Randolph County IL Archives Biographies.....Chouteau, Berenice 1801 - 1888 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000719 August 9, 2008, 10:34 am Author: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary CHOUTEAU, Berenice, pioneer, was born in Kaskaskia, Ill., in 1801, daughter of Col. Peter Menard, first territorial governor of Illinois. The official position of her father afforded her educational 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 partner 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 husband acquired title to large tracts of land and extended his domain to the mouth of the Kansas river, making it to include all the valuable farming 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. Chouteau after her husbands 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 liberal 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 diocese, and a cathedral take the place of her first little chapel. She died in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 20, 1888. Additional Comments: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. I-X. Rossiter Johnson, editor. Boston MA: The Biographical Society. 1904. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/randolph/bios/chetlain1478gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 2.9 Kb