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Francois and Berenice Chouteau, Part 1: How the French Settled Middle America & Gave Rise to the ?House of Chouteau' Trade Empire (Pillars of Old Kansas City)
Francois and Berenice Chouteau Part 1 How the French Settled Middle America Gave Rise to the House of Chouteau' Trade Empire - Pillars of Old Kansas City Author:Sam Wellman After 1822, Francois and Berenice anchored French pioneers at Kawsmouth, the juncture of the Kansas and Missouri rivers, the site of future Kansas City. But long before 1822, the French explored the Missouri River, even building forts and trading posts. And no one rivaled the French for harmony with original inhabitants of the land. Yes, Native ... more »Americans had lived around the Kawsmouth for millenia, most recently the Osage nation to the east and their Kanza cousins to the west. In 1673, French explorers Joliet and Marquette saw the Missouri River, even gathered facts on indigenous nations along the river. Soon the river bristled with traders, the fabled French Canadian voyageurs and coureurs des bois.The 1700s for Middle America were ?French?. First came Bourgmont, friend to nations along the Missouri River far to the north, a bold man who also explored the Great Plains. Then the Mallet brothers crossed the plains all the way to Mexico. Then Pierre Laclede and Auguste Chouteau founded St. Louis,. Missouri River nations embraced these two traders and helped them build the ?House of Chouteau?.The great fur trading ?House of Chouteau? had dominated Middle America over 50 years when Francois and Berenice Chouteau settled their family in the Kawsmouth area...« less