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Euro-American Buckskin Clothing
SettlersNot every one lived in the forests or a town. There were thousands of people living on the fringe of the frontier. A large portion of their food, and some of their income, came from hunting and trapping in the forests near their homes, and trading with local Native Americans or traveling traders. Normally they dressed in linen fabrics produced on their small frontier farms. When venturing into the forest, though, they wore the more durable buckskin clothing, such as leggings, and either a buckskin vest or caped frock.
LonghuntersLonghunters adopted the clothing style of the Indian nation with which they were more personally, or economically, associated. This style was more practical and durable for their lifestyle in the forests than the clothing of the settlements. Generally their wardrobe included center-seam moccasins, fully sewn buckskin leggings that came to about mid-thigh, a buckskin breechclout, and a long, drop-sleeve linen shirt dyed in an earth tone. Due to their european modesty their 'clouts were often a little longer than those of their eastern Native American associates. In cold weather they might wear a wool blanket coat, or a caped frock made of buckskin or heavy cotton or linen. [Top of Page]
FrontiersmanThink Daniel Boone or Simon Kenton. These were men who lived in the eastern frontier territories of the 1700's, with very infrequent visits to a settlement. They seldom had any friendly contact with Native Americans. Many actually despised the Indians for defending their own homelands. Some held similar contempt toward other whites, who they considered "interlopers" on their(?) turf. They preferred fully sewn buckskin pants and buckskin shirt of more european style than native style clothing. Their clothing was predominantly buckskin, because it was much more durable than fabrics in the rugged terrain they called home. An earth tone linen shirt was usually kept handy, though, for warm days. In colder weather they added a wool blanket coat or buckskin coat of similar styling, or a caped frock. [Top of Page]
Mountain ManCompany Men: Most western mountain men were obligated as employees or subcontractors to a fur trade company, like the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. These "company" trappers generally preferred fully sewn buckskin clothing to the thonged clothes of the native men. Pants were preferred by company men to the native leggings and 'clouts. Like the frontiersmen back east, they dressed predominantly in buckskin. However, most had a least one fabric shirt for hot weather, or as an added layer for cold weather. A blanket coat or a heavy buckskin coat was worn in very cold weather. Free Trappers: Some men preferred to "float their own stick" instead of being owned by one of the trading companies. Some preferred euro-style clothing, as the company men. Many, though, adopted the clothing style of a friendly plains nation (see previous page, Native American Clothing). Sometimes this was due to their more frequent contact with Native Americans than with other Euro-Americans, and sometimes it was due to their acceptance of and respect toward a native culture. [Top of Page]
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