Nathaniel Hale Pryor facts for kids
Nathaniel Hale Pryor (born 1772, died 1831) was an important explorer and soldier. He was a Sergeant in the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. This journey explored the western parts of North America.
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Early Life and Family
Nathaniel Pryor was born in Amherst County, Virginia. His cousin, Charles Floyd, also joined the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Nathaniel's parents were John Pryor and Nancy Floyd. When Nathaniel was eleven, his family moved to Kentucky.
By 1791, both of his parents had passed away. Nathaniel and his brother Robert became orphans. They were then trained by Obediah Newman. Nathaniel married Margaret Patton in 1798. She is believed to have died young. In 1803, he was the only married member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Later, in 1821, Pryor married an Osage Indian woman. They had several children together.
Joining the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Nathaniel Pryor joined the Lewis and Clark Expedition on October 20, 1803. This happened in Clarksville, Indiana. He was one of "nine young men from Kentucky" who joined the group. Usually, married men were not hired for the expedition. However, an exception was made for Pryor. This shows how skilled and respected he was.
In 1804, Pryor became a sergeant. He led the First Squad, which had six privates. William Clark later wrote that Pryor was a "1st Sergeant" on the expedition. Clark and Lewis thought Pryor was "a man of character and ability." Pryor helped lead a military trial in June 1804. Two privates were found guilty of stealing whiskey and drinking while on duty. Nathaniel's cousin, Charles Floyd, sadly died during the expedition on August 20, 1804. He was the only member of the Corps of Discovery to die.
Life After the Expedition
In 1807, Nathaniel Pryor was asked to lead an expedition. His job was to return a Mandan chief named Sheheke to his tribe. However, he had to turn back. This was because Arikara warriors attacked his group.
Pryor left the army in 1810. He then got a license to trade with Native American tribes. He set up a fur trading post. He also built a lead-smelting furnace. This was along the Upper Mississippi at the mouth of the Galena River. Around 1811, William Clark secretly asked Pryor for help. Clark was an Indian agent in the Missouri Territory. He wanted Pryor to gather information about the Shawnee chief Tecumseh. Pryor's information likely helped with the Battle of Tippecanoe in November 1811.
On January 1, 1812, Winnebago Indians attacked Pryor's trading post. They were seeking revenge after the Battle of Tippecanoe. Pryor escaped with the help of a Sauk Indian woman. His trading post was completely destroyed by fire. Nathaniel crossed the frozen Mississippi River to Missouri. He found safety with French farmers for the winter. He returned to St. Louis in the spring of 1812.
Serving in the War of 1812
After his trading post was destroyed, Pryor rejoined the army. This was during the War of 1812. With help from Clark, he became a Captain. He fought in the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. His army group was disbanded later that year. Pryor then went back to trading with Native Americans. He moved his business to the Arkansas River. Between 1825 and 1828, Clark listed Pryor as living at Fort Smith.
Living on the Frontier
In 1819, Pryor received permission to trade with the Osage Nation. He continued his fur trade after the war. In 1820, he set up a trading post. This was near present-day Pryor Creek, Oklahoma. He married an Osage woman and had several children.
In 1829 and 1830, Pryor worked with Sam Houston. They met with Claremont, the Osage chief, and Matthew Arbuckle. Their goal was to prevent a war between the Osage and Delaware tribes. Houston suggested Pryor to President Andrew Jackson for a government job. Pryor briefly served as a government agent for the Osages. He helped the tribe in talks with the military at nearby Forts Smith and Gibson. He served from 1830 until his death in 1831.
Pattie's Expedition and California
A man named Nathaniel Pryor was part of an expedition of fur traders. This group is now known as the Pattie's Expedition. They left Santa Fe, which was then Mexican Territory, in 1827.
The traders arrived at Santa Catarina Mission in Alta California. This was also part of Mexico at the time. On March 22, 1828, they were arrested by the Mexican governor. They were accused of being Spanish spies. The group was taken to San Diego and held captive until February 1829. It is possible that this Nathaniel Pryor was the same man who traveled with Lewis and Clark. He had a lot of experience with fur trading and frontier survival. He also knew Native American languages. He was often used by the U.S. Army to gather information. This makes it likely that he was part of the Pattie Party.
During this time, the United States was trying to buy Texas. Many people were moving from the U.S. to Mexican territories. These included Nuevo México and Alta California. It is possible that Pryor was sent as a spy for the U.S. Army. His job would have been to gather information about the region. He was released in February 1829. He could have returned to Pryor Creek, Oklahoma, in time to help Sam Houston with the Osage negotiations.
Legacy
Several places are named after Nathaniel Pryor. These include Pryor Creek, Oklahoma, Pryor, Montana, and the Pryor Mountains.
Images for kids
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Nathaniel Pryor and Sam Houston Painting from Oklahoma State Senate
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