Fur Trade and Traders in Colorado and North West Pacific States

Thomas, W

A great deal has been contributed by the fur trade to the colorful history of Colorado, comparatively little has been written into the records, mainly because the early trappers and traders in that section, were for the most part illiterate or so busily engaged in their pursuits they had little time to put their thoughts on paper or the desire to record events as they transpired. Many of the happenings which today create wonder and consternation, were to them, just a part of the day's work and little thought or attention was given to their possible historical value in the days to follow. One of the earliest records of fur trading operations in the territory which is now Colorado, dates back to 1719 when Valverde, then governor of New Spain, now New Mexico, in order to investigate the truth of rumors he had heard of the presence of French traders on the Platte river and other streams in the vicinity of its source, dispatched a detachment of soldiers under Captain Villasur, with instructions that, if found, the Frenchmen were to be evicted from that territory which was than under the jurisdiction of Spain and subject to its control. The Spaniards came across a little party of French traders, but upon proceeding to obey their orders, found that the Frenchmen were so firmly entrenched in the esteem of the Indians, that the dusky warriors willing turned, and helped the Frenchmen almost annihilate the little Spanish army. This unlooked for behavior greatly dimmed the Spanish ardor tor such expeditions, and from then on, fur traders were left very much to themselves and continued their pursuits undisturbed,