The western fur trade era--a time when trappers and traders
endured constant danger from man, beast, and weather--was one of
the most colorful periods in American history. Over a decade ago,
William R. Nester wrote the first biography of Robert Campbell
(1804-1879); the subsequent discovery of nearly five hundred new
documents, most from two major caches of letters, led to this
even-more-detailed and vivid account of Campbell's self-described
"bold and dashing life."
Campbell came to America from Ireland in 1822 and entered the
fur trade soon after. He quickly rose from trapper to brigade
leader to partner, all within a half dozen years, and this new
edition includes an expanded narrative of his adventures in the
Rocky Mountain fur trade. In the mid-1830s, having amassed
considerable wealth, Campbell retired from the mountains and
embarked on a new career. He returned to St. Louis and built up a
business empire that embraced mercantile, steamboat, railroad, and
banking interests, thus becoming a leading force behind the
region's economic development. A more extensive account of the
cutthroat business world in which Campbell operated now enriches
this portion of the book.
Nester masterfully depicts the "sterling character" for which
Campbell was renowned. Campbell enjoyed deep and enduring
friendships and strong familial ties, both in America and abroad.
Although he was an outstanding businessman and philanthropist, his
personal life was marred by tragedy. Ten of his thirteen children
died prematurely. Despite those tragic losses, his faith in God
never faltered. He believed that all worldly successes should honor
God and once wrote that, "all worldly gain is but dross." This
edition elucidates the complex relations among his family and
chronicles both tragic events and humorous incidents in more
depth.
Exploring the letters, journals, and account books that Campbell
left behind, Nester places him in the context of the times in which
he lived, showing the economic, political, social, and cultural
forces that provided the opportunities and challenges that shaped
his life. Nester provides new insights into Campbell's ownership of
slaves, his attitudes toward slavery, and his behind-the-scenes
political and economic activities during the Civil War. This
comprehensive exploration of Robert Campbell's life depicts a
fascinating era in American history.
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