Ramsay Crooks

Ramsay Crooks (2 January 1787 – 6 June 1859) was an American fur trader who was president of the American Fur Company after John Jacob Astor sold out of the company from 1834 to 1839.

Ramsay helped W. Price Hunt to organize and lead an overland trip to Astoria in the Oregon Country for John Jacob Astor in 1809 through 1813, as a partner in the Pacific Fur Company. He became general manager of the American Fur Company in 1817 and became president of the company in 1834.

He was the father of American Civil War Colonel William Crooks who served in the 6th Minnesota Regiment.

Early life Crooks was born to William Crooks and Margaret Ramsay in Greenock, Scotland. He was one of five sons and four daughters.

In 1803, following the death of his father, Crooks arrived in Montreal, Quebec, with his family at the age of 16. Two of his brothers had previously come to Canada. He stayed in Montreal while his mother and the rest of the family went on to Newark. a Montreal mercantile firm that supplied dry goods and hardware. He then worked as a clerk for fur trader Robert Dickson at Michilimackinac (or Mackinac Island) on Lake Huron. They formed an expedition of 40 men and went as far as South Dakota on the Missouri, but were forced back to Council Bluffs, Iowa, by about 600 Sioux. They erected a trading post at Council Bluffs. A few days later, he relinquished his interest in the Pacific Fur Company, and traveled back east overland, crossing the South Pass in Wyoming as one of the first white men to do so.

Following bankruptcy, Crooks continued to operate a clearing house for furs in New York City until his death.

Personal life Crooks left a large amount of correspondence. He suffered of ill health throughout his life.

While traveling for the fur trade company he dealt with many Native American tribes. He married Abanokue, the daughter of an Ojibwa Chieftain. They had a daughter together, Hester Crooks. Abanokue died around 1825. Crooks then married Emilie Pratte and had nine children. He spent his final days in New York.