Fort Osage

Military trading posts, called "factories" were established during this time from Minnesota to Arkansas for conducting and licensing trade with the Indians, basically controlling them and protecting them from whites and whites from them.

Fort Osage, where Walkers settled was the first post.  Merriwether Lewis not only recommended the site but supervised its construction.

The Osage Indians, were one of, if not the strongest tribes of in the area of Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas when the Walkers arrived.  Fort Osage was a functioning Indian post with seven soldiers stationed there in 1819.

Next time - George Sibley meets Joe