Alexander Barclay – British Trader on the Santa Fe Trail
The annals of the American West are filled with tales of intrepid explorers, resourceful traders, and determined settlers who carved out lives amidst the vast landscapes and challenging conditions. Among these figures stands Alexander Barclay, a British adventurer whose journey led him from the bustling streets of London to the remote outposts of the Santa Fe Trail. His story, a testament to the allure of the frontier and the pursuit of opportunity, offers a glimpse into the dynamic world of 19th-century America.
Born in London around 1810, Alexander Barclay‘s early life offered little indication of the adventurous path he would eventually tread. He trained as a corset maker and fitter, a trade that provided a stable, albeit unremarkable, existence. However, the winds of change were stirring within him, fueled by a yearning for something more than the confines of his London workshop.
In 1833, at the age of 23, Alexander Barclay made the bold decision to immigrate to North America. He packed his belongings and set sail for Toronto, Canada, seeking new opportunities and a fresh start. Unfortunately, work proved elusive, and he soon found himself moving further west, settling north of Lake Huron. Here, he acquired 20 acres of land and embarked on the arduous task of clearing it, envisioning a future as a landowner and farmer. However, fate had other plans. A devastating fire consumed his cabin and all his possessions, forcing him to abandon his hard-won progress.
Undeterred by this setback, Alexander Barclay moved south to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1836. This bustling city, a gateway to the West, offered a different kind of opportunity. He secured a position as a bookkeeper for the Bent and St. Vrain Trading Company, a prominent enterprise engaged in trade with Native American tribes and settlers across the vast plains. This marked a turning point in his life, immersing him in the world of frontier commerce and introducing him to the allure of the Santa Fe Trail.
Two years later, in 1838, Alexander Barclay‘s adventurous spirit led him further west to Bent’s Fort, a strategically important trading post on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado. Here, he served as superintendent of stores and bookkeeper, playing a crucial role in the fort’s operations. He was also entrusted with the fort’s management during the Bent brothers’ absences. Bent’s Fort was more than just a trading post; it was a hub of activity, a meeting place for trappers, traders, and Native Americans from various tribes. It was here that Barclay encountered figures like George Simpson, Robert Fisher, and Joseph Doyle, individuals who would later become his partners and companions in various ventures.
The lure of independent enterprise soon beckoned. In 1842, Barclay joined Simpson, Fisher, Doyle, and others in establishing the El Pueblo Trading Post, located at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek, approximately 70 miles upstream from Bent’s Fort. This new venture brought him into contact with a wider circle of traders, including Francisco Conn, Mathew Kinkead, Joseph Mantz, and the colorful character known as "Uncle Dick" Richens Wootton. El Pueblo quickly became a significant trading center, catering to the needs of travelers, settlers, and Native Americans in the region.
Around 1843, Alexander Barclay‘s personal life took a significant turn when he married Teresita Sandoval Suaso, who had previously been in a common-law marriage with Matt Kinkead. This union, however unconventional by eastern standards, seemed to foster no ill will. In 1844, Barclay, along with George Simpson and Joseph Doyle, established yet another trading post at Hardscrabble, Colorado, a few miles from Kinkead’s ranch. At this new location, situated about 23 miles west of El Pueblo, Barclay and his wife settled down on a farm and ranch, operating a store that served the local community. The families were closely intertwined; one of Teresita’s daughters had already married George S. Simpson, and another would marry Joseph B. Doyle in 1844.
Life at Hardscrabble, while challenging, offered a sense of contentment and independence. As Alexander Barclay himself observed, "…our wants are few, and as we witness no instance of ostentation and luxury in our neighbors, we have nothing to create envy; thus, we have only to repress occasional recollections of the superfluities of civilized life to be content with our own." This quote encapsulates the spirit of self-reliance and community that characterized life on the frontier.
The tranquility of Hardscrabble was shattered in May 1846 with the news of the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. Settled within the boundaries of the Mexican Republic, the residents of Hardscrabble were warned that their settlement might become a target for Mexican soldiers. This threat prompted Barclay to return to El Pueblo in October, where he built another house and store, seeking a more secure location.
The following year brought further turmoil. In January 1847, word reached El Pueblo of the Taos Rebellion and the murder of Charles Bent, a prominent figure in the region. This unrest prompted Barclay to return once again to Hardscrabble. Amidst this backdrop of conflict, Barclay and his comrades witnessed a large battle between the Ute and Arapaho tribes. The Ute emerged victorious and, due to some of the Mexicans at Hardscrabble siding with the Arapaho, demanded a victory feast. After the feast, the Ute departed and never returned to Hardscrabble.
In November 1847, news arrived that Mexico City had fallen to the Americans, signaling the end of the war. Later that same month, Barclay sold his property in El Pueblo, setting the stage for his next venture.
In March 1848, Alexander Barclay and George S. Simpson journeyed down the Mora River from Colorado to Watrous, New Mexico. This trip was prompted by information from Thomas Fitzpatrick, a well-known fur trader, who had suggested that the US Government was likely to build a fort in the area to protect travelers on the Santa Fe Trail from Indian attacks. Barclay and Doyle saw this as an opportunity to build a fort and then sell it to the government at a profit. The location was also strategically advantageous for a trading post, as it was near the junction of the Cimarron Cutoff and the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Impressed by the property, Barclay traveled to Santa Fe and purchased a portion of the Scolly Land Grant.
On April 23, 1848, a large caravan, consisting of 18 armed men and heavily loaded wagons filled with household goods, food, and supplies, departed Pueblo, Colorado, heading south. Progressing at a rate of 7-10 miles per day, they reached the foot of Raton Pass on May 1. Leaving the women and children in Mora, New Mexico, the men arrived at the La Junta Valley and immediately commenced the construction of their "fort."
Under the supervision of Charles Autobees, who came from Mora, the construction of the adobe fort progressed rapidly. Two irrigation ditches were dug to water the 200 acres, and by September 4, the fort was sufficiently complete for Barclay to bring his wife, Teresita Suaso, to her new home. Joseph Doyle arrived on September 19 with a blacksmith, and a few days later, he brought his wife down from Mora. The large, square enclosure, with its high adobe walls and a heavy, lockable gate, provided a secure camping place for pioneers and wagon trains. Named Barclay’s Fort, it quickly became a popular stopping point along the Santa Fe Trail. The fort bustled with trading activity, served as a stagecoach station, provided housing for men and shelter for animals, and its stockade offered protection from Indian raids.
Barclay’s own words reflected his passion for the frontier lifestyle: "Constant excitement and daring adventure … the reckless activity and thrilling interest of a border life… and the pursuit of free will, free trade, and free-thinking."
Despite its success, Barclay’s Fort faced challenges. In 1850, Barclay attempted to sell the fort to the Army, but they declined to purchase it. Instead, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin V. Sumner attempted to force him off his land so the Army could build their fort there. In 1851, Sumner began the construction of Fort Union about nine miles northwest of Watrous. Located near Alexander Barclay’s land, the Army again tried to order him off, but Barclay took the Army to court, a legal battle that dragged on for several years.
In 1853, Barclay traveled north to trade with the Indians, only to discover that they had moved from their usual location, resulting in a significant financial loss. Upon his return to the fort, he found that operations were out of control and the fort in a state of disrepair. By the end of October, he was living at the fort alone. He advertised the fort for sale in the Santa Fe newspapers but received no inquiries.
In 1854, the post office at Fort Barkley closed, and it would be over a decade before another would open in nearby Watrous. Alexander Barclay soon fell ill and died in December 1855. He was buried at his "fort." After his death, his wife, Teresita, lived with the Doyle family for the remainder of her life, outliving her husband by 38 years.
The legal dispute with the army over the land continued with Joseph Doyle, who eventually won the case. In 1856, Doyle sold the land and the fort to William Kronig, a German immigrant, who later built the Phoenix Ranch. This ranch, which still exists today, is all that remains of Alexander Barclay’s previous holdings.