Hubbard came to Chicago in 1818 as an employee of the American Fur Company. He went by way of the Illinois River to St. Louis and Cahokia, spent the winter at a post near Hennepin and in the spring returned to Mackinac. He was with the Illinois brigade again in the winters of 1821-22 and 1822—23 and in 1822 he established “Hubbard’s Trail” from Chicago to Danville. From 1828 to 1834 he lived in Danville and after that in Chicago. The autobiographical material covers his career to 1830, and furnishes a valuable picture of northern Illinois during the fur trade period.