Virginia’s Trapper – Jim Bridger

When the subject of “Mountain Men” arises one name is almost always mentioned; Jim Bridger. Many folks tell the stories of his western adventures trapping The Rockies and points all over but what a lot of folks do not know is that Jim Bridger was originally a Virginian. Born March 17 1804 in Richmond; James Bridger was the son of William and Chloe Bridger. While in Richmond, his parents kept a tavern. In 1812 the family packed up and moved west, as was the thing to do at the time. Westward travel was obviously very common in those days. The family settled around St. Louis Missouri on a farm and within a few years the entire family, with the exception of Jim would be dead.

At the age of 13 Jim became a blacksmith’s apprentice where he learned how to work with his hands. Five years later in March 1822 Jim joined Gen. William Ashley and a party of trappers around St. Louis for an expedition up the Missouri River. A couple years later in the wintertime of 1824 Jim was accredited with stumbling upon the “Great Salt Lake” which he actually mistook for the Pacific Ocean at the time.

In 1830 Jim, along with four other trappers started The Rocky Mountain Fur Company but just 10 years later in 1840 Jim realized that his surplus of fur was dwindling and headed the building of Fort Bridger on The Green River in what is today, Wyoming. From 1849-1868 Jim took the role of Guide and took many groups through the west including Army Units, Mail Carriers, Survey Parties, and other parties looking for safe passage into new areas. After a lifetime of excitement and adventure Jim Bridger retired to a farm where he later died on July 17, 1881.

Whenever you hear folks talking about Jim Bridger be sure and remind them that he was a Virginian before he was a wild west pioneer! Although he may not have trapped any land in Virginia he’s still one of our own.