John Grey

The sign's Iroquois leader was a St. Regis Mohawk from Akwesasne, born about 1795 to a Mohawk mother and an American father who had served in the Revolution, and married to a Mohawk woman, Marianne Neketichon. Ignace Hatchiorauquasha was his baptismal name, after St. Ignatius. The Jesuit Nicolas Point sketched him around 1841 fighting grizzlies. His band settled among French-Canadian and Métis families at Kawsmouth, where Kansas City would grow, and he farmed there until he was killed in a quarrel with a neighbor in the 1840s.

What the plaque says

John Grey Discovered this valley in 1818 or 1819 while hunting beaver for Donald MacKenzie's Northwest Company trappers. An Iroquois leader--also known as Ignace Hatchioraquasha--he also explored Grey's River nearby in Wyoming. Aside from his trapping skills, he was noted for his unusual aptitude in fighting grizzly bears. After trapping in this country for 20 years, he retired with his Iroquois band in 1836 to help found Kansas City, Missouri. 362 Text prepared by the Idaho Historical Society Marker made & installed by Idaho Transportation Department

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Soda Springs Geyser — 25 mi
  Drillers looking for hot water for a swimming pool hit cold soda water under pressure. The town put the geyser on a timer.

More markers nearby

• Cariboo Mountain — steps away
• Hooper Spring — 25 mi
• Camp Connor — 25 mi
• Soda Springs — 25 mi