This was accomplished in 1826.

While on the Santa Fe Trail in 1831, he was killed by Comanches, and the firm of Smith Jackson & Sublette was dissolved. It was then that William Sublette and Robert Campbell became partners in transportaion and fur enterprise.

In 1834. Mr. Campbell accompanied Sublette to the mountains. The route taken was the cut off from Fort Osage to "Great Island," which had become considerable in use in the two years previous.

They determined upon building a trading post at the junction of the Laramie and North Platte rivers, for from this point there were now two well established routes to St. Louis.

The trail opened by Robert Stuart was first in use, but from the date of Bonneville's trip, until the great Mormon pilgrimage, in 1847, the southern route was mosl in use. After that time for two or three years, "the Council Bluffs route" held the big travel.

The first fort at the Laramie was begun in

June, 1834, and was built stockade plan, logs about forteen feet long set on end, enclosing the building of logs. This was after the pattern of so many early structures, which served the purpose of the wilderness men.

Previously to this date, the Indians had learned to come to the rendezvous of free trappers, and many hundred of them journeyed annually to trade their peltries for the bright shining trinkets and tinsel so dear to their nature.

After naming the place "Fort William," it occurred to Campbell that there were other Fort Williams in the west, and to prevent confusion in shipments, goods addressed to this point were marked "Fort William on the Laramie."