Table of Contents
What is Jim Bridger known for?
Jim Bridger was a trader, a storyteller, an explorer, and a mountain man. He was born in Virginia in 1804. For 50 years he led a lot of tough frontiersmen. In 1865 Bridger was hired to help the Union Pacific map a route through the Bighorn Mountains.
How old was Jim Bridger when he died?
77 years (1804–1881)
Jim Bridger/Age at death
By 1868, Bridger’s eyesight was failing, and he increasingly suffered from rheumatism. He retired to his Westport farm, where he cared for his apple trees. He died at the age of 77 on July 17, 1881.
Why is Jim Bridger important to Utah?
American trapper, fur trader, and wilderness guide, James Bridger (1804-1881), was one of the most famous frontiersmen. He is credited with discovering the Great Salt Lake, Utah. While trapping in late 1824, Bridger reached the Great Salt Lake, which he thought was part of the Pacific Ocean.
How long did it take Hugh Glass?
six weeks
Using Thunder Butte as a navigational landmark, Glass crawled overland south toward the Cheyenne River where he fashioned a crude raft and floated downstream to Fort Kiowa. The journey took him six weeks.
What was Jim Bridger’s relationship with Native Americans?
Mormon leaders were convinced that Bridger was engaged in illicit trade with the Indians, especially guns and ammunition, and that he had stirred hostility among the Native Americans against the Mormons.
What are some interesting facts about James Bridger?
James Bridger Facts. American trapper, fur trader, and wilderness guide, James Bridger (1804-1881), was one of the most famous frontiersmen. He is credited with discovering the Great Salt Lake, Utah. James Bridger was born on March 17, 1804, at Richmond, Va.
How did Jim Bridger start his frontier life?
In March 1822 Bridger started his frontier life by joining the party of trappers being organized at St. Louis by William H. Ashley. That year the men traveled up the Missouri to trap along its tributaries in the Rocky Mountains. For the next 20 years Bridger and other mountain men roamed throughout the western third of the United States.
What is the best book on James Bridger’s life?
The best study of Bridger’s career is J. Cecil Alter, James Bridger, Trapper, Frontiersman, Scout, and Guide (1925; rev. ed. 1962). This includes a thorough discussion of his actions and an evaluation of the many folktales surrounding his life.
How many times did Jim Bridger get married?
During his years on the frontier Bridger had been married three times to Native American women. In 1835 he married the daughter of a Flathead chief. When she died, he acquired a Ute wife, and after her death he wed the daughter of a Shoshone chief.