The fur trade of the far west was the most important commercial industry of the early nineteenth century in America. Fur trappers and traders headed west looking for the beaver whose pelts were used to make top hats prized by wealthy Americans and Europeans. The economic impact of the fur trade was unparalleled in westward expansion. Forts built in the west catering to the fur trade were supplied by steamboats moving up the Missouri River. The traders and trappers also provided new information and insights into the geography of the western lands, the Native Americans, and explored and discovered new areas on the western frontier. The expansion of the west for future pioneers, gold miners, and settlers was made possible through the bravery and courage of the fur traders.
This multi cache will take you to the grave sites of five prominent fur traders or trappers of the far west. At these locations you will gather information to use to get the final coordinates for the cache.
Beginning contents of the cache include an unactivated Signal GeoCoin for the FTF, a couple of lanyards, and other Geoswag.
The posted coordinates will take you to Waypoint 1: N 38 41.532 W 090 13.700
At this location you will find the gravesite of William Sublette. William Sublette was born in 1798 in Kentucky. In 1823, William Sublette responded to an ad placed by William Ashley and Andrew Henry for fur trappers to ascend the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers into the Rocky Mountains. This marked a new beginning in the fur trade whereby the fur trappers were free trappers or mountain men not beholden to any particular fur trading company. Annual rendezvous were then held to either buy or trade for the furs from the mountain men. William Sublette and two partners bought Ashley’s fur company in 1826 and in 1832 he was wounded at the Battle of Pierre’s Hole in Idaho. He finally retired to St. Louis and died in 1845.
On one side of the monument you will find the name of Micajah Tarver and how old he was when he died. Subtract 59 from his age at death and let that be A.
Waypoint 2: N 38 41.604 W 090 13.938 - Gravesite of Robert Campbell
Robert Campbell along with 60 other men joined a fur trading expedition to the Rocky Mountains led by Jedediah Smith in 1825. After several years of trapping, he and William Sublette formed a partnership to transport merchandise and dry goods to the annual rendezvous. As the fur trade declined, they opened up a dry goods business and he began acquiring real estate and investing in banks and insurance companies. He became a very successful banker and, with his experience in the west, outfitted Fremont’s 1843 exploring expedition. He continued to be a successful and banker and businessman and developed a close relationship with Ulysses S. Grant.
Behind Robert Campbell's monument is another tall monument with a Civil War marker by it. If you look on one side of that monument you will see a name. Look carefully. Count the number of letters in the name and this will be your B.
Waypoint 3: N 38 41.818 W 090 13.757 - Gravesite of Manuel Lisa
Manuel Lisa was born in New Orleans in 1772. By the late 1790s he was engaged in the fur trading in the Mississippi valley. Lisa moved to the St. Louis area after the Louisiana Purchase and his first trading expedition in 1807 traveled to the mouth of the Bighorn River in Montana where he established his first trading post, Fort Raymond. He returned to St. Louis in 1808, established the Missouri Fur Company, the first large-scale fur trading and trapping venture to the far West, and headed west in 1809 with 350 men. He built Fort Lisa near Bismarck, North Dakota. Lisa worked to establish additional trading posts and continued to create business relationships with other trading companies and with the Native Americans, as well as a respected resident and businessman of St. Louis.
Just to the right of Manuel Lisa’s monument you will see Our Mother and behind Our Mother you will see a small bronze plaque to a Revolutionary War soldier. Make note of the year that the plaque was placed by the DAR. Subtract 2 from the last digit of the year and let that number be C .
Waypoint 4: N 38 41.612 W 090 13.770 - Gravesite of Benjamin Bonneville
Benjamin Bonneville was born in France, came to the United States in 1803, appointed to West Point in 1813, and graduated 2 years later. He was promoted to captain and transferred to Jefferson Barracks in 1828. His desire to explore the west was enough that a leave of absence was granted to allow him to sign 110 men on a fur trading and exploration to the west. He traveled from Fort Osage up the Platte River through Wyoming and established a fur trading post on the Green River, Fort Bonneville. He continued to conduct exploring expeditions gathering information on the geography, Indians, geology and soils. He even discovered an overland route to California that future emigrants would follow.
As you are facing the monument to Bonneville on your left is a tall obelisk. The name on it is Josephine Caignet Demie. Make a note of her age at death. Subtract 32 from that number and call that D(a 2 digit number).
Waypoint 5:
Waypoint 5 is located 91 feet at a bearing of 70.8 degrees from the gravesite of Benjamin Bonneville. At this location you will find a small gravestone of a prominent fur trader of the 1800s. Born in Virginia, he became involved in the hatmaking business and soon got involved in the fur trade. He became a partner in the Missouri Fur Company and bought the company after Manuel Lisa’s death. His grave maker should be easy to find. It clearly identifies him as a banker, fur trader and an Indian agent.
This man died in June 1843. Add 1 to the day in June that he died and let that number be E.
You may visit the gravesites in any order. After gathering the required information plug the numbers in the coordinate solution below to find the cache.
Final Coordinates are at: N 38 41.ABC W 090 13.DE
Specials thanks to LFrank for coordinating this great series, SLAGA for sponsoring it and Dan Fuller of Bellefontaine Cemetery for granting us permission. Please read the cemetery rules and regulations below.
Congratulations! FTF goes to SWAseeker
The following are some cemetery etiquette guidelines that Bellefontaine Cemetery wants everyone to be aware of and follow.
. This is an active cemetery; avoid disturbing a gravesite or chapel service and family members that are visiting their loved ones.
. Children under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
. Pets are welcomed but must be on a leash.
. Firearms are prohibited with the exception of the Military Honor Guard and re-enactors.
. Visitors and lot owners are requested to leave comments and inquiries at the cemetery office.
. Soliciting within the cemetery is prohibited.
. Groups of 10 or more must register at the cemetery office before proceeding onto the grounds.
. Keep conversation volumes low. Be respectful. Other people in the cemetery may be upset and want a tranquil place in which to mourn and to be alone in peace.
. Keep contact to gravestones to a minimum. Do not sit on any monuments. They are meaningful to the families who placed them there. Rubbings are prohibited.
. Do not take photographs of other people or funeral activities in the cemetery. Restrict your photography to scenes of landscape, nature, and architectural elements.
. Use common sense when walking off of the roadways. Walk between the headstones and do not stand on a burial place.
. The cemetery hours are 8am to 4pm everyday. If you do not leave the cemetery by 4pm, the gates will be locked and you will have to call the security number on the gate and have them let you out. Please do not let this happen.
This cache is sponsored by
SLAGA:
