Mud River - A Strategic Location

William Alexander Aitkin was the chief factor of the American Fur Company's Fond du Lac region of northern Minnesota from about 1830-1838. In about 1840, he returned to the region he formerly managed as chief factor with the American Fur Company. He now was operating independently in this region as an "opposition trader" and in direct competition with his former employer and partner.

The area around Sandy lake was getting scarce of game and fur by the late 1830s. Most of the game was to the west, or far north of Sandy lake. Aitkin probably understood the strategic advantage of locating his operations where the busy fur trade river traffic on the Mississippi met with important travel routes from the Mille Lacs area.

Aitkin's post at this time was along the Mississippi, near the mouth of the Mud (or Muddy) river. This location was about 26 miles closer than Sandy lake for those coming to trade from the south or west. This location surely gave Aitkin a competetive edge. He was no longer hampered with getting his furs over the Savanna Portage, as much of the fur trade traffic by now was going north/south on the Mississippi, rather than east to Lake Superior over the difficult portage.

Aitkin's unique location, his past experience as a chief factor of the American Fur Company in this region, his established trade alliances with regional Ojibwe and his ties through marriage no doubt all played an important role winning a share of the trade away from the American Fur Company at nearby Sandy lake. The American Fur Company would close their doors forever, within two years. Aitkin would move on down the Mississippi, eventually living out the remainder of his life at Swan River, near present-day Little Falls. He remained in the trade until his death in 1851.