William Becknell – Father of the Santa Fe Trail
William Becknell, a name synonymous with westward expansion and entrepreneurial spirit, holds a distinguished place in American history as the "Father of the Santa Fe Trail." A multifaceted figure, Becknell was a frontiersman, trader, soldier, and politician whose vision and daring laid the foundation for a vital commercial artery connecting the United States to the Southwest. His story is one of resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity in the burgeoning American frontier.
Born in Amherst County, Virginia, around 1788, William Becknell’s early life provided little indication of the historical impact he would eventually have. He was the son of Micajah and Pheby Landrum Becknell. He married Jane Trusler in 1807, also in Virginia. The couple’s ambition led them westward in 1810, where they established a homestead in the Missouri Territory, west of what is now St. Charles. This move marked the beginning of Becknell’s immersion in the challenges and opportunities of frontier life.
The outbreak of the War of 1812 saw William Becknell stepping into military service. He joined Daniel Morgan Boone, the son of the legendary explorer, as a sergeant in the United States Mounted Rangers in May 1813. His service was extensive, spanning the volatile frontier. He rose through the ranks, earning a promotion to ensign in July 1814. Becknell participated in Major Zachary Taylor’s campaign against British-backed Native American tribes, culminating in the Battle of Credit Island near present-day Davenport, Iowa, in September 1814. He later served under Captain James Callaway, a relative of Daniel Boone, until Callaway’s death in battle in March 1815. Becknell then assumed command of the company and Camp Clemson, Missouri, eventually being promoted to Captain, a title that would remain with him throughout his life.
Following his discharge from federal service in June 1815, Becknell returned to civilian life, engaging in farming, horse trading, and freighting. Tragedy struck when his wife passed away. He remarried to Mary Chribbs and fathered a daughter in 1815. The couple would eventually have four more children together. Becknell’s entrepreneurial spirit continued to drive him. In 1816, he secured a license to operate a ferry at the bustling Arrow Rock crossing of the Missouri River, relocating his family to central Missouri. Alongside his ferry business, he actively participated in freighting and the salt trade. Around 1817, the family moved further west to Franklin, Missouri. His ambition extended to the political sphere, but he was unsuccessful when he ran for the Missouri House of Representatives in 1820.
However, it was in 1821 that William Becknell etched his name into history. Driven by financial difficulties, he organized a trading expedition that would traverse the Great Plains and reach Santa Fe, New Mexico. This venture would earn him the moniker "Father of the Santa Fe Trail". In September 1821, Becknell, accompanied by four companions, embarked on his first journey westward from Franklin, Missouri, carrying a freight load destined for Santa Fe. They chose a route that would later become known as the Mountain Branch of the Santa Fe Trail.
The traditional narrative recounts that Becknell and his men labored for two days to clear rocks, enabling their horses to navigate the formidable 7,834-foot-high Raton Pass. This pass was already a rough trail used by Native Americans, conquistadors, trappers, and traders. However, the discovery of Pedro Ignacio Gallego’s diary in 1993 has cast doubt on this particular detail. Gallego, a Mexican Captain, encountered Becknell on his initial journey to Santa Fe. Gallego’s writings, combined with Becknell’s own journal entries describing the landscape, suggest that the party may have misidentified the Canadian River. Instead, they likely crossed another river or stream. Current research indicates that the crossing point was probably located between the Arkansas River and Puertocito Piedra Lumbre in Kearny Gap, south of present-day Las Vegas, New Mexico.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding the exact route, the expedition successfully reached Santa Fe on November 16, 1821. Becknell and his party were warmly received, and he sold his goods at a considerable profit. After a month of trading, they departed Santa Fe on December 13, returning to Missouri in January 1822. Becknell’s initial investment of $300 in trading goods yielded approximately $6,000 in coins, demonstrating the immense potential of trade with the Southwest.
The success of William Becknell’s first trading trip had a significant impact on central Missouri. The region was grappling with the economic devastation caused by the Panic of 1819. The economic downturn was largely attributed to a scarcity of money. Missouri lacked a formal banking system, rendering paper money practically worthless. Only gold and silver coins were accepted as payment. Farmers struggled to find markets for their produce, merchants couldn’t sell their goods, and many individuals were burdened by debt. The influx of Mexican coins, a direct result of Becknell’s expedition, revitalized Missouri’s economy. Farmers and local merchants gained access to a new market for their goods. The prospect of legitimate trade with Mexico offered a pathway to alleviate the economic hardship caused by the Panic of 1819.
Emboldened by his success, William Becknell advertised for 70 men to join him on a second westward expedition. Thirty men volunteered, and in May 1822, they departed Missouri with $3,000-$5,000 worth of goods. This time, they employed wagons and explored a new route. They left the Arkansas River near present-day Dodge City, Kansas, and crossed to the Cimarron River, effectively blazing the Santa Fe Trail. The journey was arduous, with both people and animals enduring severe hardships, including near-fatal thirst in the arid Cimarron Desert. Despite these challenges, they arrived in Santa Fe 48 days later.
This second expedition was instrumental in establishing the Santa Fe Trail as a viable route for regular traffic and military movement. It became the first and only international trade route between the United States and Mexico until the construction of a railroad to Santa Fe in 1880. This solidified William Becknell’s reputation as the "Father of the Santa Fe Trail." The second trip proved even more profitable than the first, with the party returning to Missouri with a profit of approximately $91,000.
William Becknell continued to be involved with the Santa Fe Trail. In 1824-25, he led a party of trappers into Colorado, and in 1825-1826, he participated in a federal project to grade and mark the Santa Fe Trail.
His contributions extended beyond exploration and trade. Becknell’s first political appointment was as Justice of the Peace in Saline County, Missouri, in 1827. He was subsequently elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1828, serving two terms. Retaining his rank of Captain, Becknell served in the Missouri state militia during a Native American uprising in 1829 and again during the Black Hawk War in 1832. After his service, he continued to be involved in frontier activities.
In 1835, Becknell sold his property and business interests in Missouri and relocated to Red River County, Texas. During the Texas Revolution, he raised a cavalry unit known as the Red River Blues in July 1836, serving along the Lavaca River until October. That same month, he traveled to the capital of the Republic of Texas, believing he had been elected to the House of Representatives. However, he discovered upon arrival that he had not won the election and ceded his place to Collin McKinney, who had received more votes. Later, he served briefly as a Texas Ranger and commanded Red River militia companies in 1838, 1841, and 1842.
While residing in Texas, William Becknell accumulated a substantial estate of land and livestock in Red River and Lamar County. He died on April 25, 1856, and was buried near Clarksville, Texas. His legacy as the "Father of the Santa Fe Trail" endures, a testament to his pioneering spirit and his profound impact on the development of the American West.