PIERRE CHOUTEAU
January 19, 1789 - September 6, 1865
Chouteau, Pierre Jr. (Cadet), fur trader (Jan. 19, 1789-Sept. 6, 1865). Born at
St. Louis he was a brother of Auguste Pierre Chouteau and entered the fur trade
at 15, becoming a trader to the Osage Indians. In 1810 he went up the
Mississippi to operate lead mines near the site of Dubuque, Iowa, where he
remained until the start of the War of 1812, when he returned to St. Louis. In
1813 he married his first cousin, his companion for nearly half a century.
Chouteau's mercantile business soon began outfitting traders among far flung
Indian tribes, but the Chouteau-DeMun debacle temporarily disillusioned Pierre
with the mountain fur business, although his activity in it gradually mounted.
He came into competition with various major fur trading firms, most notably
Astor's American Fur Company, until he worked out an arrangement with it. In
1834 he took over its western business, prospering in the cut-throat and vicious
competition that characterized fur operations of that day. Hiram Chittenden
believed everything he touched turned to profit. His real prosperity dated about
1827 with the rise over its rivals of the AFC and Chouteau's arrangement to
purchase furs and supply goods to the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. His company
pioneered in the use of steamboats on the Missouri. Chouteau, periodically
plagued by illness, traveled east occasionally on business or for amusement. One
of his influential friends was Thomas Hart Benton, the Missouri senator whose
affiliation with Chouteau was suspiciously close. Chouteau reorganized his
company in 1839, finally terminating the mountain business, turning to buffalo
robes for its main source of income. He attempted to stop the liquor traffic on
the upper Missouri (for his own trade benefit), but after a few years of
apparent success, the use of alcohol was resumed full scale. Hard times came to
the firm after the Mexican War, and it was sold in 1865. Chouteau had branched
out in other directions, however, principally mining, milling and railroads. He
went blind in 1859, his wife died in 1862, and he died at St. Louis, "rich but
not universally beloved. . . one of the great manipulators in the history of
United States commerce."
January 19, 1789 - September 6, 1865
Chouteau, Pierre Jr. (Cadet), fur trader (Jan. 19, 1789-Sept. 6, 1865). Born at
St. Louis he was a brother of Auguste Pierre Chouteau and entered the fur trade
at 15, becoming a trader to the Osage Indians. In 1810 he went up the
Mississippi to operate lead mines near the site of Dubuque, Iowa, where he
remained until the start of the War of 1812, when he returned to St. Louis. In
1813 he married his first cousin, his companion for nearly half a century.
Chouteau's mercantile business soon began outfitting traders among far flung
Indian tribes, but the Chouteau-DeMun debacle temporarily disillusioned Pierre
with the mountain fur business, although his activity in it gradually mounted.
He came into competition with various major fur trading firms, most notably
Astor's American Fur Company, until he worked out an arrangement with it. In
1834 he took over its western business, prospering in the cut-throat and vicious
competition that characterized fur operations of that day. Hiram Chittenden
believed everything he touched turned to profit. His real prosperity dated about
1827 with the rise over its rivals of the AFC and Chouteau's arrangement to
purchase furs and supply goods to the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. His company
pioneered in the use of steamboats on the Missouri. Chouteau, periodically
plagued by illness, traveled east occasionally on business or for amusement. One
of his influential friends was Thomas Hart Benton, the Missouri senator whose
affiliation with Chouteau was suspiciously close. Chouteau reorganized his
company in 1839, finally terminating the mountain business, turning to buffalo
robes for its main source of income. He attempted to stop the liquor traffic on
the upper Missouri (for his own trade benefit), but after a few years of
apparent success, the use of alcohol was resumed full scale. Hard times came to
the firm after the Mexican War, and it was sold in 1865. Chouteau had branched
out in other directions, however, principally mining, milling and railroads. He
went blind in 1859, his wife died in 1862, and he died at St. Louis, "rich but
not universally beloved. . . one of the great manipulators in the history of
United States commerce."