Andrew Henry - An Iconic Figure of the American West

His name is rarely, if ever, omitted from the innumerable discourses touting  the exploits of those early day stalwarts whose wilderness paths would  soon be transformed into the crowded freeways of Manifest Destiny. Henry,  however, is somewhat of an enigma. Multiple biographical sketches of the  man exist, but it is rare to find any two possessing consistency as to the  reporting of facts pertaining to the man. Indeed, multiple erroneous, un-  sourced statements published by scholars of an earlier era have  subsequently been deemed credible and have been republished without  proper documentation or discussion regarding the veracity of the  statements. In contrast thereto, there are facts presented in the body of this  work not previously acknowledged, cited, or published regarding the man.  Whether these facts serve to augment the persona of Henry – or detract  therefrom – is a dilemma the reader can assess. In essence, this is the  story of Andrew Henry based upon the existing factual record.  

About the Author

Mark William Kelly, a long-term professional archaeologist, has  documented numerous sites of importance to those Native American tribes  residing (or formerly residing) within the Missouri River drainage in the  nineteenth century. As well, Kelly has surveyed and documented many  sites associated with the historic overland routes, including camp sites,  dwellings, cantonments, and trading posts utilized by early-day explorers,  adventurers, immigrants, and the U.S. Army in multiple states, including  Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. Kelly is,  as well, a licensed attorney with a particular interest in the development of  federal Indian law, treaty construction, Indian removal, and the ignoble  process of tribal assimilation. He has written numerous articles for  publication and has been an invited speaker at conferences and symposia  focusing on the upper Missouri fur trade, early-day federal expeditions up  the Missouri, and certain aspects of the so-called Indian Problem of the  nineteenth century. Kelly has published two books prior to the publication of  this biographical work of Andrew Henry, Lost Voices on the Missouri – John Dougherty and the Indian Frontier (2013) and Annie’s Story – The  Extraordinary Life of Annie Dougherty Ruff (2015). Kelly was appointed to  the Kansas Historic Sites Board of Review in 2020 by the Secretary of  State. As to Kelly’s artistic pursuits, he continues his efforts to craft  sculptures of those individuals acclaimed for their efforts in the Rocky  Mountain fur trade, all of which will be bequeathed to the Museum of the  Mountain Man in Pinedale, Wyoming.   

New Book!

Cover image - “The Scout” by H. David Wright Order from Museum of the Mountain Man

Chapter One - ANDREW HENRY OF STE. GENEVIEVE

1800 - Andrew Henry, twenty years of age (or less) late of York County,

Pennsylvania, arrived unheralded in colonial Ste. Genevieve, Missouri via

Nashville, Tennessee in April 1800. Here he would quickly become a

reputable businessman and establish the relationships and foundations of

his later business success.  He intended to not only magnify the content of 

his pocketbook, but to increase the shadow cast by his personage.

Chapter Two - WHY HENRY? WHY NOT ASHLEY?  The articles of Association and Co-Partnership forming the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company in 1809, include the names: Jean Pierre Chouteau,  Sr., Auguste Pierre Chouteau, Pierre Menard, Sylvestre Labbadie, William Morrison, Benjamin Wilkinson, Reuben Lewis, William Clark, Dennis Fitzhugh, Manuel Lisa, and Andrew Henry. Given their respective standing and later  partnership, why Henry was included and William H. Ashley was not, has not previously been considered in the published literature pertaining to either man.

Chapter Three - TO THE THREE FORKS… AND BEYOND! 

From 1809-1811, an enthusiastic and courageous field leader, Andrew

Henry ventures up the Missouri River to the Three Forks in what is now

western Montana, and across the Continental Divide, spending the winter of

1810-1811 on what is now Henry’s Fork in eastern Idaho.

Chapter Four - RETURN TO CIVILIZED LIFE?

Henry returns to Missouri to find his business and partners embroiled in legal

cases, faces the turmoil of the War of 1812 and country financial collapse of

1819, but finds happiness marrying Mary Fleming and starting a family.

Chapter Five - MAJOR ANDREW HENRY, NEAR THE LEAD MINES 

In 1822-1823, the “enterprising young men” era begins with Andrew Henry and William H. Ashley venturing to the upper Missouri River with the experienced Henry as field leader.

Chapter Six - THE WARS! 

Challenged by the Blackfoot on the upper Missouri and blocked by

significant battle with the Arikara, the new venture moves west away from the

Missouri River, launching the Rendezvous Era, but Henry leaves the

mountains and the fur trade for good in the fall of 1824.

Chapter Seven - THE LAST DAYS OF ANDREW HENRY

After another lengthy absence and inattentiveness regarding both his personal and professional affairs, Henry discovers the welfare of his family to be egregiously imperiled. Until his untimely death due to illness in 1833, Henry would never again be out of debt, and he faced a continuing series of legal challenges. Even his final resting place has been misinterpreted.

Afterward

A look at the cause of Henry’s death at the age of 53.