Nathan Myrick

Nathan Myrick
Myrick c. 1875
Postmaster of La Crosse, Wisconsin
In office
1844–1845
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byEdwin Aaron Clark Hatch
Personal details
Born(1822-07-07)July 7, 1822
Westport, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 3, 1903(1903-06-03) (aged 80)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Resting placeOakland Cemetery
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
RelationsAndrew Myrick (brother)
OccupationFur trader, merhcant

Nathan Myrick (July 7, 1822 – June 4, 1903) was an American fur trader who founded the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1841. Myrick originally engaged in the North American fur trade in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin before traveling north to establish a fur trading post in what is now La Crosse. In 1848, he moved to Minnesota Territory to establish more fur trading posts. Myrick was the elder brother of Andrew Myrick who is known for instigating the Dakota War of 1862.

Early life and education

Nathan Myrick was born on July 7, 1822, in Westport, New York.:66 Myrick was the son of Barnabas Myrick and Lovnia Bigelow.:542 Myrick's father, Barnabas, was a merchant in Westport.:66 Myrick received his education in Westport before working for his father in a tannery.:543 Myrick was a longtime friend of Edwin Aaron Clark Hatch, whose father owned a rival business in Westport.:543 Both Myrick and Hatch became infatuated with the American west and eventually decided to move to the western territories.:543

Myrick moved to Wisconsin Territory at the age of nineteen on June 5, 1841, first settling in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.:544 Myrick originally intended to work for Hercules L. Dousman of the American Fur Company, however, Dousman refused Myrick due to his lack of knowledge of any regional Indigenous language and lack of experience in the "Indian trade".:544 Myrick eventually found work as an apprentice clerk for Bernard Walter Brisbois until November 1841.:67:339

Career

Myrick settled what is now La Crosse, Wisconsin on November 9, 1841.:339 Myrick built a log cabin and trading post in La Crosse in order to establish a business and trading relationship with the local Ho-Chunk people.:340 Myrick was later joined by settler Harmon J. B. Miller in 1842 who became his business partner.:342 Hatch eventually made his way to La Crosse and was employed by Myrick and Miller as a clerk before owning his own trading post in Fountain City, Wisconsin.:347

Myrick established a post office in La Crosse in 1844 and served as the city's first postmaster.:330 Myrick eventually started networking in the fur trade as far west as Saint Paul in Minnesota Territory. In 1848 Myrick left Wisconsin and settled in Minnesota Territory where he established trading posts in Watab, Long Prairie, Traverse des Sioux, Le Sueur, and Pembina.:69-70

Myrick's younger brother, Andrew Myrick, owned several trading posts in Minnesota, including the main trading post located at the Lower Sioux Agency. Andrew was later killed during the attack at the Lower Sioux Agency during the opening stages of the Dakota War of 1862. Myrick discovered Andrew's body and brought back to Saint Paul for burial at Oakland Cemetery.

According to Minnesota historian Curtis E. Dahlin, many of Myrick's stores and trading posts were burned or ruined during the Dakota War of 1862. The Minnesota government reimbursing Myrick for $100,000 for his losses (nearly $3 million) following the conflict.

Later life and death

Myrick retired from his businesses in 1876 and resided in Saint Paul until his death in 1903.

Myrick died on June 3, 1903, in Saint Paul, he is buried in Oakland Cemetery.

Personal life

Myrick was married in 1843 to Rebecca E. Ismon in Charlotte, Vermont.:66

Legacy

Myrick Park in La Crosse was named in honor of Myrick. A commemorative plaque marking the site Myrick's original cabin was donated by the La Crosse chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1916.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Merrick, George Byron (1902). Genealogy of the Merrick - Mirick - Myrick Family of Massachusetts: 1636-1902. Madison; Wis.: Tracy, Gibbs & Company.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Biographical History of La Crosse, Trempealeau and Buffalo Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company. 1892.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 History of La Crosse County, Wisconsin: containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources : an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages-their improvements, industries, manufactories, churches, schools and societies: its war record, biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers: the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin, statistics of the state, and an abstract of its laws and constitution and the constitution of the United States. Chicago: Western Historical Company. 1871.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 DeRocher, Jenny (September 20, 2022). "A Fresh Look at Nathan Myrick". La Crosse Public Library Archives. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Major hatch real soldier of fortune in early days of la crosse and vicinity". La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press. Wisconsin Historical Society. October 26, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Andrew Myrick | The U.S.-Dakota War of 1862". www.mnhs.org. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  7. ↑ Nelson, Paul (November 24, 2014). "Oakland Cemetery, St. Paul | MNopedia". www.mnhs.org. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  8. ↑ Hill, Patrick M. (2012). "Like the Wind... Oakland Cemetery Holds Many Caught Up in the U.S.-Dakota War" (PDF). Ramsey County History. 47 (2) – via Ramsey County Historical Society.
  9. 1 2 3 "DEATH OF NATHAN MYRICK: Founder of La Crosse, Wis., and One of St. Paul's Pioneers Dies at Age of 82". The Minneapolis journal. June 4, 1903. p. 7. Retrieved November 6, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Facility Directory Table List | La Crosse, WI". www.cityoflacrosse.org. Archived from the original on 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-11-17.
  11. ↑ Derrick, Peggy (July 25, 2020). "Nathan Myrick, a hero for his time". La Crosse County Historical Society. Retrieved November 7, 2026.
  12. ↑ Makali Bruton, J. (December 26, 2022). "First Building in La Crosse Historical Marker". The Historical Marker Database. Retrieved November 7, 2026.

Sources