While leading expeditions, he usually stayed in the forts and trading posts rather than venture out into the wild, and that strategy probably saved his life.
But trapping and exploring were never Henry’s true passions, and he left the fur trade on several occasions to try his hand at soldiering and mining. However, the men he led on his expeditions up the Missouri would form the backbone of the Rocky Mountain fur trade, and without his leadership, many of them may have never done for which their names are remembered today.
But trapping and exploring were never Henry’s true passions, and he left the fur trade on several occasions to try his hand at soldiering and mining. However, the men he led on his expeditions up the Missouri would form the backbone of the Rocky Mountain fur trade, and without his leadership, many of them may have never done for which their names are remembered today.
A Miner at Heart
Current River, where Henry mined Andrew Henry’s real passion in life was lead, and his time spent in the fur trade can be seen as an anomaly, and not what he truly wanted to do with his life. He was born in Pennsylvania sometime between 1773 and 1778, and moved first to Nashville, Tennessee and then to Louisiana around 1800. He began working in a lead mine near Potosi, Missouri.
It was while working and living in Potosi that Henry came to the attention of William H. Ashley. Ashley had tried his hand at being a merchant, but it just didn’t pan out. Most likely through late-night talks stewing over his frustrations, Ashley was convinced of the promise of the mines by Henry, and he soon was involved in the operations of several.
But mining wasn’t as interesting as making money, and Ashley turned his attention to the growing fur trade, and began devising options. He knew he needed backing for his plans, so in 1808 he gathered together all of the richest merchants of St. Louis, as well as some of the city’s most powerful families. They formed the “St. Louis Missouri Fur Company,” and gave it $40,000 to get underway. The first expedition of 150 men was led by Manuel Lisa in 1809, and the second by Henry in 1810, which numbered thirty-two.
It was while working and living in Potosi that Henry came to the attention of William H. Ashley. Ashley had tried his hand at being a merchant, but it just didn’t pan out. Most likely through late-night talks stewing over his frustrations, Ashley was convinced of the promise of the mines by Henry, and he soon was involved in the operations of several.
But mining wasn’t as interesting as making money, and Ashley turned his attention to the growing fur trade, and began devising options. He knew he needed backing for his plans, so in 1808 he gathered together all of the richest merchants of St. Louis, as well as some of the city’s most powerful families. They formed the “St. Louis Missouri Fur Company,” and gave it $40,000 to get underway. The first expedition of 150 men was led by Manuel Lisa in 1809, and the second by Henry in 1810, which numbered thirty-two.
The 1810 Henry Expedition
Map of Missouri River Ashley chose Andrew Henry to lead the 1810 expedition for several reasons. The men had known one another since Henry had worked in the lead and saltpeter mines which Ashley had a stake in. Henry had also been down the Ohio River when he was only in his twenties, and the choice would have given the men who signed up assurance that their leader knew how to handle himself on a river.
And perhaps most importantly, Henry had a reputation for honesty. A shrewd businessman, Ashley had undoubtedly heard many tall tales and excuses in his time, and someone who could tell it straight without embellishments surely appealed to him. Still, Henry was only a joint-commander, and Pierre Menard also had a leadership role on the expedition.
The expedition was not a success. While it’s true that the trading post of Fort Henry was built at Three Forks, and the men found some excellent trapping opportunities in the area, the loss of life and anger incurred from the Blackfeet was considered too high a price. The Blackfeet, instead of happily accepting the offer of trade that Henry and his men hoped to make, attacked the expedition, killing eight men including George Drouillard. The attack occurred just 2 miles from the Fort Henry, and showed that the area was still anything but untamed by their presence.
And perhaps most importantly, Henry had a reputation for honesty. A shrewd businessman, Ashley had undoubtedly heard many tall tales and excuses in his time, and someone who could tell it straight without embellishments surely appealed to him. Still, Henry was only a joint-commander, and Pierre Menard also had a leadership role on the expedition.
The expedition was not a success. While it’s true that the trading post of Fort Henry was built at Three Forks, and the men found some excellent trapping opportunities in the area, the loss of life and anger incurred from the Blackfeet was considered too high a price. The Blackfeet, instead of happily accepting the offer of trade that Henry and his men hoped to make, attacked the expedition, killing eight men including George Drouillard. The attack occurred just 2 miles from the Fort Henry, and showed that the area was still anything but untamed by their presence.
A Break and a Return
Map of Yellowstone River Andrew Henry was disheartened by the events of the expedition, and he returned to St. Louis.
When war broke out with the British in 1812, he joined the army and rose to the rank of major. When the war concluded he again returned to lead mining, and even married the French daughter of one of the mine’s owners.
Ten yeas of mining is often more than enough for anyone, and by 1822 Henry was once again pulled into the fur trade. By that time Ashley had been elected as Missouri’s first Lieutenant Governor, a post he held from 1820 to 1824, and his interest in the fur trade had only risen over time. Henry partnered with Ashley to form the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, and they quickly organized three expeditions. One was to be led by Henry, another by Daniel Moore, and the third by Ashley himself.
When war broke out with the British in 1812, he joined the army and rose to the rank of major. When the war concluded he again returned to lead mining, and even married the French daughter of one of the mine’s owners.
Ten yeas of mining is often more than enough for anyone, and by 1822 Henry was once again pulled into the fur trade. By that time Ashley had been elected as Missouri’s first Lieutenant Governor, a post he held from 1820 to 1824, and his interest in the fur trade had only risen over time. Henry partnered with Ashley to form the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, and they quickly organized three expeditions. One was to be led by Henry, another by Daniel Moore, and the third by Ashley himself.
Map of Bighorn River Henry’s expedition got under way in the late-fall of 1822 and made it as far as the Yellowstone River, where they built a trading post and prepared to wait out the winter. By the spring of 1823 they headed up river to Great Falls, where it must have seemed the past was repeating itself when Blackfeet Indians appeared and attacked. Four men were killed and several more injured.
Henry learned that Ashley’s expedition had suffered similar losses against the Arikara Indians. The two men decided to continue on as best they could, and Henry travelled to the Big Horn River where he set up a trading post with the Crow Indians. They also resolved to trap and trade in less hostile areas, and Henry’s time in Montana was effectively at an end.
By 1824 Henry decided he’d had enough of the fur trade. He’d made quite a bit during the previous season, especially with the new rendezvous system that Ashley was beginning to pioneer. He was also nearing 50 years of age, and the rigors of river travel and the constant threat of Indian attacks probably didn’t appeal to him anymore. Fur trapping was a young man’s game, after all, and Henry’s moment had come and gone. He returned to the mining industry, either mining lead or fashioning the bullets, and died in Missouri on January 10, 1832.
Henry learned that Ashley’s expedition had suffered similar losses against the Arikara Indians. The two men decided to continue on as best they could, and Henry travelled to the Big Horn River where he set up a trading post with the Crow Indians. They also resolved to trap and trade in less hostile areas, and Henry’s time in Montana was effectively at an end.
By 1824 Henry decided he’d had enough of the fur trade. He’d made quite a bit during the previous season, especially with the new rendezvous system that Ashley was beginning to pioneer. He was also nearing 50 years of age, and the rigors of river travel and the constant threat of Indian attacks probably didn’t appeal to him anymore. Fur trapping was a young man’s game, after all, and Henry’s moment had come and gone. He returned to the mining industry, either mining lead or fashioning the bullets, and died in Missouri on January 10, 1832.
Notes
Carter, Harvey L. “William H. Ashley.” Mountain Men and Fur Traders of the Far West: Eighteen Biographical Sketches. Hafen, LeRoy R. (ed.) University of Nebraska Press: Lincoln, 1965. p 81-3.
Chittenden, Hiram Martin. The American Fur Trade of the Far West [Vol 1]. University of Nebraska Press: Lincoln, 1986. p 249-50.
Malone, Michael Peter; Roeder, Richard B.; Lang, William L. Montana: A History of Two Centuries. The University of Washington Press, 1976. p 48-50.
Neihardt, John G. The Splendid Wayfaring: Jedediah Smith and the Ashley-Henry Men, 1822-1831. State University of New York Press: Albany, 1948. p. 31-34.
Rodriquez, Junius P. The Louisiana Purchase: A Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO, Inc.: Santa Barbara, 2002. p. 17.
Carter, Harvey L. “William H. Ashley.” Mountain Men and Fur Traders of the Far West: Eighteen Biographical Sketches. Hafen, LeRoy R. (ed.) University of Nebraska Press: Lincoln, 1965. p 81-3.
Chittenden, Hiram Martin. The American Fur Trade of the Far West [Vol 1]. University of Nebraska Press: Lincoln, 1986. p 249-50.
Malone, Michael Peter; Roeder, Richard B.; Lang, William L. Montana: A History of Two Centuries. The University of Washington Press, 1976. p 48-50.
Neihardt, John G. The Splendid Wayfaring: Jedediah Smith and the Ashley-Henry Men, 1822-1831. State University of New York Press: Albany, 1948. p. 31-34.
Rodriquez, Junius P. The Louisiana Purchase: A Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO, Inc.: Santa Barbara, 2002. p. 17.
