The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-01-28
ono 81 The o.nre Chontenu..

One OF The Usage ChOuteaus.
"Howdy do, John; folks well?' The questioner was
small, motherly looking woman whose face beamed with
klndness as she spoke to different persons who in
10 an Indian traders store and rubbedAher hands the
fire and yawned awkwardly before speaking. She
blanket moccasns and the leather eggings OF Usage
Indian squaw Her black hair streaked slightly with
gray and her face bore the wrinkles aud tan Of life OF
exposure to the wind and sum- but she vyacious
as girl.
'.This is Aunt sophy Chouteau daughter of Colonel
Edward Chouteau pioneer ST. Louis fur trader In this
country long that the time seems as far back as the
battle Of Waterloo said the trader introducing her
stranger.
"Aunt Sophy' glanced inquirngly at her new aeQuant
anee and IN a manner that betrayed her pride, said
Eyes, Colonel Edward Chouteaa was my father and my
mother was an Usage. My Chouteau kinfolk live In ST.
Louis 1t has been long long time since saw any Of
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 arlatocats whose trading
posts reached from the Mississippi to The Rocky noun
tains Their merchandise filled pony packs and
on every trail and that led the Indian country
They amassed fortunes and employed army OF subof.
dinates. One Of the Chouteaus the friend OF Wash.
ngon Irving and induced the latter to become his guest
the Pmrie.n The Choueaus were French and their
blood Is plainly discenible In their Usage relatives
Chouteau avenue In ST. Louis bears the family name
Colonel Edward Chouteau married his Usage wife when
the tribe was living IN eastern Kansas and the agency
at Usage Mission lie agent Of the tribe for
number Of years. Three children born to them, viz
Sophia, Mary and Augustus The latter has been dead
for many years Aunt sophyn as she Is Familiarity
called married Che-shehunka aud then Little Bear both
OF whom are dead Little Bear was the father Of her
four children Mary Chouteau Is the wife Of Brave one
Of the most obstinate opponents among the oages against
changing to ways Of white At the council held at
pawhuska last December 70 discuss allotment Brave was
leading orator In behalf Of the fublood element that
mourned the loss OF the hunting grounds In the West
and he fought against consentng anything that might
lead 20 a more civilized life.
Colonel Chouteau after living with his Usage wife
number Of years returned st. Louis and never saw her
again except Of Intervals In ST. Louis he was Colonel
Chouteau member Of distinguished family and no long
er tie who lived among Indians In che West the
husband Of one Of their Those DAYS. how.
ever when such alliances not subjected tie same
standard they would he AZ this time lie did not for
get his Usage wife, and maintained her In luxury. She
was known Mother Chouteau until her death about
sixteen years ago In antibellum days she wore cost
silks and ewery sent from 81 Louis rode III her carriage
and was attended by Choueau slaves This, at least Is
the story told by od-times among the Oages Mother
Chouteau never married again. proud was she Of her
French husband When Colonel Chouteau died he rccog
nlzed his Oage children In his will and aside an an
nuty Of 500 70 be divided quarterly among the three
This annuity Is still paid 10 "Annt sopiy" and Mafy
Brave hy ]. s. Chick Of Kansas City representing tile
Chouteau estate. r. r. Bird former Usage trader, Is
their legal guardian.
"Aunt sophy" speaks English with Southern accent
Her home Is At Wooster Mound, six miles east of raw.
huska Her four children Two boys aud two girls are
living. The youngest bears the Of his grandfather
Edward One Of the daughters, Josephine, Ewith sharp
keen features that showed er French ancestry came In
70 tie traders stone with her baby IN her shawl ON her
back and looked curouslt at the stranger who talk
when she saw that tie conversation was about the Chou.
teaus Il born Oh tbs Neosho sixy-twu years ago
said Aunt SOpy, tand nye lived among the Gsaras
am ms life. We have few me1entOes Of our mother
our ome with All s furnishings WIS burned during
the and everything was lost
Wien tile stranger shook hands with Aunt Sapr =
bidding her g0odhJ, he asked permission 20 take Tier pie
tufe Size hesitatcd and consented Ouy after pesunsn
by 1eigbOr Il don't Ike 10 lave my picture taken
wearing blanket" size said = used TO wear citizens
Clothes but these comfortable and a. Sc gfov
older are not proud As aAuut s0pllyH stood III
the morning sunshine gentle, Awectf faced old woman
folding her b9nket gracefully about hen Il seemed IN
credible that she aH lived IN sueh fenOta past = TIE
days of Edward Cl0uleau the fnr trader and vas nos
relic Of period almost egendary the luufneyns
q = sale aud Henri do Tontl