Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-08-17
new BOOK TELLS
ABOUT CHOUTEAUS
BLAZING THE WAY WEST BY
BLISS ISLEY FULL OF
INTEREST
Montana's Early Days InextricabIy
Bound With Early Development of
Missouri, Since Great River was
Principal Route Westward.

Interesting and detailed infor-
nation about the Chouteau family
of st. Louis, whose name has been
given to a Montana town and
county, Is to be found in a recently
published volume, Blazing the
Way West" by Bliss IsIey Of
Wichita, Kan. The book was pub
Ifshed by Scribner. Why and how
it was that the French explored
the vast interior of the continent,
while the English settled compact
~ along its eastern sea coast is
the theme of IsIey's book.
The first white man to live within
the present bounds of Missouri was
Etienne " de Bourgmont, who desert
ed his post as commander at the set
Element and fort at Detroit in 1706,
and fled westward across the Missis-
Sippi to escape punishment. He lived
IL years or more with the Missouri
Indians. After his superior Cadillac,
was recalled to France, Bourgmont
emerged from hiding to offer his serv-
ices to Bienville, who had become gov
ernor of Louisiana. Bourgmont was
made captain and dispatched to build
a fort on the Missouri river.
A Search for Chinese
So in 1923 MisSouri'S first white
resident returned to establish Fort Or
ACE@A1o A4Cc4 b41C AAtOAt4l "a lAAC III tA1A4
river. The next year he made horse
back expedition some 800 miles west
ward in what one writer indicated was
a new search for the Chinese. Actually
1t was a visit to the PadOucas, known
later as the Comanches, on which the
Frenchmen were accompanied by 1000
or SO Kansas Indians. AS they proceed
ed across the plains, they lived on
buffalo and other game which the In
dian hunters killed daily. The Pa
doucas entertained them with remark
visitors turned homeward bearing a
treaty between the PadoucaS and the
Missouri river Indians, together with
promises that the PadoucaS would
bring buffalo hides to Fort Orleans
for trade. The peace was brief, how
ever, and the trade never developed.
Having been the first white Mis-
sourian and the first commander Of
a military post IN Missouri, 1t was
duce to the king his new subjects"
west of the Mississippi. So In IT'S
Bourgmont returned to France, taking
eight warriors and q daughter of a
chief. He staged for the court
the first wild west show. The Indian
princess was entertained at many par
ties. When it was learned she was to !
marry Sergeant Dubois of Bourgmont's |
command, the king made Dubois a |
captain so he might be eligible as a |
consort for q princess and an elaborate |
was arranged IN the cathedral. |
Dubois and his bride returned to the |
river country while Bourg- |
mont, granted title Of nobility for |
mis- achievements, entered fashionable |
society In Paris, married a widow and |
spent his remaining years in luxury.
LacIede's Arrival
Pierre Isaclede, the founder Of ST.
Louis, arrived in New Orleans from
France In 1755, the year Of Braddock's
iefeat at Fort Duquesne, to engage
n the fur business. Seven years later
le obtained, with partner, monop-
,ly on the fur trade of the Missouri
n August, 1853 he started up the Mis-
issippi with 30 voyageurs and his fam
ly, consisting OF Marie Chouteau and
i've children. Although four Of the
.hildren were his own, they bore the
iame of their mothers first husband,
or the Louisiana law did not permit
OF a wife separated from
Ter husband.
When Laciede left New Orleans, he
lid not know that France already had
ost Louisiana as the result of what
sley names the Beaver war, although
most histories call 1t the French and
indian war 1t was not until the party
cached Fort Chartres, IN what Is now
outhwestern Illinois, that LacIede
earned all Of Louisiana west Of the
Mississippi had been ceded TO Spain
or her help In the war, and that his
ur trade monopoly was worthless. But
saclede was not willing TO turn back.
,eaving his family and most Of his
arty at the fort, he travelled on north
nd In December marked the site
here In the spring he would build his
ost. It was ON the west side Of the
liver, now ruled by the friendly king
I Spain England had the east bank,
nd 1t would be named st. Louis, not
Or Louis XIV, who just had given up
but for Louis TX, the cru ,
ader.
West ON the Missouri
Although Laclede succeeded In es-
q growing town on the site
e marked, he did not realize the for
me he hoped to take from his fur
uslness. Upon bis death IN l778 the I
II trade passed into the capable hands i