Leonard Writes His Last Entry

Early in March 1835,  Joseph Walker began to break winter camp in preparation for the spring hunt on the Big Horn River where he would once again meet up with Benjamin Bonneville, probably for the last time in their lives at the end of July.

Bonneville decided to go home, taking with him Walker's furs and his journal keeper, Leonard.  Leonard's family had written him off as dead back in Pennsylvania .   Upon his return, Leonard became somewhat of a local celebrity and his journal became an 80 page book published by Clearfield Republican.  The first edition is one the rarest volumes in American history!

Leonard returned to Missouri in 1836, settled in the Fort Osage Area - right in the midst of all the Walker homestead back home.  Leonard married and became a successful businessman.  He died of cholera in 1857 just 22 years after leaving us a fabulous, detailed account of traveling with Captain Joe Walker...

Next time - the Great Basin...

A Good Writer is Indispensable

Captain Walker chose the first man for his California expedition, one Zenas Leonard, for his ability to keep a journal.  He was a brave, steady man who was a journal keeper - one of the best ever compiled by a mountain man.  When it was published, it gave the only detailed account of the California expedition - the most successful expedition ever taken by fur men.  Still in his early 20s, Leonard had been on the frontier since his 21st birthday with a party of fur trappers who finally went broke after spending 2 years freezing and starving to death.

Leonard had been captured by the Arikara Indians while lost and took a Blackfoot arrow in the side.  He had been robbed of 150 beaver pelts by a band of free trappers but never confessed to being frightened or lonely - writing of his own stupidity for the hardships instead.

Leonard was extremely observant, thoughtful - he spent the next 2 years with Walker, and became a life long friend as well.