Crooks, Ramsay, 1787-1859

Born at Greenock, Scotland, Jan. 2, 1787, and emigrated to Montreal at the age of 16. Entered the employ of a fur trader, Robert Dickson, at Mackinac, but soon, in 1806, moved on to St. Louis and formal partnership with Robert McClellan for trade on the upper Missouri. In 1810 the partnership was dissolved, Crooks returned to Canada, and there joined the recruits for the proposed overland journey to Astoria. He became a partner in Astor's Pacific Fur Company, but after a disheartening journey relinquished his shares and returned east, reaching St. Louis in April 1813. when Astor bought out the American interests of the North-West Company, Crooks became a partner in the enlarged American Fur Company, of which he was the virtual head from 1822 till Astor's retirement in 1834. He then acquired the Northern Dept. of the American Fur Company, and was its president until its dissolution in 1845. He died at New York in 1859. -cf. D.A.B. (blue index cards)

President of the American Fur Company.

Fur trader.

As general manager of John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company, 1817-1834, Ramsay Crooks was responsible for the opening of the firm's Western Department in 1822 in St. Louis. When Astor sold out in 1834, Crooks purchased the Northern Department of the company and continued to use the American Fur Company name.