Fur Trade and the Impact on the Otoe Nation

Bellevue was first established in 1822 by the Missouri Fur Trade Company. It’s purpose was to become the central trading point for dealing with the Otoe as well as the Missouria, Omaha, and Pawnee bands of Indians. Let’s step back in time and find out how trading came to this place, beginning with a rough timeline of events that led to Bellevue’s existence.

1609..Henry Hudson claims New York for the Netherlands, which opened trade for the Dutch

1612..The Iriquois expanded trade with the Dutch

1670.. Hudson’s Bay Company chartered 1742..Greater lakes Indians stop trade with the French and start with the British

1799..Russian-American Company grants monopoly of fur trade in Alaska

1803..Lewis & Clark start their famous journey

1810..Pacific Fur Company is started by John Jacob Astor

1814-1819 American Fur Trade is dormant

1821..Hudson’s Bay Company and Northwest company merged

1822.. Western Department of American Fur Company founded by John Jacob Astor

1822..Rocky Mountain Fur Company founded by William Henry Ashley

1822..Bellevue established as a fur post by the Missouri Fur Company to serve as a central trading point with local Omaha, Otoe, Pawnee, and Missouria

By 1841, the fur trade had ended, the value of furs having dropped dramatically.

Advantages of the fur trade were numerous for the white man, both trader and missionary. The Otoe, however, had more disadvantages when trading than advantages. One disadvantage was alcohol. The Otoe believed that alcohol, preferably rum, led to beneficial negotiations and was consumed with frequency during trade. This “fire water” soon became a raging blaze of alcoholism rapidly spreading throughout the Otoe community. It brought with it distrust and violence.

“It is my decided opinion, that, so long as the Fur Traders and trappers are permitted to reside among the Indians, all the efforts of the Government to better their condition will be fruitless; or, in a great measure checked by the strong influence of those men over the various tribes.

“Every exertion of the agents, (and other persons, intended to carry into effect the views of the Government, and humane societies,) are in such direct opposition to the Trader and his interest, that the agent finds himself continually contending with, and placed in direct and immediate contrariety of interest to the Fur Traders or grossly neglecting his duty by overlooking acts of impropriety; and it is a curious and melancholy fact, that while the General Government is using every means and expense to Promote the advancement of those aboriginal people, it is at the same time suffering the Traders to oppose and defeat the very objects of its intentions. So long as tire Traders and Trappers are permitted in the Indian country, the introduction of spirituous liquors will be inevitable, under any penalty the law may require; and until its prohibition is certain and effectual, every effort of Government, through the most faithful and indefatigable agents, will be useless. It would be, in my humble opinion, better to give up every thing to the Traders, and let them have the sold and entire control of the Indians, than permit them to contend at every point, with the views of the Government; and that contention made manifest, even to the most ignorant Indian.

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