CHAPTER XIII 



AUDUBON'S MARRIAGE AND SETTLEMENT IN THE 



WEST 



Audubon and Rozier decide to start a pioneer store at Louisville, Ken- 

 tucky — Their purchase of goods in New York — "Westward Ho" with 

 Rozier — Rozier's diary of the journey — An unfortunate investment in 

 indigo— Effect of the Embargo Act— Marriage to Lucy Bakewell— 

 Return to Louisville — Life on the Ohio — Depression of trade — 

 William Bakewell's assistance— Audubon's eldest son born at the 

 "Indian Queen"— The Bake wells— Life at Louisville. 



In the summer of 1807 Audubon and Rozier had 

 decided to try their fortunes in the West, which then 

 meant the Ohio Valley and the wilds of Kentucky, and 

 had fixed upon Louisville as a promising point for 

 pioneer trade. On August 1 they purchased a consid- 

 erable stock of goods through the commission house of 

 their friend, Benjamin Bakewell, and three days later 

 gave their note, payable in eight months, for over 

 $3,600. 1 Then, or a little later, they had dealings also 

 with Messrs. Robert Kinder & Company, of New York, 

 as well as the French importing house of Laurence 

 Huron, with which Ferdinand had been recently asso- 

 ciated in Philadelphia; apparently also they sent goods 

 to Francois Rozier at Nantes, and from him received 

 imports through the Bakewell firm, but, as we shall see, 

 all foreign trade was soon cut off. When their plans 

 were complete and their goods had started for the fron- 

 tier, they set out themselves for Louisville on the last 

 day of August, 1807. __ 



1 See Appendix I, Document No. 11. 



186 



