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Show ‘|M@ ee eee eee ne : rs ~ be eee oe cd i ee ee e ) To 0— tw at Cpe ge en eee “ ad ee Ot et Oe ee ee eee Te ae ed oe ot ee Ee aa yet ea ee i? oe 102 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY OLD McKnight, James Baird, Samuel Chambers, and other Americans were in jail in Chihuahua, and the treatment thus accorded to the traders seems to have discouraged any further attempts to carry on commercial relations with the people of New Mexico until the overthrow of Spanish power in 1821. ‘‘There is some evidence, however,’’ says Chittenden, ‘‘that parties must have gone to Santa Fé during these years, for otherwise it is difficult to see upon what the St. Lowis Enquirer of September, 1822, could have based the remark that ‘it is becoming a familiar operation for our citizens to visit this capital.’ ’’ 7 In the year 1819, David Merriwether, an Indian trader, in comish frontier on the Arkansas, where they were defeated in a pitched battle with the Spaniards under Colonel Viscarra. Merriwether i179 ca000 can auren 4 yy, Becknell crossed the plains. In 1853 Merni- authorities in New Mexico it is evident that trade with New Mexico was not really begun until the period of Spanish dominion had independence was achieved the When the Americans who had been imprisoned in Chihuahua were released, James Baird and the two McKnights, one of whom had gone to Chihuahua to secure the release of his brother, returned by way of Santa Fé and Taos. When they arrived at Taos they met a party of Americans led by Hugh Glenn, a merchant from Ohio, and come out from the states the year previous. 1 James and four Conklin years later came to Santa was married Jacob who had Canada, to Ortiz, via of St. Louis, in 1821, which marriage there Were Six children, all of whom are now dead, except Charles M. Conklin, now a resident of Santa Fé. Juana Ortiz was the daughter of Don Pedro a and Barbara Lopez, distinguished citizens of Santa Fé. She was the ses an. of Rt. Rev. Juan Felipe Ortiz, — Me vicario, and Don Tomas Ortiz, chie de and President of the Ayuntamiento of Santa of whom wert Prominent in the affairs of the territory afterFé, thebothindependence ° eee was achieved. = in Santa occupation, at the time in 1846,They of the Amer and were were both leaders in the Férevolution of 1846-7. oe erwards held office under the American government. James Conklin as : te j eee serve ' to Col. J. M, Washington at the time of his campaign avajés in 1849, ninety-one years, bad: | me He died in Santa Fé, in the year against at the age 0 1882, at the 48 103 They started from the town of Frank- ulated others to begin in the business, and, in the spring following the return of Becknell, Colonel Benjamin Cooper and his two nephews, Braxton and Stephen, with others to the number of fifteen, carrying their merchandise upon pack-horses, set out upon the trail, They went directly to Taos, where they arrived in safety.”> Captain J oseph Walker, with a party of trappers, joined Cooper’s party on the way and accompanied them to Taos. ieee They joined his party, Fé from Juana Fowler, TRAIL lin, Missouri, with the original purpose of trading with the Indians, but having fallen in with a party of Mexica n rangers, they were prevailed upon to go to Santa Fé, where, notwit hstanding the small amounts of merchandise which they carried, very handsome profits were realized.74 Upon his return to Missouri, Captain Becknell gave very glowing accounts of the possibilities of trade with Santa Fé, which stim- wether returned to Santa Fé, having been appointed governor of the territory of New Mexico by the president of the United States. Owing to the pronounced opposition on the part of the Spanish terminated. As soon ag Mexican Santa Fé trade was inaugurated. FE who were about to return, and reached St. Louis in July, 1822. John McKnight subsequently built a post on the upper Arkansas, where he was killed by the Comanches in 1823.7 Robert McKnight returned to New Mexico and made a fortune in working the copper mines at Santa Rita. Colonel Kit Carson was in his employ as a teamster in 1828.73 Captain William Becknell, of Missouri, was the father of the Santa Fé Trail and the real founder of the commer ce of the prairies. It was he who took the first CAPTAIN WILLIAM BECKNELL, FATHER successful trading expedition OF THE SANTA F& TRAIL to Santa Fé. In 1821, with Captain companions, four pany with a war-party of Pawnee Indians, came as far as the Spanwas captured, taken to Santa Fé, and imprisoned. SANTA 7 Missouri Intelligencer, 1891 ri i Peter ’s aoe a Province Life August and 12, 1823. Frontier Captain Becknell left Arrow On the 18th of November by whom they were escorted who acted as interpreter. Adventures, p. 33. Rock, Mo., near Franklin, September 1, his party met a detachment of Mexican to From San Miguel, where here they were a Frenchman was taken to Santa Fé, fre they met the governor. In December they returned to Missouri in a pia of forty-eight days duration. : Senate Bx, Does., 18th cong. 2 sess., 79. Braxton Cooper was killed by bask Comanche Indians. Major Stephen Cooper also led a party from Mis1886 to New Mexico. in 1823, Later he went to: California and, as late as _ was still living, according to Mr. in uh Companions, Joel P. Walker, a si also gives an account of his Bancroft, who received from one of narrative of their adventures. Major adventures and sufferings on the trail, oa of Howard and Cooper Counties, pp. 152-155, St. Louis, 1883. ittenden, H. M., History of the American Fur Trade, p. 501, says: ‘‘In |
