Jedidiah Strong Smith was born in Bainbridge,New York,on January 16, 1799. He tutored under medical doctor and got above average education. He clerked on a fur trading ship,while in his teens, and grew enamored of the tales of the Rockies. He hooked up with his first expedition with William H. Ashley in 1822. He soon was a leader himself with a good reputation because he was literate, sober, and reliable.
In 1826,he founded his own fur trading company with partners David S.Jackson and William Sublette. Smith really wanted to open up the untrapped area of the s.w. In 1826, he led 18 men on an expedition through the Great Salt Lakes Valley and through sw Utah, se Nevada,to Needles, California. For awhile he was under arrest by Mexican authority who were mistrusted of his fur trading deals. Once released he explored the San Joaquin Valley of California, crossed the Sierra Nevada in winter, crossed through N. Central Nevada, and met up with his partners in the Salt Lake areaat the agreed Rendezvous spot in 1827.
`After resting 10 days , he took another party of 18 along substantially the same route. This time .though, he encountered trouble at Needles. A party of Mojove indians, angry with an earlier trapping party, killed 10 of Smith,s men and scattered his furs and supplies. After recovering from the episode the remaining men proceeded across Calif., where Smith was again arrested and released.
After that, Smith gave up his plans to explore the S.W. In 1830, he retired from the fur business and became a merchant. But his wanderlust got the better of him. In 1831, while on the Santa fe trail from Missouri, he weas killed by Comanches while crossing the Cimarron River. He left behind many writings about the Rocky Mountains and the S.W. geography that later explorers found in valuable.
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GAMES ALONG THE TRAIL
DISCOVERY:
Virtaully every emigrant or immigrant that crossed the plains on the way to Utah was doing so for the first time, for that reason, the game of discovery was participated in by everyone. Curiosity just let persons to wander off a bit(some even getting lost in the process),slow down, or stop in order to examine a new plant,animal(including insects), or geologic formation.
THROWING:
This would include rocks, sticks,and buffalo chips(forerunner of todays frisby, of course). This was mostly a young male activity.
Souvenir Collecting:
This was a young person's activity, generally connected with the discovery activities. Items were small, helped the owner remember events or places, and were fun to show to friends.
Chatting:
Slow travel made journeys seem endless. Walkers, especially mated up with one or more friends, chatted, gossiped, memorized or recited verse, just as people do today.
Of course singing, dancing , checkers, jump rope, tic- tac-toe, marbles (made of clay), jacks(pewter jacks and wooden ball), duck-duck goose, hide-and-seek, horse shoes, stick and barrel hoop, and more provided needed entertainment along the trail.
RODEO RIDDLES
What did the bandana say to the ten-gallon hat? You can go on ahead, I'll just hang around!
Why did the cowboy tickle his horse? He thought he'd get a kick out of it.
How do cowboys count their cattle? On a cow-culator.
What do you call a rush to the post office? A stampede.
What do ponies learn in school? Horse code.
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