Jedediah Smith

Jedediah Strong Smith (http://xroads.virginia.edu/ ~hyper/hns/mtmen/jedesmith.html)

Jedediah Smith was born in 1799 on January 6th. Growing up, he got tutored by a medical doctor, so he was pretty smart. All of his big accomplishments happened in the 19th century. In his teens, he worked on a fur trading ship and heard many stories about the Rockies and loved them. His first expedition was in 1822 with William H. Ashley. Jedediah was soon a good leader because he was clear-headed, knowledgeable and trustworthy. He was able to get his own fur trading company because he already knew everything that needed to be done. He had two partners and 18 crew members that traveled through the southwest to the un-trapped areas of the US.

Jedediah Smith lived from 1799 to 1831 in Bainbridge, New York. He is important because he found the South Pass, which is a mountain pass on the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains. It helped any traveler get though the Rocky Mountains because it was a short route.

Jedediah Smith is a hero because he was able to help many people in different ways. He was a fur trader which allowed people to make coats and other clothes and necessities out of fur. In the winter, people were able to stay warm because of his job. He also hunted. He was able to get enough food for himself and probably even trade food to people who didn't have a lot, for something he wanted and the people wouldn't starve.

The South Pass (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pass)

Jedediah Smith was able to find the South Pass. Back then, it was one of the most important things to find while traveling through the Rocky Mountains. It was a shorter route than any other through the mountains, which made it easier for explorers to get where they wanted to go.

Jedediah Strong Smith Trail Marker at Great Basin (http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_way/191193062/)

He was remembered for his great hunting and fur trading. But most of all, Jedediah Smith is remembered for finding the important tool of the Rocky Mountains, the South Pass. Also, now Jedediah Smith has a forest named in memory of him.

His advice for today's youth would be to always keep looking for new things and try working as hard as you can because he did that and he found many new things and he accomplished many different things in his life. He would probably want everyone else to do the same.