An Introduction to John Work – Early Montana Explorer by Paul C. Phillips
An Introduction to John Work – Early Montana Explorer by Paul C. Phillips (U of M Historian)
John Work
(Written for The Associated Press by Paul C. Phillips, History Department, University of Montana.)
John Work has given us the most extensive record of the fur trade in Montana. He was the last great leader of the Hudson’s Bay brigards (sic) and under his direction the fur trade of the Northwest reached its maturity. He was essentially a businessman and his journals lack the picturesque and imaginative character that makes the stories of Alexander Ross and Peter Skene Ogden so fascinating.
Work came to the Columbia in 1823 and the next year he and Finan Macdonald with 13 men went to the Flathead country to trade. The expedition was successful and the next year Work returned with John McLeod. For two years he was chief clerk at the Salish House[1]. In 1826 he served under William Connelly. With him was Daniel Douglas, the English botanist, who was the first to describe the Douglas fir. The same year, a party of Americans camped with the Flatheads at Horse Plains, where is located the present town of Plains, Mont. [The Americans told stories of their great chief Ashley of the Rocky Mountain Fur company, most of the furs, for there were none trade cheaply. Apparently they got who had immense stocks of goods to for the Hudson bay traders.] [2]
In 1831 Work became chief trader in charge of the Snake River brigade. He at once started on a great trading and trapping expedition to the Flathead and Blackfoot Indians. He had with him a number of French and Scotch traders and trappers and some western Indians. The party comprised about 60 people. From Fort Vancouver, he started up the Columbia. From old Fort Walla Walla, he followed the Lewis and Clark trail to Lolo pass; which he called ‘Le Louis.’ Down Lolo creek to the Bitter Root, where there was an abundance of beaver, he led his band. Then he passed through Hell Gate and up the Blackfoot river, catching many beaver. At Montana creek he found the country hunted by Americans and, while exploring for a new field, he was attacked by the Blackfeet. He then turned south to the Little Blackfoot and found his way up Clark’s Fork to Silver Bow creek. From there, he crossed over into the Big Hole valley, where beaver were plentiful and where buffalo were ranging in great herds. For weeks, they trapped the Big Hole and Beaverhead rivers and nearby streams and made a large collection of beaver. They were frequently attacked by the Blackfeet and lost many horses and traps. In July, 1832, the party returned to Fort Vancouver, after one of the greatest seasons for the Snake river brigades.
Work continued to trade widely and explore the West. He visited the Great Salt Lake and carried many furs away before the eyes of the Americans. He went to California and traded with the Spaniards and Indians there. His explorations greatly increased current knowledge of the geography of the West. He described accurately the country drained by the Clark’s Fork and its tributaries and by the Big Hole and the Beaverhead rivers and his journals have left us a minute description of the animals living there a hundred years ago.
The above article is from The Daily Missoulian on October 1, 1928.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/348704662/
For a comprehensive study of John Work read Paul Phillips’ book on him linked below:
The Journal of John Work by William S. Lewis and Paul C. Phillips
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015028547613&view=1up&seq=13