trade business. George Bent recounted that his uncle worked about 1816 in the Upper Mississippi region for the American Fur Company. The historian David Lavender wrote that about 1817, Charles worked for the Missouri Fur Company. After establishing his own trading business with Ceran St. Vrain in 1832, Charles Bent was appointed as the first territorial governor of New Mexico in 1846. William, born May 23, 1809, in St. Louis, entered the fur trade with his brother as a youth, about 1823 or 1824, beginning with learning to trap. At that time in the United States, boys of that age typically started a trade or career. About 1832 Charles and William took as their partner Ceran St. Vrain. George and Robert, born in St. Louis, joined in their brothers' enterprise. William Bent married a Cheyenne woman, Owl Woman. Their son George Bent, became an important informant of Cheyenne history and traditions, as well as serving as a soldier during the American Civil War and as a Cheyenne warrior. Juliannah (also known as Julie Ann), born in Charleston, West Virginia, became the first wife of Lilburn Boggs, who later became governor of Missouri; she died in 1820. John, born in Charleston, West Virginia, became a distinguished lawyer in St. Louis. Lucy was born in 1805 in Ohio. Four more children were born in St. Louis; Silas junior served in the Navy. He was a flag Lieutenant on the expedition to Japan under Matthew C. Perry. Later, he was appointed to the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners. Edward died at age six. Dorcas married judge William C. Carr. Mary married Major Jonathan L. Bean Death Bent died in St. Louis on November 20, 1827, having become a wealthy man. His financial legacy enabled Charles and William to embark on the venture that built Bent's Old Fort. References Notes Citations 1768 births 1827 deaths People from Rutland, Massachusetts Judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri People from Charleston, West Virginia People of pre-statehood West Virginia Virginia postmasters People from Brooke County, West Virginia People from St. Louis 19th-century American judges