[WESTERN AMERICANA]. Manuscript survey of 6,000 acres near St. Louis owned by descendants of early Missouri settlers and brothers-in-law, Auguste Chouteau and Antoine Soulard, 1837.

Manuscript "Survey 2991 / Augustus Cheuteau [sic] / and Antoine Soulard in rights / of their wives, under Gabriel Cere. / 7036 arpents; equal to 6002, 34 acres." 26pp including two hand-drawn maps, approx. 8 x 13 in.

Survey documenting land near present-day St. Louis, constituting more than 6,000 acres along the "River Marrimack [sic]" jointly owned by Auguste Chouteau and Antoine Soulard, two early St. Louis pioneers. Certified and signed on page 24 by the sworn surveyor, "...the above survey was made between the 13th June and 4th August 1837 - by order of the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Mo."

[With:] Printed petition, 3pp, "To the Honorable the Jefferson Circuit Court, for the July Term thereof, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six....", County of St. Louis, 25 May 1836. 2pp, 7 1/2 x 12 1/4 in. Signed by Julie C. Soulard ("Julie C. Soulard"). Reading in part, "Julie C. Soulard, widow and administratrix of Antoine Soulard, deceased, late of the county of St. Louis...," requests that "an order may be made for the appointment of commissioners to make partition of the above mentioned tract of land...according to the respective rights of the parties interested therein...." Followed by a notice "that the foregoing Petition will be presented to the said Jefferson Circuit Court, at the said July term thereof...." St. Louis, 25 May 1836, also signed by Julie C. Soulard. Adhered to the printed notice of petition are two documents: a manuscript statement from James Brotherton, Sheriff of St. Louis County, stating that he had served the foregoing petition and notice, and a sworn statement with adhered newspaper clipping indicating that the petition was published for a period of eight weeks in the Missouri Argus newspaper.

[Also with:] Printed petition "To the Honorable the Circuit Court of the County of Jefferson in Chancery sitting." 2pp, 7 3/4 x 12 1/2 in. Signed by "Primm & Drake / Solicitor for Complainants." Docketed on verso "April Term 1838." Petition related to complaints of James Q. Carrico, et al. versus Felicite Du Breuil de St. Vrain, et al. regarding a land tract of 6,000 arpens (more than 5,000 acres).

Born in New Orleans, French Creole Rene-Auguste Chouteau, Jr. (ca 1749-1829), also known as Auguste Chouteau, was a prosperous fur trader, businessman, and politician. While commanding an expedition with his stepfather Pierre Laclede, Auguste established the trading post that became St. Louis, Missouri. He played a significant role in the development of the city of St. Louis, and more broadly, in the settlement of the landscape west of the Mississippi and in economic relations with the Osage Indians, the French, and the Spanish. In 1786, he married Marie Therese Cerre (1769-1842), the daughter of a wealthy and successful merchant, forming an important alliance between two of St. Louis's most powerful families. Born in France, Antoine Soulard (1766-1825) fled the country during the Reign of Terror, arriving in St. Louis in 1794. Soulard would hold a series of prominent government appointments. In 1795, he married Marie Julia Cerre (1775-1845), the sister of Auguste Chouteau's wife. Marie Julia Cerre Soulard, or "Julie C. Soulard," is the petitioner in the above referenced printed petition to the Jefferson Circuit Court.