CANADA HISTORY

John Day

John Day is a lesser-known yet significant figure in the history of early American westward expansion and the fur trade, particularly in relation to the Pacific Northwest. His journey from Virginia to the western frontier, his role as a hunter for the Pacific Fur Company, and his subsequent involvement in exploration and trapping in the Columbia River region reveal the challenges, perils, and ambitions that defined this period of American and Canadian history. His experiences, particularly along the Columbia River and in the Pacific Northwest, illustrate the importance of the fur trade, early interactions with Indigenous peoples, and the westward movement that would eventually reshape both the United States and parts of Canada.

Born in Culpeper County, Virginia, John Day’s path westward mirrors the broader push of American settlers and adventurers seeking new opportunities beyond the established borders of the young United States. By 1797, Day had traveled through Kentucky and arrived in Spanish Upper Louisiana (modern-day Missouri). At the time, this region was a gateway to the vast and largely uncharted territories that stretched westward to the Pacific Ocean. Day's arrival in this region coincided with a period of intense exploration and competition, especially after the United States acquired the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803. This acquisition opened up millions of acres for exploration and development, setting the stage for expeditions like the one Day would later join.

In late 1810, Day’s life took a dramatic turn when he was hired by the Pacific Fur Company, founded by American businessman John Jacob Astor. Astor’s vision was to establish a profitable fur trade network that stretched from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast, linking American markets with lucrative trade routes in Asia. The fur trade was one of the most important industries driving exploration and settlement in North America during this time, and men like John Day were essential to its success. As a skilled hunter and trapper, Day became part of Wilson Price Hunt’s overland expedition, which aimed to reach Fort Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River on the Pacific Coast. This expedition was fraught with difficulty, as the terrain, weather, and logistical challenges of crossing the continent were immense.

Arriving in the Pacific Northwest in 1811–12, Day’s experience was marked by one of the most harrowing events of his life. Along with fellow fur trader Ramsay Crooks, Day was robbed and stripped naked by Indigenous peoples along the Columbia River. The incident occurred near the mouth of the river that would eventually bear his name—the John Day River, located in present-day Oregon. The specifics of the encounter are unclear, but it reflects the complex and often tense interactions between Indigenous groups and European-American explorers during this period. While many Indigenous peoples in the region engaged in trade with fur companies, there were also moments of conflict, particularly as American and European expansion encroached on Indigenous territories.

Despite this ordeal, Day and Crooks managed to survive and eventually made their way to Fort Astoria in April 1812. Fort Astoria was a key outpost in the Pacific Fur Company’s operations, strategically located at the mouth of the Columbia River. This location was essential for controlling the flow of furs from the interior to the Pacific and for establishing trade links with ships arriving from the East. Day’s arrival at Fort Astoria marked the beginning of his involvement in the rugged, often isolated life of a fur trapper in the Pacific Northwest.

In June 1812, Day was assigned to accompany Robert Stuart, another member of the Pacific Fur Company, on a return journey east to St. Louis. However, due to illness or other factors, Day was left behind on the Lower Columbia River. Accounts suggest that during this time, he suffered a mental breakdown, and he is said to have “gone mad.” Mental health challenges were not uncommon among frontiersmen and explorers, who faced extreme physical hardships, isolation, and the constant threat of danger. Day’s experience highlights the personal toll that exploration and trapping could take on individuals.

Despite his difficulties, Day returned to Fort Astoria and spent the next eight years as a trapper in the Willamette Valley and the inland Northwest. His knowledge of the region and his skills as a hunter were invaluable during this time, as fur traders like Day were instrumental in mapping and understanding the vast and diverse landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. The Willamette Valley, now one of the most fertile and populated regions of Oregon, was then largely inhabited by Indigenous groups and remained relatively unexplored by Europeans and Americans. Trappers like Day played a crucial role in opening up these areas to future settlement.

Day’s death in 1820 at the winter camp of Donald MacKenzie’s Snake Country Expedition, in what is now Butte County, Idaho, marked the end of a life spent on the western frontier. He died in the Little Lost River valley, an area that was previously known as “Day’s River” and “Day’s Defile” during the fur trade era. His passing, like his life, was tied to the rugged, often dangerous world of the fur trade, where trappers and traders lived and died in pursuit of the lucrative pelts that fueled much of North America’s economy at the time.

Today, John Day’s name is remembered across the Pacific Northwest. The John Day River, a major tributary of the Columbia River in eastern Oregon, and its four branches are a testament to his legacy. The river was named in his honor due to his experiences in the region, particularly the dramatic encounter that left him stripped and vulnerable near its mouth. In addition to the river, the cities of John Day and Dayville in Grant County, Oregon, further commemorate his contributions to the exploration of the area. The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, a geological treasure trove located in eastern Oregon, is another prominent site bearing his name, connecting his legacy to the natural history of the region.

John Day’s story, while largely overshadowed by more famous explorers like Lewis and Clark, remains an important part of the early history of the Pacific Northwest. His experiences reflect the dangers and hardships faced by fur traders, who were among the first Europeans and Americans to venture into the remote corners of what would later become Canada and the United States. The fur trade, which brought men like Day into the region, played a foundational role in the economic and territorial expansion of both nations.

In relation to Canadian history, John Day’s expeditions and the broader fur trade were deeply intertwined with the development of British and later Canadian territories. The fur trade dominated the economic landscape of what would become Canada for centuries, and the competition between British and American fur companies helped shape the boundaries and geopolitical realities of the region. The Hudson’s Bay Company, which operated north of the Columbia River in what is now Canada, and the American fur companies operating in the Pacific Northwest, were part of the same vast economic system that connected Indigenous peoples, trappers, and European markets.

In conclusion, John Day’s life and legacy are emblematic of the rugged, dangerous, and often lonely world of the fur trader in the early 19th century. His role in the exploration of the Pacific Northwest and his contributions to the fur trade left an indelible mark on the region, with his name etched into the geography of Oregon and beyond. His story is a reminder of the human cost of exploration and the critical role that individuals like Day played in shaping the early history of North America, particularly in areas that would later become Canada and the United States.