Meet Joseph Walker

Joseph Walker was one of the first mountain men, fur trappers and traders in the West.  Characteristic of mountain men, he possessed common sense, bravery, the ability to shoot straight, ride hard, fight ferociously, and the ability to bear up and function during formidable hardship.

Joe Walker, aka Captain Joe, was a leader of those to come behind - he taught Kit Carson, when Kit was a greenhorn of the West.  Among Walker's important life achievements:

*1825 - guided a government party which surveyed and marked the Santa Fe Trail

*1827 - one of the founders and first sheriff of Independence, Missouri

*1833 - led the first Americans to the Pacific Ocean through the unknown and uncharted Sierras

*1833 - first white man to see Yosemite

*1843 - guided the first wagon train to California territory

*1860s - Led a party of American into central Arizona through Apache land to Prescott gold fields

Only one man is reported to have died following Walker in 50 years - and that was said to be because the man didn't follow Joe's warning.

Note:  Most of my information about Joseph Walker used in the next few months comes from a book The Westering Man - the Life of Joseph Walker, by Bill Gilbert in 1983.  Visit your public library, grab a copy and read along. It is an amazing book about an amazing man of pioneer history!  ''

Next time - a physically handsome pioneer!