The first Chouteaus, river barons of early St. Louis

For more than half a century, the Chouteau family dominated trade and enterprise in the Mississippi Valley. In their various roles as merchants, Indian traders, bankers, land speculators, governmental advisors, public officials, and community leaders, the Chouteaus exerted a tremendous influence on westward expansion. This is the first full acount of their lives and illustrious careers.