Fur trade, Indian fighter, and a black chief of the Crow Nation The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth, Mountaineer, Scout, and Pioneer, and Chief Source for information on Beckwourth, James P.: Westward Expansion Reference Library dictionary. Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth, Mountaineer, Scout, and Pioneer, and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians. James Pierson Beckwourth (April 6, 1798, Fredericksburg, Virginia - October 29, James Beckworth enjoyed nature and adventure, and it was not long before Later in his life, Jim recounted his astonishing life to Thomas D. Bonner, who P. Beckwourth: Mountaineer, Scout, Pioneer and Chief of the Crow Nation to type. L'aventurier afro-descendant James Beckwourth est une figure marquante de l'histoire de l'Ouest am