Kasper Mansker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kasper Mansker
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| Born | c. 1750 On the European immigrant ship, Christian, during an Atlantic Ocean voyage, in transit, to the British American colonies
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| Died | 1820 (aged 70) |
| Resting place | Mansker Family Cemetery, Goodlettsville, Tennessee, later, reburial at Peay Park, Goodlettsville, Tennessee |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Kasper Mäintzger, Kasper Minsker, Caspar Mansker |
| Occupation | frontiersman, fur trader, hunter, politician, soldier, explorer |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth White |
| Parent(s) | Ludwig Mäintzger/Minsker, Sr. and Maria Esch |
| Relatives | John Minsker (brother), George Mansker, Sr. (brother), Catherine Albright (sister), Ludwig Minsker, Jr. (brother) |
Kasper Mansker (1750–1820) was an important American explorer and hunter. He was one of the first European settlers in what is now Middle Tennessee. People sometimes spelled his name as Casper Mansker, Mäintzger, or Minsker. He was known as a "longhunter" because he went on long hunting trips far into the wilderness.
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Early Life and Family
Kasper Mansker was born in 1750 on a ship called the Christian. His parents, Ludwig Mäintzger and Maria Esch, were German immigrants. They were traveling to the British American colonies.
After arriving, his family settled in America. Records are not clear about where they lived exactly. It might have been in Pennsylvania, Virginia, or West Virginia. Kasper had four brothers named John, George, and Ludwig, and one sister named Catherine.
Kasper Mansker married Elizabeth White. She was from Berkeley County, West Virginia. There are no records of their marriage date or location. They did not have any children who survived.
First Adventures in the Wilderness
In 1769, Kasper Mansker began his first big hunting trip. He explored and hunted along the Cumberland River. This area is now in Tennessee and Kentucky. He spent most of his life exploring these lands.
His first trip was full of exciting hunts and challenges. His group even had some supplies stolen by a small group of Native Americans. However, they also met friendly French fur traders. They were able to trade for fresh food and other items.
Second Hunting Trip and Fort Building
Kasper Mansker went on a second trip to Kentucky and Tennessee in 1771. He traveled with a man named Colonel John Montgomery. During this trip, two members of their group disappeared.
Mansker eventually set up a camp along the Cumberland River. This was in what is now Sumner County, Tennessee. Native Americans attacked their camp again. They took about 500 deer skins.
In 1772, Mansker found a perfect hunting spot. It had two salt licks close together. Salt licks are places where animals gather to lick salt from the ground. This meant hunting was excellent there.
Mansker later built a fort at this spot in 1780. It was near what is now Goodlettsville, Tennessee. This fort became an important stop for new settlers. They used it when they arrived in Middle Tennessee.
Exploring the Cumberland River
In 1773, Kasper Mansker briefly returned to his home in Virginia. He served on a jury and was a witness in a court case. But he did not stay long.
By 1775, he was back in Middle Tennessee. He returned to the area near Mansker's Lick. During this trip, he explored the Cumberland River. He went near the Red River. This area is now Clarksville, Tennessee.
Joining the Nashville Settlement
The years of the American Revolutionary War were mostly quiet for Kasper Mansker. In 1779, he joined a group led by Captain James Robertson and John Donelson. They were looking for a good place to start a new settlement.
They chose a spot known as French Lick. This place later became Fort Nashborough. Today, it is the city of Nashville, Tennessee.
Mansker's Station
In early 1780, Kasper Mansker moved north. He built his own fort in Goodlettsville. He called it Mansker's Station. A "station" was a strong, protected settlement on the frontier.
Mansker was one of the people who signed the Cumberland Compact. This was an important agreement. It set up rules for how the new settlements in the Cumberland region would be governed. The compact created the Cumberland Association. This group governed the area. It had leaders from about seven settlements, including Mansker's Station.
Native Americans in Middle Tennessee began to worry. They saw more and more European settlers arriving. They feared losing their hunting grounds. This led to attacks by Native Americans on the settlers.
During these attacks, Mansker's Station was a safe place for settlers. Even famous people like Andrew Jackson found refuge there. Kasper Mansker was also one of the first innkeepers in the area. In 1781, Mansker himself was hurt in a skirmish with Native Americans. This is the only time he was recorded as being injured in a conflict.
Images for kids
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Historic Manskers Station.jpg
Historic Mansker's Station, a reconstruction of the 1779 frontier fort in Tennessee.
