Bent Brothers – Trading on the Santa Fe Trail
The saga of the American West is etched with tales of intrepid explorers, rugged mountain men, and shrewd traders who carved pathways through uncharted territories. Among these figures, the Bent brothers, Charles and William, stand out as pivotal players in shaping the commercial and cultural landscape of the Southwest. Their story is inextricably linked to the Santa Fe Trail, a vital artery of commerce that connected the United States with Mexico, and their legacy resonates through the establishment of Bent’s Fort, a cornerstone of westward expansion. This article delves into the lives and contributions of these two brothers, tracing their journey from the burgeoning settlements of the East to the vast, untamed frontiers of the West, and exploring the profound impact they had on the Santa Fe Trail and the diverse communities it served.
The story of the Bent Brothers begins not in the rugged wilderness they would come to dominate, but in the more established settlements of the East. Their father, Silas Bent, hailing from Massachusetts, was a respected land surveyor and a Supreme Court judge for the Missouri Territory. Despite this background of relative stability and societal prominence, Charles and William were drawn to the allure of the frontier, choosing a path that diverged sharply from their father’s.
Charles Bent, born in Charleston, Virginia, in 1799, displayed an early inclination towards adventure. After a brief stint at Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, he returned to St. Louis and embarked on his career with the Missouri Fur Company in 1822. This initial foray into the fur trade exposed him to the rigors and opportunities of the Western territories, setting the stage for his later ventures. In 1825, he partnered with Joshua Pilcher in a reorganization of the company, but competition with the formidable American Fur Company proved challenging. Undeterred, Charles joined the army, and upon his discharge in 1828, he turned his focus to the burgeoning Santa Fe trade.
It was at this juncture that the Bent Brothers truly began to make their mark. Charles, joined by his younger brother William, initiated a series of trading expeditions along the Santa Fe Trail, transporting goods from St. Louis to Santa Fe. These journeys were fraught with peril, navigating treacherous terrain, unpredictable weather, and the ever-present threat of encounters with various Native American tribes. However, they also presented immense opportunities for profit and the establishment of valuable commercial networks.
Recognizing the potential for long-term success, Charles partnered with Ceran St. Vrain, another trader from St. Louis, around 1830. This collaboration led to the formation of Bent, St. Vrain & Company, a trading enterprise that would come to wield significant influence throughout the Southwest. The company established a network of fortified trading posts, strategically located to facilitate trade with the Plains Indians. These included Fort St. Vrain on the South Platte River, Bent’s Fort on the Arkansas River (both in present-day Colorado), and Fort Adobe on the Canadian River in Texas. These outposts served not only as centers of commerce but also as vital points of contact between different cultures, fostering both cooperation and conflict.
Bent’s Fort, established in 1833, holds a particularly significant place in the history of the Santa Fe Trail. It was the only privately owned fortification in the West and the only major permanent white settlement along the trail. This imposing adobe structure served as a haven for travelers, a trading hub for Native American tribes, and a center of diplomacy in a region characterized by constant flux. The Bent Brothers, through their vision and enterprise, had created a linchpin in the westward expansion of the United States.
William Bent, born in St. Louis in 1809, played a crucial role in the success of Bent, St. Vrain & Company. He possessed a remarkable ability to navigate the complex social and political landscape of the Plains, forging strong relationships with various Native American tribes, particularly the Cheyenne. In 1835, he married Owl Woman, the daughter of White Thunder, a prominent Cheyenne chief and medicine man. This union not only solidified William’s ties to the Cheyenne but also granted him a unique perspective on Native American culture and customs. He was eventually accepted into the Cheyenne tribe and became a sub-chief.
William’s deep understanding of Native American affairs proved invaluable in mediating disputes and fostering peaceful relations between the tribes and the United States government. He negotiated a peace among the various Plains tribes north and south of the Arkansas River, a testament to his diplomatic skills and his commitment to maintaining stability in the region. He also acted as a vital intermediary between the Cheyenne Nation and other Native American tribes.
The personal lives of the Bent Brothers were as complex and intertwined as the historical events they helped shape. Charles married Maria Ignacia Jaramillo in 1835, a woman from a prominent Taos, New Mexico family. Her younger sister, Josefa Jaramillo, would later marry the famous frontiersman Kit Carson, further cementing the Bent family’s connections to the Southwest.
In September 1846, Charles was appointed as the first civilian Governor of the newly acquired New Mexico Territory by military Governor Stephen Watts Kearny. This appointment placed him at the forefront of the efforts to establish American governance in the region following the Mexican-American War. However, his tenure as governor was tragically short-lived.
On January 19, 1847, Charles Bent was killed during the Taos Revolt, an uprising by Pueblo Indians and Mexican residents who opposed the new American regime. His death marked a turning point in the history of New Mexico, highlighting the deep-seated tensions that existed between the different cultures and political factions.
Following Charles’s death, William assumed a more prominent role in managing the affairs of Bent, St. Vrain & Company. He served as a scout for Stephen W. Kearny and Sterling Price during the Mexican-American War, leveraging his knowledge of the territory and his relationships with Native American tribes to assist the American military.
In 1849, William made the difficult decision to destroy Bent’s Fort. The reasons for this remain a subject of debate among historians, but it is generally believed that he was concerned about the escalating tensions between the United States government and the Native American tribes, as well as the potential for the fort to be used as a military installation. In 1853, he built a new trading post farther down the Arkansas River, continuing his involvement in the fur trade and his interactions with the Plains Indians.
William Bent’s personal life also underwent significant changes in the years following his brother’s death. His Cheyenne wives eventually left him, and in 1869, he married Adaline Harvey, the daughter of Alexander Harvey, a prominent American fur trader in Kansas City. William died shortly after their marriage, but Adaline gave birth to their daughter, his sixth child, after his death. William Bent was buried in the Las Animas Cemetery, leaving behind a legacy as a trader, diplomat, and influential figure in the history of the American West.
The Bent Brothers‘ story is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit, the adaptability, and the complex relationships that defined the era of westward expansion. Their contributions to the Santa Fe Trail and their establishment of Bent’s Fort left an indelible mark on the landscape of the Southwest, shaping its commercial, cultural, and political development. While their actions were not without controversy, their legacy as pioneers and pivotal figures in the history of the American West remains secure. The Santa Fe Trail stands as a monument to their vision and their enduring impact on the region.