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Birth
Jedediah Strong Smith was born on January 6, 1798 in Bainbridge, New York. -
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Jedediah Smith
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Started His Career
In 1821, Jedediah Smith heard about General William Ashley's trapping group and travelled to St. Louis to join them. The group travelled to Montana and built Fort Henry. This is where Jedediah Smith begins his career. -
Attacked By Native Americans
In the spring of 1823 Jedediah Smith was sent down the Missouri River to get horses for his group. On June 1, 1824 Smith's party was attacked by Native Americans and one third of their group was either killed or captured. The survivors travelled downstream. -
Attacked By Grizzly Bear
Smith was traveling with a group of trappers west in 1823 when he was attacked by a grizzly bear. It broke several ribs, destroyed his ear and ripped his scalp apart. He survived and they continued to move west. -
Discovered South Pass
In 1824 Jedediah Smith crossed the South Pass. He was not the first to discover it, but he was the first to relay the information to other people. This route through the Rocky Mountains was used by both settlers heading west and fur trappers. -
Traveling to California
In 1826, Smith led a group from the Great Salt Lake to the Colorado River and eventually into California. Smith was the first person from the east to ever get into California. -
Mohave Indians Attack
In 1827 Smith made a second expedition into California. This did not turn out well as Mohave Indians murdered or captured almost all of his men. The people remaing continued to Southern California. -
Indians Attack Again
In May of 1828, Smith was traveling with some men to Northern Oregon. Smith was away from his party when a group of Indians attacked and killed all but three of his men. He continued to the Oregon Country and discovered new information about the west. -
End of Trapping Career
In 1830 Jedediah Smith decided to retire from fur trapping because of the dangers and the profit was decreasing. He then started a career in trading. -
Death
On May 27, 1831 Jedediah Smith was killed by Commanche Indians. He was leading a trading caravan along the Santa Fe Trail. He had discovered many things in the west and sped up westward expansion.
