James Clyman
Encyclopedia
James or Jim Clyman was a mountain man
and an explorer and guide in the American Far West
.
in Fauquier County, Virginia
, in 1792. Clyman's father started to do a lot of migrating around when Clyman was 15, moving from Virginia
to Pennsylvania
, and then to Ohio
. In 1811, his family decided to settle in Stark County, Ohio
. In 1812, Clyman became a ranger to fight the Shawnee
Indians. After fighting the Indians, he decided to become a farmer in Indiana
, where he also traded with local Indians. By 1821, he was a surveyor working near the Little Vermilion River
in Illinois. He was hired by a son of Alexander Hamilton
, who was running government surveys, to make travels along the Sangamon River
.
, and joined Ashley's 1823 expedition.
Clyman was with Ashley's men from 1823 to 1827. He fought the Arikara
Indians in the Arikara War
in 1823. He also traveled with Jedediah Smith
and Thomas Fitzpatrick
in the discovery of the South Pass
. He also was a member of the party of four that paddled around the Great Salt Lake
and put to rest the myth of the Buenaventura River
.
After his explorations, he bought a farm near Danville, Illinois
, and also set up a store there. Then, the Blackhawk War broke out and Clyman joined the fight.
After the war, he travelled back West and crossed the Great Salt Lake Desert
and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On his way back, he met the Donner-Reed Party
and accompanying parties and advised them to go no further. They did not heed his advice and ended up cannibalizing
many members of their parties after reaching the Sierra Nevada.
In 1846, Clyman settled in the Napa Valley. He died there in 1881 and was buried in the Tulocay Cemetery in Napa, California
.
Mountain man
Mountain men were trappers and explorers who roamed the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through the 1880s where they were instrumental in opening up the various Emigrant Trails allowing Americans in the east to settle the new territories of the far west by organized wagon trains...
and an explorer and guide in the American Far West
American Old West
The American Old West, or the Wild West, comprises the history, geography, people, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
.
Early life
James Clyman was born on a farm that belonged to George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
in Fauquier County, Virginia
Fauquier County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 55,139 people, 19,842 households, and 15,139 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile . There were 21,046 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, in 1792. Clyman's father started to do a lot of migrating around when Clyman was 15, moving from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and then to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. In 1811, his family decided to settle in Stark County, Ohio
Stark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 375,586. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. In 1812, Clyman became a ranger to fight the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
Indians. After fighting the Indians, he decided to become a farmer in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, where he also traded with local Indians. By 1821, he was a surveyor working near the Little Vermilion River
Little Vermilion River (Illinois)
The Little Vermilion River is a tributary of the Wabash River. The Little Vermilion rises in southern Vermilion County, Illinois, flowing eastward past Georgetown, Illinois, into Vermillion County, Indiana, where it joins the Wabash near Newport...
in Illinois. He was hired by a son of Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
, who was running government surveys, to make travels along the Sangamon River
Sangamon River
The Sangamon River is a principal tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in central Illinois in the United States. It drains a mostly rural agricultural area between Peoria and Springfield...
.
Mountain Man
While collecting his pay in Saint Louis in 1823, he met William H. AshleyWilliam Henry Ashley
William Henry Ashley was a pioneering fur trader, entrepreneur, and politician. Though a native of Virginia, Ashley had already moved to St. Genevieve in what was then called Louisiana, when it was purchased by the United States from France in 1803...
, and joined Ashley's 1823 expedition.
Clyman was with Ashley's men from 1823 to 1827. He fought the Arikara
Arikara
Arikara are a group of Native Americans in North Dakota...
Indians in the Arikara War
Arikara War
The Arikara War took place in August of 1823 between the United States and the Arikara native Americans near the Missouri River, in present-day South Dakota. Arikara warriors had previously attacked a trapping expedition traveling on the river. The United States responded with forces of 230...
in 1823. He also traveled with Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Strong Smith was a hunter, trapper, fur trader, trailblazer, author, cartographer, cattleman, and explorer of the Rocky Mountains, the American West Coast and the Southwest during the 19th century...
and Thomas Fitzpatrick
Thomas Fitzpatrick (trapper)
Thomas Fitzpatrick, known as "Broken Hand", was a trapper and a trailblazer who became the head of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. With Jedediah Smith, he led a trapper band that discovered South Pass, Wyoming....
in the discovery of the South Pass
South Pass
South Pass is two mountain passes on the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Wyoming. The passes are located in a broad low region, 35 miles broad, between the Wind River Range to the north and the Oregon Buttes and Great Divide Basin to the south, in southwestern Fremont...
. He also was a member of the party of four that paddled around the Great Salt Lake
Great Salt Lake
The Great Salt Lake, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Utah, is the largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the fourth-largest terminal lake in the world. In an average year the lake covers an area of around , but the lake's size fluctuates substantially due to its...
and put to rest the myth of the Buenaventura River
Buenaventura River (legend)
The non-existent Buenaventura River, alternatively San Buenaventura River, Río Buenaventura, etc. was once believed to run from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean in what is now the western United States...
.
After his explorations, he bought a farm near Danville, Illinois
Danville, Illinois
Danville is a city in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is the principal city of the'Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Danville and Vermilion County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 32,467. It is the county seat of...
, and also set up a store there. Then, the Blackhawk War broke out and Clyman joined the fight.
After the war, he travelled back West and crossed the Great Salt Lake Desert
Great Salt Lake Desert
The Great Salt Lake Desert is a large dry lake in northern Utah between the Great Salt Lake and the Nevada border which is noted for white sand from evaporite Lake Bonneville salt deposits...
and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On his way back, he met the Donner-Reed Party
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
and accompanying parties and advised them to go no further. They did not heed his advice and ended up cannibalizing
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
many members of their parties after reaching the Sierra Nevada.
In 1846, Clyman settled in the Napa Valley. He died there in 1881 and was buried in the Tulocay Cemetery in Napa, California
Napa, California
-History:The name Napa was probably derived from the name given to a southern Nappan village whose people shared the area with elk, deer, grizzlies and cougars for many centuries, according to Napa historian Kami Santiago. At the time of the first recorded exploration into Napa Valley in 1823, the...
.
Sources
- DeVoto, BernardBernard DeVotoBernard Augustine DeVoto was an American historian and author who specialized in the history of the American West.- Life and work :He was born in Ogden, Utah...
The Year of Decision: 1846 Boston: Little, Brown, 1943. - Morgan, Dale L. Jedediah Smith and the Opening of the American West. University of Nebraska Press, 1964.
- Stone, IrvingIrving StoneIrving Stone was an American writer known for his biographical novels of famous historical personalities, including Lust for Life, a biographical novel about the life of Vincent van Gogh, and The Agony and the Ecstasy, a biographical novel about Michelangelo.-Biography:In...
. Men to Match my Mountains. New York, 1956.