NEBRASKA STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID
RG3653.AM: Peter A. Sarpy, 1805-1865
Papers: 1860, 1864-1872
Nebraska Territory: Trader
Size: 0.25 cu.ft.; 1 box
BACKGROUND NOTE
Peter A. Sarpy was the son of Gregoire and Pelagie L’Abadie Sarpy of St. Louis. He was born November 3, 1805. As his father and older brother Jean Baptiste had long been involved in the fur trade, it was natural that Peter Sarpy should also pursue this vocation. By 1831, Sarpy had established a post of the American Fur Company near the junction of the Platte and Missouri Rivers. He became adept at dealing with the various Indian tribes in the region and took an Indian wife, Nicomi, the daughter of an Iowa chief.
In 1836, Sarpy was involved in the establishment of Ft. Jackson on the South Platte River in what is now Colorado. In his association with the Pratt, Chouteau and Co., Sarpy was successful in building a thriving trade. After Ft. Jackson was sold in 1838, Sarpy returned to the Missouri and operated his post at Bellevue for many years. During the 1840’s, he also began to supply the white emigration across the plains, including the Mormons and the gold seekers of 1849. He later operated a ferry across the Missouri which proved to be a profitable venture.
In 1854, Sarpy played a major role in securing the Oto and Omaha land cessions which preceded the organization of the Nebraska Territory. His activities in this regard led to the naming of Sarpy County in his honor by the Nebraska Legislature in 1857. Peter Sarpy left Bellevue in 1862 and moved to Plattsmouth, Nebraska, where he died January 4, 1865. He was buried in St. Louis.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
This collection consists of one box of papers relating to Peter Abadie Sarpy. The bulk of the collection consists of copies of documents relating to the settlement of the estate of Peter A. Sarpy. They include inventories of Sarpy’s real and personal property and lists of accounts receivable. There is no mention of Sarpy’s post at Bellevue. The collection also contains one folder of biographical and bibliographical data relating to the life of Peter A. Sarpy, and one original letter written by Peter Sarpy in 1860.
Note: Copies of the estate records were purchased from the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, in July 1974. If these documents are reproduced or quoted, credit must be given to the Missouri Historical Society.
Related materials: See the photo component [RG3653.PH] for related images. See the NSHS library and the Nebraska History magazine for published materials relating to Peter A. Sarpy.
INVENTORY
Box 1
Folder
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, 1864
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, 1865
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, 1866
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, 1867
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, 1868
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, 1869
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, 1870
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, 1871
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, 1872
- Estate of Peter A. Sarpy, undated
- Biographical and bibliographical data on the life of Peter A. Sarpy
- Letter, October 6, 1860
Subject headings:
Burt County (Neb.)
Cass County (Neb.)
Decatur (Neb.)
Fur trade
Plattsmouth (Neb.)
Sarpy, Peter A., 1805-1865
Acc. #483 (07-16-1974)
JEP/ht 12-27-1974
Revised TMM 07-21-2025
