Hiram Scott facts for kids

Hiram Scott (1805–1828) was an American mountain man who explored the western United States in the 1820s. He was a trapper and traded animal furs. Born in Missouri, Scott joined the Rocky Mountain Fur Company in 1822. He was part of the first fur trading trip to the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Scott died when he was only 23 years old. He passed away near a tall cliff along the North Platte River in Nebraska. This place was later named after him. No one is completely sure how he died, and there are many different stories.

Early Life and Fur Trade Adventures

Hiram Scott was born in 1805 in St. Charles County, Missouri. People said he was very tall and strong, with dark skin. In 1822, he started working for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. This company was one of the first to explore the wild western parts of the United States. The company's goal was to trade furs with Native American tribes. They also wanted to compete with British fur traders.

Scott was part of the company's first big trip. This journey went along the Missouri River between 1822 and 1823.

Facing Challenges on the Frontier

On June 2, 1823, Scott and other explorers faced a tough challenge. They were attacked by warriors from the Arikara tribe near the Missouri River. Fifteen trappers lost their lives in this attack. Soon after, a war began between the United States government and the Arikara.

Until 1828, Scott worked as a clerk for the fur company. He kept records of trades with Native Americans. He also led explorations from the Great Salt Lake area. In 1826, he attended the first big meeting for fur traders near Salt Lake. He also joined two other expeditions there.

In 1827, Scott and James Bruffee led a group to a meeting at Bear Lake. They returned with many valuable animal furs later that year. The company sent them back to trap more beavers. Some stories say that in 1828, Scott and Bruffee fought with Blackfoot Indians. This battle might have injured Scott on his way back to St. Louis. Because of this, some people believe Blackfoot Indians caused his death.

Hiram Scott's Mysterious Death

Most likely, Hiram Scott became very sick on his journey back east to St. Louis. He was with two friends, traveling in a small boat on the North Platte River. They hoped to meet up with a larger trading group. But their boat flipped over, and they lost their rifles and food.

Warren A. Ferris was the first person to write about Scott's death. He said Scott's friends left him on the north side of the river. The next year, Scott's body was found on the other side of the North Platte River. He was near the tall cliffs that are now named after him. This means he somehow managed to cross the river before he died.

Another fur explorer, William Sublette, wrote a similar story in his diary. He said Scott got sick and his friends left him to die. Sublette added that he returned to the bluffs the next summer. He gathered Scott's scattered bones and buried them.

There are other ideas about what happened. Some say Scott's friends left him much earlier on the trip. They believe he traveled many miles before he died. Another idea is that Scott bravely told his group to leave him behind. He might have done this to save them. Others even wonder if something unfair happened to him.

Places Named After Hiram Scott

Many places in Nebraska are named in honor of Hiram Scott. These include Scotts Bluff County and the city of Scottsbluff. There was also a college named after him, the former Hiram Scott College in Scottsbluff.

Images for kids

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  Saddle Rock formation in Scotts Bluff National Monument