René Auguste Chouteau, Jr.

Biography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Chouteau

René Auguste Chouteau (September 7, 1749, or September 26, 1750, in New Orleans, Louisiana[1] – February 24, 1825, in St. Louis, Missouri[2]), also known as Auguste Chouteau, was the founder of St. Louis, Missouri, a successful fur trader and a politician. He and his partner had a monopoly for many years of fur trade with the large Osage tribe on the Missouri River. In addition, he had numerous business interests in St. Louis and was well-connected with the various rulers: French, Spanish and American.

On September 20, 1748, Marie-Thérèse Bourgeois married René Auguste Chouteau, who had recently immigrated from France to Louisiana.[3] René Chouteau was described as an innkeeper, liquor dealer, and pastry chef.[3][4] He was born in the village of L'Hermenault in September 1723, and was nearly ten years older than Bourgeois.[5] Auguste Chouteau was the only child of Marie-Thérèse and René, born in either September 1749 or September 1750.[3][6] René purportedly abused Marie-Thérèse, and abandoned her and René, so she returned to her pre-matrimonial home, which some scholars say was the convent and others say was her step-father's and mother's house. In either case, a child named René was baptized on 7 September 1749 at the St. Louis Parish Church in New Orleans, with parents listed as René Chouteau and Marie Bourgeois.[7] However, the Auguste Chouteau who founded St. Louis, Missouri, often was referred to as René-Auguste, but his birth date was listed in family records as September 26, 1750. Family members in the 19th century used the traditional date (September 26, 1750) for Chouteau's grave marker in Calvary Cemetery. In René Chouteau's will, he referred to two living sons in 1776. Thus, it is possible a second son existed. In that case, it is likely that the second son died after René Chouteau left Louisiana.

By 1758, Marie-Thérèse (known as Madame Chouteau or Widow Chouteau[8]%29 had met and began living with Pierre de Laclède Liguest (commonly known as Laclède) in a common-law marriage.[9] Kieran Doherty suggests that Laclède informally adopted Auguste Chouteau, providing him with an education in one of the Catholic schools of New Orleans.[10] Regardless of whether formal education was provided Chouteau, it was clear that by his early teens, he had a respect for learning and some form of education (possibly under the direct tutelage of Laclède).[11] By the early 1760s, Chouteau worked as an assistant in obtaining supplies for Laclède's partnership business with Gilbert Antoine de St. Maxent, and served as a clerk in Laclède's journey up the Mississippi River to establish another fur-trading post.[10]

Though highly influenced by Laclède, many historians have also commented on his mother's character and intelligence that proved to be exceptionally important throughout his entire life. With a strong business sense and acumen, she would have helped developed his senses that later proved to be very effective and helpful in later years.

After Laclède's death in 1778, Chouteau took over the business of trading, adding greatly to the family fortunes.[28] He quickly expanded the business to include agricultural properties, and banking, and owned an early grist mill in St. Louis. He built the mill along Mill Creek in what became the Mill Creek Valley.[29][30] Chouteau's Pond was a local attraction until 1852.[31]

Chouteau played a significant role in the growth of other, outlying towns, such as St. Charles, Missouri.[32]

Chouteau died February 24, 1829.[46] His remains were interred first at the burial grounds near the Basilica of St. Louis, but were reinterred at Calvary Cemetery. After his death, 22 of his 36 slaves were sold at probate, providing US$10,838.88 (equivalent to $310,000 in 2023) in proceeds, half of which was provided to his wife, with the other half being divided equally among their seven children.[43]

Family

In the 1760s and early 1770s, Chouteau likely fathered two enslaved Native American children, whose mothers were owned by his mother. The enslaved Native American mothers,

1. Therese and
2. Manon

gave birth to sons

1. Jean-Baptiste and
2. Alexis.

In the 1760s and 1770s, he took at least one wife among the Osage, a standard practice among furtraders.

In the 1780s, Chouteau also had some type of long-term affair with Native American Marie, while she was enslaved by Lieutenant Governor Francisco Cruzat. They bore two children,

1. son Auguste and
2. daughter Victoire.

Chouteau's children by Native American women were likely emancipated and worked in his extended fur trade enterprise.[2][45]

Chouteau married Marie Therese, the daughter of Jean-Gabriel Cerré, on September 21, 1786, at the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (then a vertical-log church, not the current church on the site).[46] The apparently happy marriage united members of the two leading St. Louis families.[47] They were renowned for their hospitality, which helped strengthen his political position in the city and region.

Children of Auguste Chouteau and Marie Therese Cerre:

1. Auguste Aristide Chouteau (1792–1833), fur trader
2. Gabriel Chouteau (1794–1887), served in War of 1812
3. Marie Thérèse Eulalie Chouteau (1799–1835), married René Paul, first surveyor of St. Louis
4. Henry Chouteau (1805–1855), railroad executive, killed in Gasconade Bridge train disaster
5. Edward Chouteau (1807–1846), trader
6. Louise Chouteau, married Gabriel Paul, brother of René and French chevalier
7. Emilie Chouteau, married Thomas Floyd, officer in the Black Hawk War

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The home of Auguste Chouteau in St. Louis is where Lewis and Clark stayed and purchased supplies for their 1803 expedition.

Sources: Plate V: Old Chouteau Mansion, St. Louis. Mo approx. 21 x 28 cm. published by the artist and printed by Chambers and Knapp

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References

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Chouteau
2. papers of the st louisfur trade the chouteau collection http://cisupa.proquest.com/ksc_assets/catalog/2595.pdf
3. Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 2 2016, 13:03:29 UTC
4. https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~deeprootstoo/genealogy/newmansocrat...