Alexander Barclay

Alexander Barclay (May 21, 1810 – December 1855) was an American frontiersman. After working in St. Louis as a bookkeeper and clerk, he worked at Bent's Old Fort. He then ventured westward where he was a trapper, hunter, and trader. Barclay entered into a common-law relationship with Teresita Sandoval, one of the founders of the settlement and trading post El Pueblo. He helped settle Hardscrabble, Colorado and built Fort Barclay in New Mexico.

Early life Born May 21, 1810, Barclay was raised by his mother, since his father was proven improvident. He had a brother George and sister Mary, with whom he would correspond throughout his life.

Barclay worked in London, England as a corset maker as a young adult. He sold his business for 80 pounds and sought off for a new life by sailing for Canada in 1833, having been inspired by the actions of two friends. Arriving ill from his trip, he was quarantined in Quebec for a time and then traveled to Toronto, and then settled north of Lake Huron. He built a simple windowless log lodge, lived there with friends, and farmed the 120 acres he had obtained. After his cabin burned down with all of his possessions, he moved to St. Louis, arriving there in 1836. He first worked for one of his English friends as a bookkeeper. Barclay then got a job on a Mississippi River-cruising steamboat as a clerk.

Frontier life Bent's Fort

Interested in exploring the frontiers of the American West, and tired of the mosquitos and humidity,

Hardscrabble Alexander Barclay, Teresita Sandoval, 1853. Photo Courtesy of Colorado Historical Society Around 1843, Barclay met Teresita Sandoval, one of the founders of El Pueblo and the common-law wife of Mathew Kinkead. She was also the mother-in-law of George Simpson and Joseph Doyle. In 1844, Barclay moved with the 33-year-old grandmother and her children to Hardscrabble, where Barclay and Sandoval's son-in-laws built the settlement. Sandoval helped establish the settlement at Hardscrabble and Greenhorn. Kinkead had moved to California with their son, Juan.

At Hardscrabble, Barclay and Sandoval operated a store, raised horses and cows, and grew crops. Native Americans and wolves depleted their stock, and they had difficulty with most of their crops. In January 1846, he recorded in his journal that the "Arapahoes threatened to rub me out", during a trip to Fort Laramie. In June of that year, after much of his crop was killed by a heavy frost, he learned of the onset of the Mexican–American War, which might bring Mexican soldiers to the Hardscrabble area.

Even though Hardscrabble was located within the Mexican Republic, Barclay continued to travel after the war began in May 1847 to El Pueblo to trade, dance, and socialize. He and Sandoval also hosted others from the Arkansas Valley, including friends from Bent's Fort. Making use of his skills as a corset-maker, Barclay had been making hand-sewn garments out of buckskin. He hunted for large game in the area, and he imported cats to take care of the rats in the corn crib. His trading business saw a boost in the arrival of troops to fight in the war; they bought corn and mules. In August, about 500 Mormons set up a temporary settlement near Pueblo, thereby increasing his business activity. He then lived in Pueblo for about a year, trading at the fort. After several skirmishes in the area with Native Americans, Barclay sold his property in Pueblo. Over the years, he traded at Fort Saint Vrain (near present-day Denver) and in Taos, traveling via the Trapper's Trail (versus traveling along the native's superhighway, Huerfano River trail).

Fort Barclay Barclay reportedly moved to New Mexico to build a permanent house for Sandoval.

Barclay was described as broken when the fort was not sold to the Army. Soon after, Joseph Doyle left on October 10, 1853, with a number of families, including Sandoval, her son Tomas, and other family members. It is also stated that Sandoval stayed with him until his death. Barclay died in December 1855 at the fort. He was 45 years of age. He was "a very quiet, cool and considerate gentleman", known for his intellect and dignity. His papers, sketches, and correspondence are in the Bancroft Library collection in Berkeley, California.