Edward Rose (fur trapper) facts for kids

Edward Rose was an early American explorer, trapper, guide, and interpreter. He was born around 1780-1788 and died in 1833. During his life, Rose spent time living with Native American tribes and also worked for companies that trapped furs. Because he understood both cultures, he was an important person for helping different groups talk to each other and trade things.

Early Life

We don't know a lot about Edward Rose's early life. Historians believe he was of mixed heritage, and his appearance, with black hair and changeable eyes, made him look very much like a Native American. This helped him fit in with different tribes. He likely worked along parts of the Mississippi River, traveling between Illinois and New Orleans. When he was young, he lived among the Crow Indians, learning their traditions, language, and customs. He grew up near Louisville, Kentucky.

As a young man, Rose traveled to New Orleans while working on a keelboat. By the time he was eighteen, he was known for being a tough person. The scars he got from his fights led the Crow people to call him Nez Coupé, which means "Cut Nose."

Fur Trapping Adventures

Working with Manuel Lisa

Edward Rose got his first job in the fur trapping business in 1807. He was hired as an interpreter for an expedition led by American explorer Manuel Lisa. This trip went to the Bighorn River in what is now Wyoming. Lisa trusted Rose and sent him, along with George Drouillard, to explore the area. Their job was to build good relationships with local Native American communities and tell them about Fort Raymond, a trading post Lisa's group had built. Drouillard traveled about 500 miles, while Rose went to a Crow village and stayed there for the winter.

While with the Crow, Rose traded some of Lisa's goods for favors from the tribe. When he returned to Lisa's camp, probably in July 1808, Rose and Lisa had a big argument about how Rose had used the trade goods. Another expedition member, John Potts, tried to help. Rose only stayed at the camp long enough to get more goods for trading, and then he went back to the Crow village.

With the Crow and Andrew Henry

During his time at the Crow village, the tribe had a small battle against the neighboring Hidatsa tribe. The Crow were having trouble, and some of their fighters were leaving the battle. Rose reportedly charged at the Hidatsa fort. Three bullets hit his shield, and Rose fell for a moment, but he quickly got up and kept fighting. After this, the Crow saw Rose as a fierce, brave, and fearless warrior.

In the years that followed, Rose was happy living either with the Crow or with other mountain men. He met with both groups to work as an explorer and trapper. Later in 1809, Rose worked for Lisa's partner, Andrew Henry, at a trading post in what is now North Dakota. Henry hired Rose as an interpreter for a few years during trips through Montana and parts of Idaho. Rose's help was very important to Henry. After earning Henry's trust, Rose took many supplies and goods to trade and returned to the Crow people.

Joining Wilson Price Hunt

In 1811, Wilson Price Hunt hired Rose to join an expedition. Hunt was trying to make John Jacob Astor's fur business bigger. Hunt knew that Rose had left previous expeditions and taken things, so he took steps to stop Rose from causing problems. Hunt first had guards protect their goods.

After several days of trading talks with a group of Crows at Crazy Woman Creek didn't go well, Hunt thought Rose had been disloyal and blamed him for the failure. Hunt offered Rose half a year's pay, a horse, and other goods to leave the expedition. After Rose left, Hunt's group got lost in the Bighorn mountains. Even though they had argued, Rose showed up again a few days later and helped them find their way.

In the years that followed, Rose lived in an Omaha village, where he married the chief's daughter. He had a good standing in the tribe after his trip with Hunt. During these years, Rose had two children. He was known for starting arguments. This eventually caused problems for both the Omaha people and the traders, so he was arrested and sent to St. Louis. After he was released, Rose traveled back to New Orleans, then returned to the Crow, and stayed with them for almost ten years.

Working with William Ashley

In 1823, Rose was hired again as an interpreter for an expedition led by William Ashley to the Rocky Mountains. During this trip, Ashley's group met the Arikara Indians. The year before, two Arikara warriors had been killed by members of another fur trading company, which made them not trust Ashley's group. For two days, the groups stayed apart and avoided fighting. But when a few members of Ashley's expedition, including Rose, went into the Arikara village, a small fight broke out, and one of the trappers was killed. Rose returned to camp and told Ashley what happened. Even though some in the expedition wanted revenge, Ashley decided to wait overnight. The next morning, Arikara warriors attacked the camp, killing 15 trappers and wounding 9. This forced the expedition to escape downriver. With these losses, and running out of money, the expedition had to be stopped.

After this failure, Ashley decided to find a land route to the mountains for furs, instead of using the Missouri River which was controlled by the Arikara. He hired Jedidiah Smith to lead a group, and Rose worked as a guide and interpreter. They traveled northwest in 1823-1824 along a route that would later become the Bozeman Trail. They then crossed the Bighorns into the Wind River Valley. Rose helped trade horses along the way and successfully talked with the Crows to get permission to pass through South Pass to the Green River beaver grounds.

Death

Edward Rose died during the winter of 1832-1833. He was traveling with Hugh Glass and Hilain Menard for the American Fur Company. Their journey was from Fort Cass, at the mouth of the Bighorn River, to Fort Union. As the three men crossed the frozen Yellowstone River, a group of Arikara warriors attacked and killed them.