Fifty Years On The Trail: The True Story of John Y. Nelson, Frontiersman, Scout, and Guide

by John Nelson

Frontiersman, military scout, interpreter, guide, police chief, and saloon owner; John Young Nelson led a varied life in far west. He had fled home in Virginia as a young teenager to escape an overbearing father and to build a new life himself. After working a number of small jobs he met a band of Sioux who took him in and showed him their way of life. His book Fifty Years on the Trail tells tales of his life among Sioux, spent hunting, trapping, on raids and in skirmishes. The book later recounts life as guide, during the period that he led the Mormons into Salt Lake Valley in 1847, as well as a scout during the Indian Wars that erupted in the mid-nineteenth century. "One of the most experienced of American trappers. … The Casanova of the Trail, a more splendid natural ruffian, one more candid, cautious, daring, and diverting, it is impossible to desire." — Saturday Review "A thorough plainsman, his standing as a train guide was most enviable, being sought for by all." — Buffalo Bill's Wild West "His adventures are among the strangest and the most amusing in the world." — The Bookmart John Young Nelson’s memoir records a remarkable life through a tumultuous period. Fifty Years on the Trail was first published in 1889 and he passed away in 1903.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

210 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2020

Reviews

[J.M. (Joe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great narrative

An invaluable piece of study for research’s sake. This firsthand account of frontier ranger John Nelson during the mid-1800s amidst the decline of the Indians in Wyoming and the Dakotas is a profound record of those events. Nelson personally dealt with several recognized men of the era such as Brigham Young and Sitting Bull. Fascinating. I highlighted the heck out of this. Recommended for any history buff, especially those interested in the frontier lives of rough and enterprising men and the conflicts and plight of the Native Americans.

[Robert Daws · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read and great insight into the history of the West

Great historical read and view through a mountain man who was not only white but also Native American at heart!

[Robert Clancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you heard that a young boy ran away from home at 16, went a foreign land and became a member of another family, learned their language and customs, lived with them, was married five or six times because his wives kept on leaving him, then he left this land and his new family too. This person then tried a dozen occupations in two dozen cities and, whether successful or a failure, kept on leaving after two or three years. He admitted to killing several people, got in many fights and was involved numerous illegal activities. Most people would think this person was mentally unstable -- and they'd probably be right. This was the life of John Nelson, adopted Sioux warrior, Army scout, hunter, trapper, horse thief, breeder, saloon keeper, sheriff and a dozen or so other occupations. An interesting story but since it's told by this disturbed individual, it's highly questionable concerning the truth.

[Frode · Rating 4 out of 5]

John tells this story to Harrington O’Reilly, who writes it all up. Born in Charleston, Virginia, in 1826, he fled from home when he was 12 or 13 years old and made his way west. He stopped briefly at an aunt’s place about 50 miles away but took off shortly to avoid his dad coming to get him. With some minor adventures he ended up at another aunt’s place in Missouri. He lasted there for a short time but couldn’t take his uncle, whom he called a skinflint.

John had lots of interesting times with wagon trains, Indians, gold miners, the military and the Mormons, the latter of whom he did not really like. He was the one to guide Brigham Young into the Great Salt Lake area, and he later lived with the Mormons for a short while, but he took off when he had an opportunity and never went back.

He left a group of whites and became an Indian more or less. In fact, the US Government recognized him as a Sioux, so he got reservation benefits later on when the Indians were pushed on to their reservations. John was part of the Brule tribe but friends with many in the Ogallala band as well.

John led a pretty charmed life and escaped death numerous times. He worked at various enterprises, made and lost money, and was a real character. He was in the Kansas-Nebraska areas when it was just opening up, and it was a time of great transition. He comments at times on various things which he didn’t like, particularly when white folk began selling whiskey to the Indians and later when the agents cheated the Indians.

I found the book to be interesting and a picture of the times when the prairie country was new and open as far as white folks were concerned. The Indians, of course, had been there for some time and had adapted to the country and had a way of life, quite foreign to us, but natural for them. It is an entertaining book in that John seems to jump from one experience to the next. He does mention that he has an unlucky star that shows up just when things seem to be going well for him. Some of his decisions caused him grief while others gave him pleasure. He lived through it all and left us with a good autobiography.

[Mike Keely]

I am reading my great grandfathers 1889 book. He was a prominent politician in Oregon history; a judge and state legislature. The judge liked to write in his books. Let’s just say that the protagonist, John Y Nelson was a first class bullish!ter. OSeriously, you got to be pretty gullible to believe even half of what he “remembers”. I doubt such a person existed; pulp literature. The judge, “This book is too tough for one fully to read & I quit it.” Regarding p21, “This may be true, but I have never seen antelope act that way or in any way that he mentions as they get away in a hurry.”
p36 regarding hunting skills, “fudge!”

[Philip Liva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opinion

This book took me a few weeks to read.I will say that so much was said and at times not easy to follow.Nelson’s descriptions were very well written and I was impressed with his honesty.Of course do we know when he passed away and he certainly didn’t say much about his family and children.He did have 2 daughters pass away but never really showed much emotion.He was a restless soul and he certainly was a traveling man!

[Jay Suverkrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!

I liked the authenticity of life on the buffalo plains living among the native American Indians. John Nelson became an Indian and completely embraced the nomad lifestyle. He ran away from home in Kentucky where his dad severely abused him at the age of twelve. He never returned. He never completed an education, and he made a life for himself, his wife and kids.

[Phil Trubia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best accounts of western expansion .

The author lived through the fur trade, Oregon trail era, Mormon expansion, gold mining towns, Indian wars and the Reservations. His story is told in an almost modern narrative and different than other people of his era that also left accounts. Well worth reading. It added to my understanding of the western frontier.

[Allan Gaber · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absorbing and unusual account of life on the broad plains of middle america

An absorbing and exciting account of life on th he b ed pad plains of middle america.good reading for all interested in histoy.

[Frank Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting historical autobiography

Written in the cleaned up language of his time and environment. Some suspected exaggeration, all could have happened as described. John Y Nelson was quite intelligent, in my opinion, but chose to follow the path he followed.

[GRAHAM MARTIN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inside look at of the Western frontier

Really good insight of the relationship between the natives and the white man. The corruption of the Bureau of Indian affairs was deployable. Also interesting was Nelson's insight into the Mormons

[Richard Gruner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tall tales and authentic experience

Mid nineteenth century America, westward expansion, life among the plains tribes, Indian Wars and gold fever as seen through the eyes of a participant. Much truth -- some fiction.

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it's hard to say how much of this is really true, Nelson's life was filled with events and he tells us about it in a very deadpan and entertaining fashion. A good counterpoint to much of current literature.

[Rovertoad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Informative

If he did all of what he states, he was a very busy man. He was in all the correct spots and did about everything there was to do out west.

[bill marcom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written historical narrative.

So much injustice done to the Native Americans. And rampant corruption in the US Government, even in the wild frontier days. Great story.

[Ebook Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, the e-book version can be found at:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/fift...

[Tammie Tyndall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book

This book was very descriptive and I could see the landscape , buffalo, and Indians in my mind. Very hard times for all.

[Nancy Winebrenner · Rating 3 out of 5]

lots of bs

Oh my where to start. A bunch of stories few to have much truth, lots of lies and crazy info . Entertainment to a point, then tiresome rambling.

[William Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and enjoyable read. You can't take it too seriously and you have to suspend disbelief at time. And some of the stories are really stretches, but fun nonetheless.

[Kenneth Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

A good history of this man of the frontier who lived as a Indian and era he lived through before

[Howard Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best fist hand accounts of the early settlement of Nebraska. Actually prior to much settlement, when the Indians still pretty much ran things and the buffales were yet plentiful.

[Kathy Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

autobiographical, historical -- but really not sure I can call this history, as a lot felt more like tall-tales. I'm glad I read it, but wouldn't necessarily recommend to anyone.
Drawbacks: Far-fetched, Very Repetitive!

Nonetheless, this is still worth a read and some of it just to skim for insight into the mind of a man of those times and a world long gone. Gives a different perspective on Native Americans than I expected, as he was rather pro-Native American, more so than many that you read of from that era.

[Richard R Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

From perspective

A personal telling of a mans journey through our history is a great view of the truth that people remain consistent through time in acts, great and low. Worth this time and a good read.