Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard

Biographies & Memoirs

Leonard, Zenas

Historical

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Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard is a remarkable true-life adventure story, a narrative of exploration, survival, conflict, capture, torture, and an insider's account of the daily life of an 1830's American fur trader and trapper in the early American West.

"Strong mental faculties and a vigorous constitution" were among the attributes of Zenas Leonard, according to the publisher of the 1839 edition of this book, which the Bison Books edition reproduces. In the spring of 1830, Leonard, a native of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, "ventured to embark in an expedition across the Rocky Mountains, in the capacity of clerk to the company. The last letter received by his parents, left him at the extreme white settlement [Independence, Missouri], where they were busily occupied in making preparations for the expedition to the mountains—from whence he promised to write at short intervals; but one misfortune after another happening to the company, he was deprived of all sources of communication—so that no tidings were received of him until he unexpectedly returned to the scenes of his childhood, to the house of his father, in the fall of 1835—after an absence of 5 years and 6 months!" Written "in response to popular demand," so to speak, Leonard's account of these years, based in large part on "a minute journal of every incident that occurred," is recognized as one of the fundamental sources on the exploration of the American West. A free trapper until the summer of 1833, when he entered the employ of Captain B. L. E. Bonneville, Leonard was part of the group sent under command of Captain Joseph Walker to explore the Great Salt Lake region—an expedition that resulted in Walker's finding the overland route to California. The Narrative ends in August 1835, with Leonard's return to Independence.

History

Americas

University Of Nebraska Press

Bison Books

Zenas Leonard was a wilderness explorer who journeyed across and charted the perilous Rocky Mountains in the early 19th century, keeping this diary as he went.Embarking on his spectacular journey with a company of seventy like-minded fellows, Leonard chronicles the many perils and trials the group encountered through their lengthy voyage deep into unknown territory. The band of explorers are beset with difficulties; the harsh, craggy lay of the land, ferocious creatures, and the various Native American tribes put the men through the greatest physical and mental tests.Many members of the group were fur traders by profession; in scouting the vast landscape of the Rockies, they hoped to discover new and prized game to catch. However their ambitions are sorely tested by hunger and thirst, while dangerous creatures such as the grizzly bear strike terror in their hearts.

Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard (Hardcover)

Narrative of the Adventures of Zenas Leonard describes the adventures of a company of 70 men, who left St. Louis in the Spring of 1831 for fur trapping in the Rockies.

Narrative of the Adventures of Zenas Leonard

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Travelers & Explorers

"A completely trustworthy account of Rocky Mountain trapping, 1831-35, including experiences with Walker's expedition from Salt Lake to California, 1833, of which it is the chief first-hand authority."--U.S.iana In the spring of 1830, Leonard, a native of Clearfield, Pennsylvania embarked on an expedition across the Rocky Mountains, in the capacity of clerk to the company. One misfortune after another happening to the company, he was deprived of all in the fall of 1835—after an absence of 5 years and 6 months. Written in response to popular demand, Leonard's account of these years, based in large part on ‘a minute journal of every incident that occurred,’ is recognized as one of the fundamental sources on the exploration of the American West. A free trapper until the summer of 1833, when he entered the employ of Captain B. L. E. Bonneville, Leonard was part of the group sent under command of Captain Joseph Walker to explore the Great Salt Lake region—an expedition that resulted in Walker's finding the overland route to California. The Narrative ends in August 1835, with Leonard's return to Independence. Zenas Leonard (March 19, 1809 – July 14, 1857) was an American mountain man, explorer and trader, best known for his journal Narrative of the Adventures of Zenas Leonard.Leonard worked for his uncle in Pittsburgh before moving to St. Louis and working as a clerk for the fur company, Gannt and Blackwell. In 1831 he went with Gant and Blackwell's company of about 70 men on a trapping and trading expedition. Living off the land (Leonard reported that "The flesh of the Buffaloe is the wholesomest and most palatable of meat kind"), Leonard and his associates endured great privation while amassing a fortune in furs; the horses died in the harsh winter and the party was at times near starvation. They survived, in part, by trading with Native Americans. Among the more helpful tribal members he reported encountering was a negro who claimed to have been on Lewis &amp; Clark's expedition, and who may have been the explorer-slave York. In 1835 Leonard returned to Independence, Missouri with enough wealth in furs to establish a store and trading post at Fort Osage. He continued to trade along the river for the rest of his life. Leonard's journal was published in book form by D.W. Moore of Clearfield, Pennsylvania in 1839, after being serialized in the Clearfield Republican. It includes many details of the different tribes with which his parties interacted. As it is in the public domain, there are numerous reprints.

Independently published

Leonard's adventures provide a remarkable insight into the American fur trade, giving the perspective of a trapper and adventurer.

Travel

Reference

Narrative Pr

Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard is a remarkable true-life adventure story, a narrative of exploration, survival, conflict, capture, torture, and an insider’s account of the daily life of an 1830’s American fur trader and trapper in the early American West.

Adventures of a Mountain Man (Annotated): The Narrative of Zenas Leonard

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Books by Leonard, Zenas

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Leonard, Zenas. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard

Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard

Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard

Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard

Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard (Hardcover)

Narrative of the Adventures of Zenas Leonard

Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard

Adventures of a Mountain Man: The Narrative of Zenas Leonard

Narrative of the Adventures of Zenas Leonard

Adventures of a Mountain Man (Annotated): The Narrative of Zenas Leonard