Mathew Kinkead – Colorado Trader to Wealthy Californian
The narrative of the American West is woven with tales of rugged individuals who dared to venture into the untamed territories, seeking fortune and carving out a life amidst the challenges of the frontier. One such figure is Mathew Kinkead, a man whose life journey took him from the rolling hills of Kentucky to the bustling trade routes of New Mexico and Colorado, ultimately leading him to wealth and prosperity in the burgeoning state of California. This is the story of Mathew Kinkead, a testament to the spirit of ambition and adaptability that defined the era.
Early Life and Frontier Beginnings:
Born in Madison County, Kentucky, around 1790, Mathew Kinkead was the first of seven children born to David and Jane Guinn Kinkead. The Kinkead family embodied the westward movement that characterized early American expansion. In 1803, they relocated to the Femme Osage River in Missouri, seeking new opportunities in the fertile lands beyond the established settlements. Their journey continued, with moves to the forks of the Charette River in 1806 and finally, in 1808, to Old Franklin, near Boonslick, Missouri.
The War of 1812 had a profound impact on the Kinkead family and their community. David Kinkead, recognizing the need for protection against potential threats, spearheaded the construction of Fort Kincaid on the north side of the Missouri River. This stockaded fort served as a refuge for area residents, including prominent figures who would later leave their mark on the West, such as Josiah Gregg, William Wolfskill, Kit Carson, James Cockerell, and Stephen Cooper. These individuals, including Mathew Kinkead, found themselves united by the shared experience of defending their homes and families. Fort Kincaid became a crucible, forging bonds and shaping the destinies of those who would later become Santa Fe traders and explorers.
The Santa Fe Trail and Taos Ventures:
The allure of trade and opportunity beckoned Mathew Kinkead westward. In approximately 1824, his father mortgaged a slave to secure $325, a sum that allowed Mathew to purchase goods for his first trading expedition to Santa Fe, New Mexico. This initial venture marked the beginning of Kinkead’s involvement in the burgeoning Santa Fe trade.
In 1825, Mathew and his brother John joined a caravan traversing the famed Santa Fe Trail, a vital artery connecting the American Midwest with the markets of New Mexico. The journey was arduous, fraught with challenges such as harsh weather, difficult terrain, and the ever-present threat of encounters with Native American tribes. However, the potential rewards were significant, as Santa Fe offered a lucrative market for goods from the East.
By 1826, Mathew and John Kinkead had established themselves in Taos, New Mexico, a vibrant hub of commerce and cultural exchange. Taos served as a strategic location for traders and trappers, offering access to both American and Mexican markets. There, Mathew built a home, signifying his commitment to the region, and partnered with William Workman to establish a distillery. This venture into the production of spirits reflected Kinkead’s entrepreneurial spirit and his ability to adapt to the demands of the local economy.
Kit Carson and Early Connections:
The story of Mathew Kinkead is intertwined with that of other notable figures of the American West, including the legendary frontiersman Kit Carson. At the age of 16, Carson, seeking adventure and opportunity, secretly joined a large merchant caravan bound for Santa Fe. Upon arriving in Taos, he sought out Mathew Kinkead, who had been a friend of Carson’s father in Missouri.
Kinkead welcomed the young Carson into his home, providing him with shelter and guidance. During his time with Kinkead, Carson learned valuable skills related to trapping, a crucial trade in the region. He also began to acquire proficiency in Spanish and various Native American languages, skills that would prove invaluable in his future endeavors. Despite Kinkead’s generosity, Carson never seemed to harbor particularly fond feelings for the older man.
Mora and Family Matters:
By December 1830, Kinkead had become a citizen of Mexico, further solidifying his presence in the region. He continued to operate his whiskey mill, contributing to the local economy. In 1830, Edmond Conn, a 30-year-old carpenter from Missouri, joined Kinkead in Taos. Kinkead assisted Conn in obtaining citizenship, and in 1834, Conn was baptized as a Roman Catholic, taking the name "Francisco."
In 1834, Kinkead and Conn jointly applied for a land grant near present-day Mora in northeastern New Mexico. Their application was successful, and in 1835, they received the grant, prompting them to relocate to the area with several hundred other settlers from the Taos Valley. They established a town called Santa Gertrudis de Mora, commonly known as Mora.
Life in Mora brought both opportunities and complexities for Mathew Kinkead. He became involved in a personal relationship with Teresita Sandoval Sauso, the wife of his neighbor, Jose Manuel Sauso. Teresita, described as strikingly beautiful but also strong-willed and temperamental, bore Kinkead a son, Juan Andrés, in 1835, and a daughter, Rafaela, a year later. This relationship created a complex family dynamic and ultimately led to Jose Manuel Suaso selling his land and leaving the area in 1838. The same year, Kinkead sold his house and land in Mora for 300 sheep and a yoke of oxen, but retained his interest in the common pasture, where he continued to graze his sheep.
Buffalo Farming and El Pueblo Trading Post:
In the spring of 1841, Kinkead embarked on a new venture, deciding to move north to Colorado. He hired Richens "Uncle Dick" Wootton to drive his sheep from the Mora Valley to Kansas City, where they were to be traded for milk cows. Kinkead, along with Teresita and their children, then moved to a location on the American side of the Arkansas River, near present-day Pueblo, Colorado.
Kinkead’s plan was to establish a buffalo farm, likely in partnership with Francisco Conn. Buffalo were considered a novelty in the East, and there was a growing market for the animals. Kinkead and Teresita followed buffalo herds on the plains, capturing newborn calves. These calves were then raised on the milk provided by the cows Wootton had brought from the East. When the buffalo calves reached about a year old, they were sold in the frontier settlements of Missouri for a substantial profit, reportedly $100 apiece. The buffalo farm operated until the fall of 1843.
After selling 44 yearling buffalo calves, Kinkead invested his profits in the El Pueblo Trading Post, which had been established by George Simpson and Robert Fisher in 1842. The same year the trading post was established, George Simpson married Teresita’s 14-year-old daughter, Juana Maria Suaso. El Pueblo was a bustling center of trade and activity, attracting a diverse group of individuals, including Joseph Mantz, Edmond "Francisco" Conn, Joseph Doyle, and Alexander Barclay.
Hardscrabble and the Road to California:
Despite his investment in El Pueblo, Kinkead’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to seek new opportunities. In 1843, he took his son, Juan Andrés (now known as Andrew), and established a cattle ranch at Hardscrabble Canyon, approximately 30 miles west of Pueblo. In the meantime, Teresita married British trader Alexander Barclay.
In 1844, Alexander Barclay, Joseph Doyle, and George Simpson established another trading post about six miles down the canyon from Kinkead’s ranch. This settlement became known as Hardscrabble. Joseph Doyle married another of Teresita’s daughters, Maria De La Cruz "Cruzita" Suaso.
Hardscrabble initially prospered, but the settlers eventually faced challenges, including hostile Native American tribes, a decline in the fur trade, and poor crops. These difficulties led to a gradual exodus of settlers from the area.
In the summer of 1847, Mathew Kinkead abandoned his cattle ranch along with his son, Andrew. The lure of gold and opportunity in California proved too strong to resist. In 1849, Kinkead joined John Brown, Jim Waters, and other settlers from Hardscrabble and Pueblo in a journey to Sacramento, California.
Wealth and Legacy in California:
In California, Mathew Kinkead finally found the wealth he had been seeking throughout his life. He reportedly became quite prosperous, acquiring ships, land, and haciendas. His entrepreneurial spirit and adaptability, honed through years of trading and ranching on the frontier, allowed him to thrive in the booming economy of Gold Rush California.
The date of Kinkead’s death is unknown, but in 1878, his son Andrew returned to New Mexico to sell his father’s Mora Grant land, as well as property in Taos and Salt Lake City, Utah. During this trip, Andrew is said to have visited his mother, Teresita, who was then living on her son-in-law Joseph Doyle’s ranch in Colorado.
Mathew Kinkead’s life story is a testament to the spirit of the American West. He was a trader, rancher, and entrepreneur who adapted to the challenges and opportunities of the frontier, ultimately finding wealth and success in California. His journey reflects the ambition, resilience, and adaptability that defined the era and shaped the history of the American West.