New York City Dealer In Indian Goods Writes To Judge Wm A Carter Fort Bridger Post Trader

New York City Dealer In Indian Goods Writes To Judge Wm A Carter Fort Bridger Post Trader.  This 1872 letter sent to Judge William A. Carter, included a list of Indian goods that Charles Drake desires, such as, “Dress war & peace implements of real wild Indians”  The list included pipes, tomahawks, tobacco pouches, arrows, ..and scalps…..and for these articles he is offering various types of decorative shells, such as, Iroquois shell, red corral, etc.”these are the only goods I have sold to the Indian Traders……” Drake further mentions that,  “I only sell to Novelty Hunters etc….”

I have not been able to locate Drake as of yet, buy surely better researcher can find him.

Judge William A. Carter, (1818 – 1881), came at Fort Bridger, (then Dakota Territory and later Wyoming) with the Army in 1857, and would become the post sutler/ post trader until his later years.  He involved himself in many enterprises, and became quiet wealthy, having established his businesses in that region. His time at Fort Bridger placed him in the activities with trading with soldiers, crews of scientific expeditions, Indians, emigrants, noted mountain men, miners and travelers. He was also the Probate Judge of Uinta Co., Wyoming.  He and his family maintained the post store, and other businesses well after his death in 1881. He continued to correspond with many of the military officers who formed a bond while stationed at Bridger.

The letter is part of a good number of documents and letters in my possession, this one not having an connection with the military at Fort Bridger. Written on light green stock, this letter shows the early eastern interests in Indian artifacts, written 4 years before the Custer Fight in 1876.