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Introduction
Introduction

Fort Kiowa, originally named Fort Lookout, was a 19th century American Fur Trading post located on the Missouri River near the present day communities of Chamberlain and Oacoma, South Dakota. Built in 1822 to serve the expanding Fur Trade in the American West, this 140 square foot fort served as an important rest and trade stop for famed explorers such as Jim Bridger and Hugh Glass. In the early 1840’s, as the American fur trade moved further west, Fort Kiowa was abandoned and remained that way before being flooded by the ever-growing Missouri River.

History/Origin
When Thomas Jefferson, the Third President of the United States, completed the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 he opened a great deal of free land for American Fur Traders. Forts quickly sprung up along rivers and overland trails to act as parts of the nationally run factory system. The factory system was a nationally funded and operated system, in which Native Americans would meet at certain forts and exchange furs for finished goods. The American government had hoped that nationalizing the fur trade would prevent the debauchery of trading alcohol with the Natives. The Factory System eventually failed for many reasons. First, the men working the factories were ex-military men and not experienced fur traders. These men often mishandled the furs resulting in major profit shifts. Second, the government failed to stop all private traders who bribed Natives with alcohol. The Natives were very fond of alcohol and would break treaties with the government to get it. Lastly, the factories were not permitted to give presents to Natives or assimilate into Native culture as many private fur traders could. Miscegany, or intermarriage between two cultures, was a major uniting force between private fur traders and natives that strengthened their relationship. (Dolan)

After the factory system private companies emerged and made large sums of money. Included in these were Manuel Lisa of the Missouri Fur Company and John Jacob Aster of the American Fur Company. These men were two of the richest men in America during this time.

These private companies established forts that acted as rest stops for trappers. Among the most well regarded forts was Fort Kiowa, also known as Fort Lookout. Fort Kiowa was constructed in 1822 by Joseph Brazeau Jr. of the Berthold, Chouteau, and Pratte French Company. Brazeau fortified the 140 square foot fort with a blockhouse and watchtower to guard against Crow and Sioux attacks. (Military Forts in The Dakotas)

In 1823 a trading expedition known as “Ashley’s Hundred,” which included the likes of Hugh Glass and Jim Bridger, met at Fort Kiowa to begin their journey. Several months after the journey began, Glass was brutally attacked by a grizzly bear. Glass was able to kill the bear, but suffered many serious life-threatening wounds in the process. Glass’ partner Jim Bridger was instructed by a commander to remain with Glass until he died, and then bury him before reuniting with the rest of the party. However, Bridger was chased off by a group of Arikaree natives. Glass was left alone to die. Bridger returned to the hunting party and reported to his commander that Glass had perished. However, Glass was able to miraculously set his own wounds and crawl more than 200 miles back to Fort Kiowa. This story of perseverance and determination has a special place in Western Folklore. (Manfred)

In 1827, Bernard Pratte purchased Fort Kiowa from Brazeau and made significant improvements. Pratte added several four room log houses, a storehouse, and a smith shop. Furthermore, Pratte encircled the fort with a wooden picket fence roughly twenty or thirty feet high to prevent Native attacks. Fort Kiowa was expanding into a major trading post for Natives.

Later in the same year, John Jacob Aster purchased Fort Kiowa from Pratte for his rapidly expanding American Fur Company. Aster, who was the first multi-millionaire in America, bought Fort Kiowa to establish his presence in the upper Missouri and to further his monopoly on the American Fur Trade. Aster found the upper Missouri river area to be extremely prosperous. However, in the late 1830’s, Aster’s American Fur Company was forced to abandon Fort Kiowa as the once lucrative fur trading business was no longer profitable due to several factors. First, there was a scarcity of beaver caused by rapid overhunting by intruding trappers. Second, there was a lack of public demand in America and Europe for pelts as a new style, silk hats, was gaining prominence. Lastly, the intrusion of American trappers on what natives perceived as their land angered Native tribes who began to revolt against the American trappers. Naturally when the supply and demand both go down, the business is doomed. Fur Trading in America was quickly on its way to extinction. (Chittenton)

In 1840, Joseph LaBarge a former steamboat captain bought Fort Kiowa as a wintering post and Indian Agency. LaBarge housed many Indian Agents who’s job was to monitor and control trade between Native tribes and Americans. These agents lost popularity among Americans, who tended to view them as exploiters of the Native peoples. They were viewed as corrupt leaders who acted on their own interests. Popular opinion was relatively accurate as many Indian Agents were replaced during the 1840’s after corruption was discovered. LaBarge’s purchase of Fort Kiowa was wildly unsuccessful and as a result he abandoned Fort Kiowa within the year. LaBarge is the last known inhabitant of Fort Kiowa.

Current day
Fort Kiowa is currently underwater due to the widening of the Missouri River banks. However, the area where Fort Kiowa once stood is recognized as a National Historic Fort of South Dakota. Fort Kiowa is advertised to be a tourist attraction in which adventuring seeking tourists can venture down the same path the Hugh Glass did in 1823. (South Dakota Vacation Website)

Today two small towns, Oacoma and Chamberlain, South Dakota, share the land where Fort Kiowa once resided. At the 2010 census there was 451 people living in Oacoma and 2,387 people living in Chamberlain. These small towns take great pride in the events that transpired at Fort Kiowa. (US Census Bereau)

Comments
Hi Nick--So far so good. I'd suggest moving the story of Hugh Glass into the general chronology of the piece (when was it?) You should also try and add material about the fur traders' and the military's use of the fort. Do you know much about who lived there, which Indians they traded with (presumably the Kiowa but who else?) Its not clear to me that you have enough information here to write a 1000-word article. If not, we should talk and see if we can expand the topic of the assignment.Docjay57 (talk) 19:29, 8 March 2013 (UTC)

Hi Nick, Your rough draft is very good. I would give it a 4.5 out of 5, if only because it isn't quite perfect. Citations need to be added (as I'm sure you know), and there are a few grammatical mistakes that need to be fixed (which I emailed you about).

The introduction is very good, as is the end. Actually, I think the whole thing is good, as it gives me a clear overview about a topic I knew nothing about. I think pictures of the fort would be quite useful, along with pictures of the important men who frequented the fort. Hayessm (talk) 20:36, 27 March 2013 (UTC)