6/ non-American but capable U.S. Indian agent, Manuel
 Lisa.
   While fur companies and freelance trappers and
 traders struggled to bring out rich loads of furs f
or fancy European markets, this junction of the
Missouri and Platte Rivers was a significant cross
roads to the northwest and west. Occasional U.S.
 Army exploration teams and incidental military
presence, as well as the fur men, did little to
change the primitive character of this area.. Even
the Federally subsidized missionaries coming here