Henry Fraeb facts for kids
Henry Fraeb, also known as Frapp, was a brave and adventurous mountain man. He was also a fur trader and ran trading posts in the American West. He worked in areas that are now Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.
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Early Life of Henry Fraeb
Henry Fraeb was from St. Louis, Missouri. His family had German roots.
Adventures as a Mountain Man
Henry Fraeb was a skilled trapper. He hunted for beaver fur in the Rocky Mountains. He worked in places like Montana, where he was one of the first fur traders.
Owning a Fur Company
Later, Fraeb became an owner of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. He owned it with other famous mountain men. These included Jim Bridger, Milton Sublette, Jean Baptiste Gervais, and Thomas Fitzpatrick. They bought the company in 1830 for $30,000. They paid off this large amount over three years.
Even though they were excellent trappers, they were new to running a big business. They faced challenges with other smart and rich competitors. For example, sometimes their fur shipments were late. This caused problems with money and getting supplies. Fraeb later said he sold his share of the company. He received $1,000 worth of goods, 40 horses, 40 traps, and eight guns. The company closed down in 1834.
Opening Trading Posts
After the company closed, Fraeb worked as an independent trapper. This meant he worked for himself. In 1837, he opened a trading post called Fort Jackson. He built it near Ione, Colorado with his friend Peter Sarpy. Other trading posts nearby were Fort Vasquez, Fort Lupton, and Fort Saint Vrain.
As the demand for beaver fur went down, Fraeb started focusing on buffalo fur. The company that supported them, Pratte, Chouteau & Company, later sold Fort Jackson. It was bought by Bent, St. Vrain & Company.
In 1841, Fraeb and Jim Bridger built another log trading post. They called it Fraeb's Post. It was located near the Continental Divide and the border between Colorado and Wyoming. This post was built where the Little Snake River and Battle Creek meet. Its exact location is 40°59′58″N 107°14′12″W / 40.99944°N 107.23667°W.
The Battle Creek Fight
In August 1841, Henry Fraeb and four other hunters were killed. This happened during a fight with Sioux warriors at Battle Creek. Fraeb was leading a group of 23 buffalo hunters. They were in Encampment Valley when about 500 Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors attacked them.
Fraeb's friend, Jim Baker, was with him. Baker said the Native American warriors charged about 40 times. They came very close, within 10 or 15 feet of the hunters. The hunters had formed a circle with their horses for protection. Fraeb, who was leading the group, told them not to shoot until they were sure of hitting their target.
Eventually, the hunters found a safer spot behind some log defenses. From there, they fought off the attacks. It is believed that about 40 Native American warriors were killed or hurt. The five hunters who died, including Henry Fraeb, were buried near the battle site.
