Joseph Robidoux (1783 – 1868) established the Blacksnake Hills Trading Post that eventually developed into St. Joseph, Missouri.

Robidoux was hired by the American Fur Company to establish a trading post named the Blacksnake Hills which is near present day St. Joseph. He worked for them for four years and then became an independent trader.

Robidoux prospered in the years between 1830 and 1843 and employed as many as 20 frenchmen to trade with the American Indians.

In 1843, Robidoux hired two men, Frederick W. Smith and Simeon Kemper, to design a town for him, now St. Joseph. The town grew quickly and between the years of 1846 and 1860 the population grew from 800 to 8,932.