The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-01-26
Frazee Hardware and Furniture Company
One of The Usage ChOuteaus.

"Howdy do john folks well 2" The questioner was
small mothery looking whose face beamed wit
kindness as she spoke to different persons who came
to an Indian traders store and rubbed their hands at tn
fire and yawned awkwardy before speaking. She wore
blanket moccasins and the leather leggngs of Osag
Indian squaw Her black hair streaked slightly wit
gray and her face bore the wrinkles and tan of life
exposure to the wind and sun, but she viyacou
as girl
'Ths is Aunt Sophy Chouteau, daughter Of Coone
Edward Chouteau pioneer ST. Louis fur trader in thi
country so long that the time far back th
battle of Waterloo said the trader introducing her t.
stranger.
'Aunt Sophy glanced inquirngly at her acquaint
ance and in a manner that betrayed her pride, said
eyes, Colonel Edward Chouteau my father and ml
mother was an Usage. My Chouteau kinfolk live in st
Louis. 1t has been long, long time since l any O.
them"
Any person acquainted with the history of what once
was called the far West knows the history of the Chou
teaus They were commercial arstocrats whose trading
posts reached from the Mississippi to the Rocky noun
tains Their merchandise filled pony packs and canoes
on every trail and stream that led to the Indian country
They amassed fortunes and employed army Of subor
dnates One of the Choueaus was the friend Of Wash
ngton Irving and induced the latter become his guest
and make the journey recorded in Iryngs "a iTour of
blood is plainly dscenibe in their Usage relatives.
Chouteau avenue in St Louis bears the family name.
Colonel Edward ChOueau married his Usage wife when
the tribe was living eastern Kansas and the agency
was at Usage Mission He agent of the tribe for
number of years. Three children born them viz:
Sophia Mary and Augustus The latter has been dead
for many years "Aunt Sophy," she is familiarly
called married Cheshehunka and then Little Bear both
of whom are dead. Little Bear the father of her
four children Mary Chouteau is the wife of Brave
of the most obstinate opponents among the Osages against
changing to ways of white At the council held at
Pawhuska last December to discuss allotment Brave
leading orator in behalf of the fulbood element that
mourned the loss of the hunting grounds in the West
and he fought against consentng to anything that might
lead to a civilized life.
Colonel Chouteau, after living with his Usage wife
number of years. returned St Louis and her
again except at intervals In st. Louis he Colonel
Chouteau member of a distinguished family and long
er the man who lived among Indians in the West the
husband of one Of their Those days, how
ever when such alliances not subjected to the
standard as they would be at this time. He did not for
ret hisOsage wife, and maintained her in luxury. She
was known as 'Mother Chouteau until her death about
sixteen years ago. In antbellum days she costly
silks and ewey sent from ST. Louis rode in her carriage
md was attended by Chouteau slaves This, at least is
he story told by old-timers among the Osages other
1houteau married again. proud she of her
French husband When Colonel Chouteau died he recog
lized his Usage children in his WILL and set aside
luty of $500 to be divided quarterly among the three
This annuity is still paid to "Aunt Sophyn and Mary
Brave by s. Chick, of Kansas City, representing the
Jhouteau estate R. E. Bird, former Usage trader is
heir legal guardian.
"Aunt sophy' speaks English with Southern accent.
Ter home is at Wooster Mound six miles east of Paw
luska Her four children, two boys and two girls are
ivng The youngest bears the of mis- grandfather
edward one of the daughters Josephine, Ewth sharp
Teen features that showed her French ancestry came
the traders stone with her baby in her shawl her
ack and looked curiously at the stranger who talk
d her mother but tossed her head and walked away
when she that the conversation about the Chou
eaus 81 was born the NeOsho sixy-two years ago
aid Aunt SOphy, 'and have lived among the Osages
n my life. We have few mementOes of our mother. |
)ur home with an its furnishings, was burned during
he war and everything was lost
When the stranger shook hands with 'Aunt S0phy' |
dding her gOOd-by he asked permission to take her pic
ure She hesated and consented only after persuasion
~ neighbOr Il dOq't like to have my picture taken
iearing blanket she said II used to citizens
othes but these are more comfortable and we grow
ider we are not so proud AS "Aunt Sophy" stood in
he morning sunshine gentle, sweet faced old woman |
llding her blanket gracefully about her it seemed in
avs OF Edward Chouteau, the fur trader and now
relic Of a period almost legendary the iourneying
La Sale and Henri de Tonti