James “Jim” Beckwourth was a Black mountaineer, fur trader, and explorer credited with discovering the Beckwourth Pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Beckwourth was one of the few African-American settlers who found success in the Old West, although some historians regard much of his life as a series of fables.
Beckwourth was born on April 26, 1798 or 1800, with some accounts saying he was born on April 6. Raised in Frederick County, Va. by a white slave-owning father and a slave mother, Beckwourth was acknowledged by his father, who arranged his training as a blacksmith. His father later freed him after traveling with the family to Missouri.
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In the early 1820s, Beckwourth began working as a fur trader in the Rocky Mountains, navigating the rough terrain and became skilled in trade and outdoor life. At one point, he also made a living as a professional card player. Around this time, Beckwourth became aligned with the Crow Nation and began living amongst them. According to accounts, he took several wives, including Crow women and a Black woman, and had several children, though little is known about them.
In 1848, Beckwourth joined the Gold Rush as many other settlers had in seeking the riches California had to offer. He helped establish Indian trails and trading posts during this time. In 1850, he discovered the Beckwourth Pass, the lowest-rising pass in the mountains at just over 5,000 feet that connects Reno, Nev. and Portola, Calif.
Source: Little Known Black History Fact: James ‘Jim’ Beckwourth
