Kit Carson
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Dean Kuhlman | Research Paper HI-315VC | | | | | | |
Kit Carson is best known for his role in the expansion of the West as a trapper, explorer, scout and American soldier. Carson not only spent time carving the path to the west, he defended it in battle as an officer in the U.S. Army. One of the most famous mountain men of the Westward movement, Carson has had several landmarks, cities, and areas named after him. Among these are Carson, Colorado, Carson City, Nevada, Carson Pass and the Carson River. (Sanford & Green) Kit Carson has been a part of American folklore for decades but his fame grew from very humble beginnings.
Born on December 24th, 1809 in Kentucky, Kit Carson was born with a love for the West flowing freely through his veins. His father moved his family west to Missouri when he was 2 years old. (Sanford & Green) Carson loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter at an early age. Carson’s father died when he was nine years old from an accident that occurred while trying to clear land in Missouri. (“New Perspectives on the West”) When Carson was a teenager he went to work in a saddle shop. At the saddle shop he was put under the care of the shop owner. Carson didn’t like the work and would eventually run away beginning his own westward voyage. (Wheeler)
Carson was enamored with the mountains and the west. He would hold various jobs as a cook, a miner and a wagon driver. (Sanford & Green) Carson was still not content. In 1829 he joined Ewing Young on a trapping expedition to California and later he would join another trapping expedition to the center of the Rocky Mountains. (Historical) During this time Carson realized his passion and spent several years roaming the unexplored territory of the west. During this time Carson would also marry twice. The first marriage ending when his wife passed away from illness and his second marriage ended in divorce. (Sanford & Green) He would marry
Dean Kuhlman | Research Paper HI-315VC | | | | | | |
Kit Carson is best known for his role in the expansion of the West as a trapper, explorer, scout and American soldier. Carson not only spent time carving the path to the west, he defended it in battle as an officer in the U.S. Army. One of the most famous mountain men of the Westward movement, Carson has had several landmarks, cities, and areas named after him. Among these are Carson, Colorado, Carson City, Nevada, Carson Pass and the Carson River. (Sanford & Green) Kit Carson has been a part of American folklore for decades but his fame grew from very humble beginnings.
Born on December 24th, 1809 in Kentucky, Kit Carson was born with a love for the West flowing freely through his veins. His father moved his family west to Missouri when he was 2 years old. (Sanford & Green) Carson loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter at an early age. Carson’s father died when he was nine years old from an accident that occurred while trying to clear land in Missouri. (“New Perspectives on the West”) When Carson was a teenager he went to work in a saddle shop. At the saddle shop he was put under the care of the shop owner. Carson didn’t like the work and would eventually run away beginning his own westward voyage. (Wheeler)
Carson was enamored with the mountains and the west. He would hold various jobs as a cook, a miner and a wagon driver. (Sanford & Green) Carson was still not content. In 1829 he joined Ewing Young on a trapping expedition to California and later he would join another trapping expedition to the center of the Rocky Mountains. (Historical) During this time Carson realized his passion and spent several years roaming the unexplored territory of the west. During this time Carson would also marry twice. The first marriage ending when his wife passed away from illness and his second marriage ended in divorce. (Sanford & Green) He would marry
Cited: Sanford, William R., and Carl R. Green. Kit Carson Frontier Scout. Springfield, N.J.:Enslow Publishers, INC.,1996.Print. .”Kit Carson.” New Perspectives on the West.PBS, n.d.Web. 21 Aug 2012 http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/carson.htm Time-Life Books., Keith Wheeler. The Scouts. Alexandria, VA.: Time-Life Books, 1978.Print. .”Christopher Kit Carson – American Explorer.” Historical Biographies.suite 101, n.d.Web.21 Aug 2012 http://suite101.com/article/christopher-kit-carson-american-explorer-a136701 Sides, Hampton. Blood and Thunder. 1st ed. New York: Doubleday, 2006. 460. Print.