The Chouteaus: First Family of the Fur Trade

This is the story of several generations of the Chouteau family in the fur trade, starting with brothers Auguste and Pierre founding St. Louis in 1764. Much of Hoig’s focus is on Auguste’s sons, Col. A.P. Chouteau and Pierre Jr., better known as Cadet. A.P. built a trading post empire down on the Plains. Much of the history on the posts of the Arkansas, Neosho/Grand and Verdigris Rivers of Oklahoma will be new to readers. A.P. died broke, but Cadet died a rich man who was denigrat