The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-03-18

Fe Trail had become almost one cOntin-
uOus cemetery-a region of nameleSs and
unmarked graves. AS the Indians became
better acquainted with the new established
route traversed by these white traders and
trapperS, battles with these plains and
mountain tribes grew in frequence, and to
undertake the journey was to take ones
life and the lives of his party into his own
hands.
During the years that have elapsed since
the Santa Fe Trail was the sole avenue
for in the southwest, many of the
old landmarks that designated the starting
point from st. Louis followed the MiSsiS-
Sippi to the mouth of the Missouri and
then traced the course of the latter river.
For some time, the old BOOn's Lick cOun-
try Now Howard county, Mo-, and old
Franklin constituted the starting point of
the trail. This town of old Franklin,
where the famous frOntiersman, Kit Car
son, was employed during his bOyhOOd
days, as an apprentice to a harness maker
and saddler, now is the bottom of the
Missouri river, the old tOwnsite having
been washed away.
Bent's Fort
The first expeditions which made their
way from Missouri to Santa Fe followed up
the Arkansas river to a point near where
the town of La Junta, Colorado, now
stands. They then turned south and went
first to Taos and then proceeded to his
to be used by many even after the shorter
trail had been established across the desert.
1t was on this earlier route that was To-
Gated Bent's Fort. This trading post was
located on the Arkansas river, about fifteen
miles from where Pueblo is now situated.
In its day it bore the record of being the
most important outpost of civilization,
ranking superior even to Forts Union,
Pierre and Laramie. 1t was the great cross
roads station of the southwestern country
and the trading point for an immenSe area.
Bent's Fort was established by William
Bent Ceran st. Vrain, partners in a
fur trading company which ranked next to
the American Fur company in the amount
of business it transacted during it's most
prosperous days. It is. here worthy of men
ton that this William Bent was the great
uncle of the late Charles NJ. Russell, Mon
tana's Cowboy Artist" The Bent family
was one of the most distinguished to re-
side in st. Louis, and from as early as
1904 they were interested in fur trade in
the far west. William Bent had three
brothers who likewise were frOntiersmen
two of them being in the employ Of the
American Fur company.
Rents fort was situated $50 miles from
Independence, Mo-, and stood on the left
bank Of the Arkansas river, about midway
between the present cities of La Junta and
Los Animas, Colorado. 1t was established
in 1928 and its construction was completed
in 1882.
Building the Fort
In 1924 William Bent had established q
fort on the Arkansas in Colorado. He also
was distinguished as having been the first
white man to permanently settle in what
is now Colorado. By his fair and open
dealings and his fearlessness, he won the
confidence Of the Indians and retained Il
until his death. Among the rough frater
nifty of mountain trappers he was also very
popular and had a reputation fer courage
Several historians have given deScrip'
tons of the old fort, but almost all Of
these differ. On certain points, however