Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/217

 CHOUTEAU.

CHRISTENSEN.

1841 ; at Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass., in 1843, and returned to the church in Newport in 1847. He was a well-known lecturer and autlior. He completed and published Smith's Christian Mis- sions (1832) ; edited NeaVs History of the Pur- itans (1844) ; wrote Cruise of the Steam Yacht North Star (1854) ; Young America Abroad (18r)4) ; edited Forster's Statesmen of the Com- monwealth of England (1846), and continued Hinton's History of the United States to 1850. He died while on a visit to New York city, Jan. 5, 1856.

CHOUTEAU, Auguste, pioneer, was born in New Orleans, La., in 1739; a brother of Pierre Chouteau. He was always known as Colonel Chouteau, and was in command of Pierre Ligueste Laclfede's expedition up the Mississippi in 1763. He shared the prosperity of his brother in the new .settlement of St. Louis, Mo., and died there, Feb. 24, 1829.

CHOUTEAU, Berenice, pioneer, was born in Kaskaskia, 111., in 1801, daughter of Col. Peter Menard, first territorial governor of Illinois. The official position of her father afforded her educa- tional and .social advantages beyond those of the average young women of her locality and time. She was married when eighteen years old to Francis F., son of Pierre Chouteau, Jr., and part- ner in the firm of P. Chouteau, Jr., & Co., fur traders. The newly married couple decided to make their home at a point on the Missouri river near Black Snake Hills, which location became the site of the city of St. Joseph, Mo. The journey was made on a flat-boat, and after living there two years they removed to the present site of Kansas City, Mo., where they established the first trading post and built in the woods the first log house erected in that section. Here her hus- band acquired title to large tracts of land and ex- tended his domain to the mouth of the Kansas river, making it to include all the valuable farm.- ing land in the vicinity. The city of Kansas City was subsequently built upon a portion of this property, and squatters located on other sections and gave title to new settlers. The question of ownership in this way became much involved, and long and expensive litigation ensued, in which Mrs. Cliouteau after her husband's death sought to recover possession, her claims amounting to over $5,000,000. The statutes of limitation operated to deprive her of her rights, the decision being made by the highest courts, in November, 1888, but two weeks before her death. She was a lib- eral benefactress and distributed her large fortune in promoting the interests of the Roman Catholic church, of which she was a devout member. She built in Kansas City the first church edifice, and her liberality during her life expanded with the growth of the church and its institutions in that

locality. She lived to witness Kansas City created a diocesan see, and a cathedral take the place of her first little chapel. She died in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 20, 1888.

CHOUTEAU, Pierre, pioneer, was born in New Orleans, La., in 1749. With his brother Auguste he joined the famous expedition of Pierre Ligueste Laclfede, which was organized under the auspices of the director-general of Louisiana and had for its object the extension of the fur trade with the Indians west of the Mississippi. Three months after its departure from New Orleans the expedition reached St. Genevieve, then the oldest settlement on the west bank of the upper Mississippi. After stopping a few weeks at Fort Charles, the pioneers journeyed sixty-one miles farther on. Discovering a pleas- antly situated bluff on the western bank of the river they concluded to make this their head- quarters for trading, and founded the city of St. Louis. Pierre Chouteau remained here and be- came a very prosperous and respected merchant, having a high reputation amongst the Indians. He died at St. Louis, Mo., July 9, 1849.

CHOUTEAU, Pierre, Jr., Indian trader, was born at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 19, 1789; son of Pierre Chouteau, pioneer. In 1804 he became clerk for his father and uncle, and was soon able to launch forth into business for himself. He did a vast amount of trading with the Indians aU along the Missouri river, and early in 1806 went as far as Dubuque to negotiate with the Sac and Fox Indians. Among his associates in the fur trade was John Jacob Astor, from whom he purchased his (Astor's) interest in the American fur com- pany, changing the name to that of P. Chouteau, Jr., & Co. Under his supervision the company widely extended its operations. Pierre Chou- teau, Jr., died at St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 8, 1865.

CHRISTENSEN, Christian T., soldier, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Jan. 26, 1832. He came to America in 1850, and entered into business in New York city. He was made presi- dent of the Scandinavian society of New York, and became very popular with his countrymen. In 1861 he raised a company of one hundred Scandinavians, which joined the 1st New^ York volunteer regiment. From his rank of lieutenant Mr. Christensen was steadily promoted, and in 1865 w^as bre vetted brigadier-general. He -was made a knight of the order of Danebrog by the King of Denmark in 1862, and in 1873 was given the military silver cross of the same order. He was commissioned brigadier-general on July 12, 1880. In 1879 he became manager of the firm ol Drexel, Morgan & Co., and in July, 1890, was chosen president of the Brooklyn trust company. He was Danish consul at New York, and acting charge d'affaires for several years.