Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/381

 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 321 Ste. Genevieve in 1850, and to them six chil- dren were born. Another of the activities of General Rozier was the writing and publishing of the History of the Mississippi Valley. This book is devoted largely to the early times of Missouri and Illinois and especially in Ste. Genevieve. It is a valuable reference book on this early history. Cliarles C. Rozier was the sou of Ferdinand Rozier and was born September 1, 1830. He studied law, after his graduation from St. Vincents College in 1849, in the office of his brother, General Pirmin A. Rozier. He pur- chased TIic Democrat, a weekly newspaper published at Ste. Genevieve in 1850, and con- tinued its publication for a year. Then he went to St. Louis and edited a Feneh paper, but discontinued its publication within a short time. In 1851 Mr. Rozier established The Independent at Ste. Genevieve and published it for three or four years. He then entered political life, holding the offices of circuit clerk, recorder and county clerk. He was appointed a member of the first board of regents of the State Normal school at Cape Girardeau and assisted in the location and establishment of that school. He was also administrator of Ste. Genevieve county and mayor of the town of Ste. Genevieve. One of the most famous men ever connected with Southeast Missouri was Lewis F. Linn, who was born in 1796 near Louisville, Ken- tucky, He received a common school educa- tion and afterward studied medicine. At the breaking out of the war of 1812, he enlisted and served until its close. At that time he removed to Ste. Genevieve and began the practice of medicine. He was very successful in his practice, being gifted by nature with the power to make friends and acquaintances and to draw men to him. After devoting him- self to his practice for a number of years and Vol. 1—2 1 accumulating property, he became interested in politics and in 1827 was elected to the state senate, where he made a distinct impression for his ability and his devotion to the work given to him to do. In 1833 he was appointed by the governor of the state to fill a vacancy in the United States senate and was three times elected to the same position, holding it until his death in 1843. Mr. Linn was an unusual man in many respects. He gave the impression of honesty of purpose, of ability and of devotion to duty unequaled by many men. While in the senate he had to do with many matters of the latmost importance. Leg- islation affecting the west was constantly be- fore Congress during this period and to all matters of this kind Senator Linn gave the closest study and the most careful attention. It was his conviction that the government of the United States owed it to itself as well as to the west to foster western territory and to encourage the building up of its population and to form and admit states into the Union. He was especially interested for a number of years in the Oregon territory and he was rec- ognized as the champion of Oregon in the United States senate and was bitterlj' opposed to any suggestion that this territory should be abandoned to the English. On account of this fact the people of Oregon felt that they owed to Senator Linn a great debt of grati- tude. Linn City in Oregon was named for him and in many other ways they have testi- fied the debt which the people of the west felt was due to him. It was due to his efforts more than to the work of any one else that the Platte purchase was made for Mis- souri. In all his work he looked to the build- ing up of the great west and especially to the interests of his own state. He died in 1843 and was buried at Ste. Genevieve, his home. Over his remains was erected the only monu-