Later Life
Thomas McKay spent most of his later years between his farms at Champoeg and Scappoose. At some point he became a United States citizen.
In 1840 he drove more than 3,600 sheep and 661 cattle from California to Fort Nisqually for the HBC.
In 1841, members of the overland party of the Wilkes Expedition met and breakfasted with McKay at his Champoeg farm. George Colvocoresses of the expedition wrote about McKay, saying that he is "one of the most noted individuals in this part of the country. Among the trappers, he is the hero of many a tale."
McKay raised and led a company of militia which saw active service during the Cayuse War of 1848.
In September 1848 he guided a train of 50 wagons to California.
He died in 1849, and is buried in an unmarked grave in Scappoose.
Read more about this topic: Thomas Mc Kay (fur Trader)
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