Note 223 — TRAVELS IN THE INTERIOR OF NORTH AMERICA, IN THE YEARS 1832, 1833, AND 1834 (continued 5)

The first trading post in this locality (with possible exceptions for the Spanish régime) was that of Crooks and McClellan, who in 1810 built a "wintering establishment" here, which was abandoned the following spring—see Bradbury and Brackenridge (1811). Shortly after, Manuel Lisa built his well-known Fort Lisa, some sixteen miles above Bellevue, which continued to be the prominent post of the vicinity (see James's Long's Expedition, our volume xiv, p. 221), near which the Yellowstone Expedition built Engineer Cantonment for the winter of 1819-20. The Missouri Fur Company, under Joshua Pilcher, who succeeded Lisa as president, removed from Fort Lisa to the site of Bellevue about 1823. It was this post that Fontenelle bought out, and turned over to the American Fur Company when he became their agent. The post was for many years in command of Peter Sarpy. The Indian agency was officially entitled "Council Bluffs at Bellevue." In 1849 a postoffice was established here, and the village incorporated in 1854; some of the post buildings remained until 1870. Bellevue is now a village in Sarpy County, of which it was the capital until 1875.—Ed.