Three for the Money!

The third Santa Fe Expedition of which Walker took part was led by William Becknell, a ferryboat operator and manager of the salt lick in Boonslick Country, Missouri.  The party left in September and reached Santa Fe in November, just when the Mexicans were celebrating their independence from the Spanish.

The Mexicans invited Beckwell to trade with them and they did so well that when they returned to Missouri in February 1822 (after a winter of blizzards and high winds) they untied their saddles, throwing them down and letting 10,000 Mexican silver dollars roll around on the main street of Franklin, Missouri.  One woman who had invested $60  in their venture, got a return of $900...not too shabby!

It is suspected that the lost journals of Walker's recorded this journey but there is no proof.  The following year is unknown in Walker's life but in 1823 he made his personal entrance into recorded history - and what a doosie it was!

Next time - the economy takes a dive