Sketch of the Pereau Family, St. Charles County, Missouri >From "A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri, with numerous sketches, anecdotes, adventures, etc., relating to Early Days in Missouri" by William S. Bryan and Robert Rose, Published by Bryan, Brand & Co., St. Louis Missouri, 1876. ********************************************************************** Joseph Pereau was born in Montreal, Canada, March 15, 1775, and settled in St. Charles, MO., sometime during the latter part of the Spanish rule. On January 13, 1807, he was married to Marie Louise Savoy, who was an only child, by whom he had: Charles, Joseph P., Isidore, Catha- rine M., Mary L., Sulpice P., Alexander, Ursula M. and Eleanor M. Mr. Pereau died of cholera in 1833. He possessed many good qualities of head and heart, and is remembered with pleasure by the older citizens of St. Charles. After his death his widow married Mr. Lattraille, whom she also survived. Her death occurred in 1847. Charles Pereau married Louise Dodier, and died a month after. His widow subsequently married Mr. Lorain, and she died about four years ago. Joseph P. was married to Martha Martineau, who died five years afterward. In 1833 Mr. Pereau, in company with his brothers, opened a brickyard in St. Charles, after which he spent twenty five years in the employ of the American Fur Company, under the various firms of Chouteau, Sarpie, and the Baker Brothers, at Forts Union and Benton, in the capacity of Indian trader and trapper. He is now living in Richardson County, Nebraska. Isidore Pereau died in his seventeenth year. Catharine M. died in infancy. Mary L. married her cousin, William S. Pereau, who came to St. Charles from Montreal, Canada, in 1831. They were married by Rev. Charles Van Quickenborn, S. J., under whose supervision the Church of St. Charles was built. Mrs. Pereau and others were the last who received their first communion in the old log church, which stood on Main Street, part of the square being now occupied as a lumber yard by Holrah & Machens, and which is well remembered by the older Catho- lics of St. Charles. A portion of the square was used as a cemetery in early days. Of that party of young communicants only three are now living, viz: Miss Louise Chauvin, (at present residing in St. Louis), Mrs. Iott, and Mrs. Pereau. The pastor at that time was Rev. P. J. Verhaegan, S. J., who died in 1868. He was closely identified with the early history of the Church, and his memory will ever be cherished by his parishoners. Mrs. Pereau was also one of the first who was con- firmed in the then new stone church, which was torn down several years ago to make room for the new, large and handsome brick structure erect- ed within the last eight years by Rev. John Roes, S. J. Bishop Rosati administered confirmation to the applicants. Sulpice Pereau died at the age of twenty. Alexander married the widow of Holland Rice, whose maiden name was Eliza Earl. In 1864 he went to California, from Lex- ington, MO., and is supposed to be dead, as he mysteriously disappeared from his family and has never since been heard from. His family re- sides in Oakland, California. Ursula M. married Samuel J. Tyner, and died in Hopkinsville, KY., in 1862. Two of her children: Eleanor B. and Andrew, are living in St. Charles County, the former having marr- ied Christy P. McAtee; another, Mary J., living near Grenada, Miss., married Samuel Harper; Thomas J. is practicing medicine in Memphis, and Samuel is living in Christian County, KY., also her other children. Eleanor M. was married twice. Her first husband was William L. Earl, who died in Lexington, MO., in 1852. They had two children, one of whom died. The other, James A., married the eldeest daughter of August Gamache, and resides in South St. Louis, Station B. She was married the second time to Joseph Pourcillie, of South St. Louis, Station B, where she now resides. William S. and Mary L. Pereau had six children: Thomas C., Priscilla L., Joseph H., William A., Mary U. and Charles B. Thomas C. and Charles B. died in infancy. Priscilla L. married Ben- jamin Parham, and died in 1856. Joseph H. married his cousin, Martha P. Pereau. During his youth he traveled extensively over California and Mexico, operating in the mines. He subsequently returned to St. Charles, and in October, 1871, in company with his brother, William A. Pereau and William S. Bryan, established the St. Charles News. The following year he disposed of his interest in that paper and removed to Nebraska, where he has since resided, engaged in agricultural pur- suits. William A. Pereau is well known in St. Charles, from his con- nection with the various newspaper establishments of that place. He was a soldier of the "Lost Cause," and participated in a number of the hottest contests of that war. In February, 1873, after having disposed of his interest in the St. Charles News, he went to Texas and traded in "long horns," and, in a financial point of view, got badly "hoisted." Mary U. married Joseph McDonald, of St. Charles County, and is now re- siding near Dawson's Mill, Richardson County, Nebraska. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. 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