Antoine Robidoux

Antoine Robidoux

Robidoux, a member of a large and influential French-Canadian trading family, was among a handful of daring trappers and explorers like Kit Carson, William Becknell, William Wolfskill and Etienne Provost who followed routes such as the Old Spanish Trail north from Taos and Santa Fe into the vast uncharted wilderness known today as western Colorado and eastern Utah. When Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, the region was opened for fur trade, which flourished in the early part of the 1800s. As a young man, Robidoux had become a Mexican citizen, married the Mexican governor's adopted daughter, Carmel, and had been granted the right to control trade in this new territory.

Robidoux was a man equally at home with fellow trappers and traders, forging his own route across the mountains into southwestern Colorado and the Uncompahgre Valley in 1828. Instead of following the established California Trail around the San Juan Mountains, Robidoux set out across the San Luis Valley, crossing the Continental Divide at Cochetopa Pass, then following the Gunnison River valley to Cerro Summit and dropping down into what is now the Uncompahgre Valley.

As was customary, Robidoux located his new outpost near the confluence of two rivers: the Gunnison and Uncompahgre. In his book Antoine Robidoux and Fort Uncompahgre, author Ken Reyher explains: "The juncture where two rivers came together could be located more easily, an important point for potential customers unfamiliar with a region. In addition, timber and grazing ground covered a far bigger acreage near a western river confluence."

Robidoux also became friendly with the various bands of Utes that occupied the area, providing a means for the Indians to trade goods without traveling the lengthy distance to Santa Fe and Taos.

Robidoux would later build a fort approximately 180 miles north of Fort Uncompahgre near present-day Vernal, Utah, (Ft. Robidoux) and Fort Uintah, located about 50 miles north of that location.



1. When did Mexico gain its independence from Spain?

1832
1821
1847
1812

2. Robidoux established two forts in Utah, Fort Robidoux and Fort ____ .

Uncompaghre
Uintah
Apache
San Juan

3. Robidoux located his fort next to the ____ river.

Gunnison
Mississippi
Snake
Colorado

4. Robidoux became friends with various bands of ____ indians.

Shoshoni
Ute
Paiute
Blackfoot

5. Robidoux also built a fort ____ miles north of Fort Uncompaghre, near present day Vernal, Utah.

180
190
280
560

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