Missouri Fur Company
The Missouri Fur Company, a pivotal entity in the burgeoning American fur trade, holds a significant place in the history of St. Louis, Missouri, and the westward expansion of the United States. Operating under various names, including the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company and the Manuel Lisa Trading Company, its existence spanned over two decades, marked by periods of prosperity, challenges, and eventual dissolution in 1830. The company’s story is intertwined with the ambitious vision of its founder, Manuel Lisa, and the complex dynamics of the fur trade industry in the early 19th century.
The origins of the Missouri Fur Company can be traced back to the spring of 1807. Driven by entrepreneurial spirit, Manuel Lisa organized an expedition to explore the Missouri River and establish a trading presence in the region. He assembled a group of 50 to 60 men and embarked on a journey that would lead them to the confluence of the Yellowstone and Big Horn Rivers, in what is now the state of Montana. There, they constructed Fort Raymond, a strategic outpost designed to facilitate trade with the local Native American tribes and serve as a base for trapping operations. The expedition proved successful, yielding a substantial collection of valuable pelts. Upon their return to St. Louis, Lisa laid the groundwork for a more formalized business venture.
During the winter of 1808-09, Lisa solidified his plans, formally establishing the St. Louis, Missouri Fur Company. To realize his vision, he partnered with several prominent figures in the St. Louis community, including Pierre Choteau, Sr., Auguste Choteau, Jr., Andrew Henry, Pierre Menard, Benjamin Wilkinson, Reuben Lewis, William Clark, Sylvestre Labbadie, and William Morrison. This diverse group of investors brought a wealth of experience and resources to the new enterprise.
The newly formed company embarked on its first expedition in the spring of 1809, undertaking a mission of significant political and diplomatic importance. At the behest of Meriwether Lewis, the Governor of the Louisiana Territory, the company was tasked with returning a Mandan Indian to his people. This undertaking demonstrated the company’s willingness to engage in activities beyond purely commercial interests, and solidified relationships with the governing authorities.
Following the successful completion of this mission, the company turned its attention to expanding its trading network along the Missouri River. A second expedition, comprising 13 river crafts, was organized to navigate the river towards Fort Mandan in present-day North Dakota. As they ventured further into the interior, the company established a series of forts along the Missouri and Nebraska Rivers. These outposts served as vital hubs for trade with various Native American tribes, including the Sioux, Arikara, Mandan, and Blackfeet. Through these interactions, the Missouri Fur Company sought to acquire valuable furs in exchange for goods and supplies.
The operations of the Missouri Fur Company were characterized by a constant flow of goods and resources between the frontier and St. Louis. The thousands of pelts collected by the company’s trappers and traders were periodically transported back to St. Louis, where William Clark, a prominent figure in the company, served as its agent. Clark played a crucial role in managing the company’s affairs, overseeing the sale of furs, and procuring supplies for future expeditions.
The War of 1812 presented significant challenges for the St. Louis Fur Company. The conflict disrupted trade routes, increased the risk of attacks, and forced the company to withdraw from the Dakota country, a region known for its rich fur resources but also for its inherent dangers. The partnership was dissolved in the same year, reflecting the instability and uncertainty caused by the war.
Despite these setbacks, the entrepreneurial spirit of Manuel Lisa remained undeterred. In 1819, he spearheaded the reorganization of the company, renaming it the Missouri Fur Company. This new iteration of the company included a fresh group of partners, including Thomas Hempstead, Andrew Woods, Joseph Perkins, Joshua Pilcher, Moses B. Carson, and John Zenoni. With renewed vigor, Lisa sought to reestablish the company’s presence in the fur trade.
Manuel Lisa and his wife relocated to Fort Lisa, near present-day Omaha, Nebraska, where they oversaw the company’s operations in the region. Meanwhile, Joshua Pilcher traveled extensively, engaging in trade with various Native American tribes. As Pilcher returned to Fort Lisa, he found Manuel Lisa in failing health. Lisa passed away on August 12, 1820, marking the end of an era for the Missouri Fur Company.
Following Lisa’s death, Thomas Hempstead assumed the role of business manager, operating from St. Louis, Missouri. However, the fur trade industry was becoming increasingly unstable, facing challenges such as fluctuating prices, increased competition, and escalating conflicts with Native American tribes. When two of the company’s posts were robbed by an Arikara war party, the company’s financial situation deteriorated further.
Despite these setbacks, the company persevered, seeking to expand its operations further west. They established Fort Benton in Montana, aiming to tap into the rich fur resources of the region and establish trade relations with the Crow tribe. However, competition from established players such as the Hudson’s Bay Company and the Rocky Mountain Fur Company intensified, creating even greater financial strain.
The company’s roster of partners continued to evolve, with the addition of William H. Vanderburgh, Lucien Fontenelle, and Andrew Drips. In one year alone, the company deployed nearly 300 traders, who managed to accumulate $42,000 in furs, demonstrating the potential for profitability despite the challenging circumstances.
However, the company’s fortunes took a turn for the worse in May 1823. A large Blackfeet war party ambushed a group of Pilcher’s men, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals and the wounding of four others. The attackers seized the company’s traps, pack horses, and pelts, inflicting a loss of approximately $15,000. This devastating blow forced Joshua Pilcher to withdraw his men from the Northwest, effectively crippling the company’s ability to operate in the region.
The ambush proved to be a death knell for the Missouri Fur Company. They never returned to the northwest, and by the spring of 1824, the company was declared bankrupt. The legacy of the Missouri Fur Company serves as a testament to the ambition, resilience, and ultimate challenges faced by those who sought to capitalize on the vast resources of the American West.