Owen McKenzie – Fur Trader – Legends of America
Alright, buckle up, history buffs! Today, we’re diving into the life of Owen McKenzie, a name you might not know, but definitely should. Owen wasn’t just any Joe; he was the son of the legendary fur trader Kenneth McKenzie and a Native American woman. Talk about a cool heritage, right? Born in 1862, Owen had a life that was as wild and untamed as the American frontier itself.
Early Days and Education
So, picture this: Owen and his siblings get shipped off to the Red River settlement in Canada for some schooling. Yeah, even back then, parents wanted their kids to get a good education. After his time in Canada, Owen heads back to the upper Missouri River. By 1843, he’s making a name for himself as a hunter for the American Fur Company at Fort Union in North Dakota. Word on the street was that he was a total natural on horseback and could shoot better than anyone around. A true frontiersman in the making!
Life in the Fur Trade
Next thing you know, Owen’s put in charge of a fur trade post on the White River. This guy was moving up in the world! Then, during the winter of 1862-63, he’s running a small post for La Barge, Harkness and Company on the Missouri River, upriver from Fort Union. In the summer of ’63, he gets another promotion and is sent to take over Fort Galpin at the mouth of the Milk River in what’s now South Dakota. Things were looking pretty good for Owen, but this is where the story takes a turn.
The Fatal Dispute
At Fort Galpin, Owen gets into a serious beef with Malcolm Clarke and his son, Horace, over some money. Now, Malcolm Clarke was no small fry himself. He was a rancher and fur trader who worked with the American Fur Company. Apparently, Owen and Malcolm had a history of butting heads, but this time, things went way too far. In 1863, their argument turned into an all-out brawl, and in the heat of the moment, Malcolm Clarke shot and killed McKenzie. Can you believe it?
Aftermath and Revenge
After the shooting, Clarke knew he had to get out of Dodge, fast. He hightailed it out of the area to avoid the wrath of McKenzie’s friends, who were definitely not happy about what happened. Clarke moved his family to the Rocky Mountains and started a ranch with his second wife, a mixed-race Blackfeet woman named Good Singing. They set up the Clarke Horse and Cattle Ranch in 1864. Talk about a fresh start after a major screw-up!
The Cycle of Violence
But the story doesn’t end there. On August 17, 1869, Malcolm Clarke got a taste of his own medicine when he was killed by Piegan Indians. This sparked major unrest in the region, with white settlers demanding that the government protect them from the "outlaw" Blackfeet. This whole mess led to the infamous Marias Massacre in Montana on January 23, 1870. It was a dark and brutal time in American history, and Owen McKenzie’s death was just one piece of a much larger, tragic puzzle.
Legacy
Owen McKenzie’s life may have been cut short, but his story is a reminder of the wild and often lawless world of the American fur trade. He was a skilled frontiersman, a savvy trader, and a man caught up in a dangerous game. So, next time you’re spinning yarns about the Wild West, don’t forget to mention Owen McKenzie – a true legend of America.
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