Bent, St. Vrain & Company facts for kids

Bent, St. Vrain & Company

Former type	General partnership
Industry	Santa Fe trade, fur trade, Indian trade
Fate	Dissolved
Successor	William Bent & Company
Founded	1830
Founder	Charles Bent, Ceran St. Vrain
Defunct	1849 (1849)
Headquarters	St. Louis, Santa Fe
Area served	Rocky Mountains, New Mexico, Texas Panhandle

Bent, St. Vrain & Company was a very important business that traded furs and other goods. It was active from 1830 to 1849. This company operated in different areas, including parts of what is now Mexico, Texas, and the United States. They helped connect people and goods across a large part of North America.

How the Company Started and What It Did

Bent, St. Vrain & Company began in 1830. It was a partnership between two friends, Charles Bent and Ceran St. Vrain. The next year, Charles's brother, William Bent, joined them.

The main goal of the company was to move goods. They would transport manufactured items from St. Louis to Santa Fe. This journey happened along the famous Santa Fe Trail. In return, they would collect and transport furs and buffalo robes.

Building a Trading Empire

This company became very successful. Their yearly earnings from the fur trade were about $400,000. This made them one of the biggest fur trading companies in America. Only the American Fur Company was larger.

Bent, St. Vrain & Company owned several businesses. They had stores in Santa Fe and Taos. They also owned a mill in Taos.

They built many trading posts, which were like small forts. These forts were in areas where different groups lived. They traded with Native American hunters. They also traded with French, Hispanic, and American mountain men. The forts were also important stops for teamsters, settlers, and other travelers on the Santa Fe Trail.

Why the Company Ended

The company's operations changed a lot during the Mexican–American War. The United States took control of New Mexico during this time.

Charles Bent was made the governor of New Mexico by the United States Army. Sadly, he died during a time of great unrest. This happened just before the Taos Revolt, a difficult period for the region.

Challenges and Changes

After Charles Bent's death, there was a lot of trouble and stress. The remaining partners found it very hard to continue. Also, people around the world started wanting fewer furs. Because of these challenges, Bent, St. Vrain & Company closed down in 1849.

Important Trading Posts

The company operated several key trading posts:

• Bents Old Fort: This was active from 1833 to 1849.
• Fort Saint Vrain: This post operated from 1837 to 1844.
• Fort Jackson: The company bought this fort and then closed it in 1838.
• Fort Adobe: This post was used around 1845 to 1846.