The Santa Fe Trail began in Old Franklin, Missouri, where pack trains soon gave way to freight wagons traveling to and from Mexico, now New Mexico. After floods destroyed Franklin, residents established New Franklin, and the trailhead later moved west to Independence and Westport Landing, where river boats on the Missouri River brought goods and passengers. The overland trade developed without a single clear origin, growing from circumstance rather than an organized commercial plan. In Howard County, Kit Carson was apprenticed to saddler David Workman before deciding to join a party bound for the Rocky Mountains, and he was listed as a resident of Fort Hempstead near present-day New Franklin during the War of 1812. Josiah Gregg, also raised in Howard County, was at Cooper's Fort west of Franklin during the War of 1812, and his book about the Santa Fe trade was published in 1844. On September 1, 1821, William Becknell and five companions left Franklin with pack horses carrying trade items, stopped at Fort Osage for final preparations, and crossed the Great Plains. On November 13 they were met by Mexican troops, and three days later they were welcomed in Santa Fe by New Mexican Governor Facundo Melgares. News on their return that New Mexico was open to trade encouraged others, and the Santa Fe Trail was born.
