Ceran de Hault de Lassus de St. Vrain was an American fur trader, pioneer merchant, and soldier. His military career was culminated while he was appointed colonel of the first New Mexico cavalry.
Background
Ceran was born on May 5, 1802 at Spanish Lake, near St. Louis, Missouri, United States, the son of Marie Felicite Chauvet (Dubreuil) and Jacques Marcellin Ceran DeHault DeLassus de St. Vrain, an officer in the French navy who had come to America and settled near Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, in 1793-94. At an early age the son embarked in the fur trade.
Career
On March 21, 1825 he finished a troublesome journey of five months to Taos, New Mex. About this time he dissolved partnership with Francois Guerin, with whom he had conducted an expedition to the southwest outfitted by Bernard Pratte & Company of St. Louis.
On August 29, 1826, Governor Antonio Narbona of New Mexico issued a passport at Santa Fe to St. Vrain and William S. Williams to the state of Sonora for private trade.
He sold his interest to Sylvestre Pratte in the fall of 1826 and worked for Pratte as his clerk until the latter's death, September 1, 1828. About January 1, 1831, he formed a partnership with Charles Bent, under the name of Bent, St. Vrain, & Company, which lasted until Bent's assassination and was surpassed in importance only by the American Fur Company.
Like most of the Santa Fe traders, he became a citizen of Mexico. In 1844, for valuable services in maintaining the peace on the Mexican frontier, he and Cornelio Vigil received a land grant from the Mexican government comprising four million acres in the fertile valleys of the Huerfano, Apishapa, Purgatoire, and other tributaries.
The title to this land was confirmed by the United States government after Vigil's death, application for confirmation being made by St. Vrain as manager of Vigil's estate and probably as surviving partner. At the time of the Taos anti-American revolt during the Mexican War, he was the organizer and captain of a company of volunteers. When the Apaches and Utes made war on the ranches and villages, 1854-55, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of volunteers.
In June 1861 he was appointed colonel of the first New Mexico cavalry, but he resigned on October 12, 1861, "on account of age" and was succeeded by Kit Carson.
When he died at Mora, his funeral was attended by officers from Fort Union and more than two thousand other persons.
Achievements
Personality
He was a large powerful man, whose sturdiness of character, courage, and honesty made a deep impression on the southwest. In books written by western visitors he is described as a polite gentleman and an amiable fellow traveler and is pictured as an outstanding figure.
Connections
He had married Luisa Branch of Mora, New Mexico, and had two sons and a daughter.
Father:
Jacques Marcellin Ceran de Hault de Lassus St. Vrain