Quotes by William Henry Ashley

About William Henry Ashley:

William Henry Ashley was an American pioneering fur trader, entrepreneur, and politician. Though a native of Virginia, Ashley had already moved to Ste. Genevieve in what was then called Louisiana, when it was purchased by the United States from France in 1803. That land, later known as Missouri, became Ashley's home for most of his adult life. Ashley moved to St. Louis around 1808 and became a Brigadier General in the Missouri Militia during the War of 1812. Before the war he did some real estate speculation and earned a small fortune manufacturing gunpowder from a lode of saltpeter mined in a cave near the headwaters of Missouri's Current river. When Missouri was admitted to the Union Ashley was elected its first Lieutenant Governor, serving from 1820 to 1824 under Governor Alexander McNair. He ran for governor of Missouri in the August 1824 election, but was defeated.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Several speeches were made by the chiefs during the council, all expressive in the highest degree of their friendly disposition towards our government, and their conduct in every particular manifested the sincerity of their declarations.

William Henry Ashley

We continued to move forward without loss of time, hoping to be able to reach the wood described by the Indians before all our horses should become exhausted.

William Henry Ashley

We remained at our encampment of this day until the morning of the 7th, when we descended ten miles lower down and encamped on a spot of ground where several thousand Indians had wintered during the past season.

William Henry Ashley

After an unremitting and severe labour of two days, we returned to our old encampment with the loss of some of my horses, and my men excessively fatigued.

William Henry Ashley

As my men could profitably employ themselves on these streams, I moved slowly along, averaging not more than five or six miles per day and sometimes remained two days at the same encampment.

William Henry Ashley

After the departure of the land parties, I embarked with six men on thursday, the 21st april, on board my newly made boat and began the descent of the river.

William Henry Ashley

They urged me to take up winter quarters at the forks of the Platt, stating that if I attempted to advance further until spring, I would endanger the lives of my whole party.

William Henry Ashley

The weather was fine, the valleys literally covered with buffaloe, and everything seemed to promise a safe and speedy movement to the first grove of timber on my route, supposed to be about ten days' march.

William Henry Ashley

The principal or highest part of the mountain having changed its direction to east and west, I ascended it in such manner as to leave its most elevated ranges to the south and travelled north west over a very rough and broken country generally covere...

William Henry Ashley

We were therefore obliged to unload our boats of their cargoes and pass them empty over the falls by means of long cords which we had provided for such purposes.

William Henry Ashley

These mountains appear to be almost entirely composed of stratas of rock of various colours (mostly red) and are partially covered with a dwarfish growth of pine and cedar, which are the only species of timber to be seen.

William Henry Ashley

Many of their lodges remained as perfect as when occupied. They were made of poles two or three inches in diameter, set up in circular form, and covered with cedar bark.

William Henry Ashley

Some of them profess to be well acquainted with all the principal waters of the Columbia, with which they assured me these waters had no connection short of the ocean.

William Henry Ashley

It appears from Mr. Smith's account that there is no scarcity of buffalo as he penetrated the country.

William Henry Ashley

On my passage thither, I discovered nothing remarkable in the features of the country.

William Henry Ashley

The only very rugged part of the route is in crossing the Big Horn mountain, which is about 30 miles wide.

William Henry Ashley

I had the Big Horn river explored from Wind River mountain to my place of embarkation.

William Henry Ashley

The Yellowstone river is a beautiful river to navigate.

William Henry Ashley

Snow is so common that I have omitted to note its falling at least two days out of Three.

William Henry Ashley

The snow continues with high winds we remain at this camp to day in consequence of the weather.

William Henry Ashley

Author Bio

  • NameWilliam Henry Ashley
  • DescriptionAmerican politician
  • Born1778
  • DiedMarch 26, 1838
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionPolitician