Creve Coeur under La Salle's direction, and in 1680 also built Fort St. Louis, on the Illinois. He descended the Mississippi with La Salle in 1682, leaving La Salle on that expedition to return to Mackinaw for assistance. In 1686 he went to the mouth of the Mississippi River by way of Chicago and Fort St. Louis, to seek tidings of La Salle, returning, after a fruitless search for that information, to Montreal. Later, he lived for some years among the Illinois Indians, and was found by Iberville, in the year 1700, supporting himself by hunting and trading in furs. He accompanied Iberville to the Gulf of Mexico, and died, as already stated, at Mobile.

Topography of Missouri.-See "Physical Features of Missouri."

Topography of St. Louis.-For more than half a century the physical features of St. Louis remained untouched by the hand of improvement. No public system of grading was undertaken prior to 1823. 1823. No changes materially altering the general surface of the ground were made before the incorporation of St Louis as a city. Accordingly, the following facts, derived from Mr. F. L. Billon and observed in 1818, must present a substantially correct view of the site of St. Louis in its primitive condition. To avoid repetition and the employment of terms long since obsolete, the present names of streets and numbers of blocks are used in

this description. A glance at Chouteau's map will show that some of the streets mentioned in this account were not in existence at that day, and are merely employed as a present means of identifying localities. In 1764 a steep limestone bluff occupied the place of the present levee. It extended from the foot of Ashley to the foot of Poplar. Its height above the ordinary stage of the Mississippi was thirty-five or forty feet. From the public square, between Market and Walnut Streets, there was a gradual descent to an alluvial bottom, which began in the vicinity of Poplar Street and extended down the river nearly two miles. It was through this valley that the waters of "La Petite Riviere" flowed to the Mississippi. The mouth of the little river was a short distance below the present gas works. Owing to a slight convexity of the river front, the distance of Main Street from the edge of the bluff varied

from 150 to 200 feet. The highest ground on Main was in the rear of the public square, now Block 7. From this central elevation there was a descent of about five feet to Market Street. From this point to the northern limits of Main, the ground was level or slightly rising. From the public square south there was a gradual slope to the foot of Plum, where, in consequence of a slight westward curvature in the river, Main Street terminated. With one important exception, Second Street had the same general outlines as Main, but from Chestnut to Vine there was a shallow depression which, after rains, was muddy and almost impassable. In the street and in the lots on the east side the depth of the water was often over shoes. In 1778 this tract was drained into the gully which obliquely crossed Chestnut on its way to the river. On Third Street, from the center of the village to Washington Avenue,' there was a rise of twenty-five or thirty feet. From Washington Avenue to its northern extremity Third Street was comparatively level. From the center southward, Third followed the general slope of Main and Second. In 1818 Fourth Street was not in existence. The line on which this street was subsequently laid out ran beyond the western limits of the village. Until about the time St. Louis assumed municipal honors, Fourth terminated at Elm. About 1823 Colonel Easton's land, situated at the intersection of these streets, was sold, the paling fence which obstructed travel was removed, and Fourth was extended southward. The highest ground on this street was between Elm and Chestnut. It was called "the hill," and was the watershed between Ninth Street and the river. It was the most elevated land enclosed within the first limits of the city. From Chestnut there was a rapid descent to Pine. At this point a deep gully, which drained a large area lying northwest of the village, crossed Fourth in a southeasterly direction. North of Pine the surface of Fourth rose with a very slight ascent. South of Elm the ground on Fourth gently declined to the valley of Mill Creek. The ground-swell on Fourth Street was 35 or 40 feet higher than the edge of the bluff, and consequently 70 or 80 feet higher than the river itself. In 1764, from Market down through the valley of Mill Creek, there was a heavy growth of forest trees. In 1818 a low sand bank, from 400 to 600 feet wide,

extended from the foot of Market to the southern extremity of the village. At the lower end of this bank there was a slight elevation covered with bushes. In after years this knoll, insulated by the action of the river and enlarged by alluvial deposits, became Duncan's Island. At the base of the bluff there was a flat rock about 100 feet wide. In high stages of the river this rock was always submerged, but in low water it afforded a dry and unobstructed foot-path from Market to Morgan. During high water the boatmen were compelled to land on the "bottoms" and to make a long detour to reach the village. The original bounds of St. Louis were narrow. According to the plat of 1764, the Trading Post stretched from Chouteau Avenue to Cherry, and from the river to near Fourth. At that time there was no street fronting on the Mississippi. The rear yards of the first line of buildings extended to the edge of the bluff. Three streets ran parallel with the river. They were named Main-or Royal-Church, and Barn Streets. The width of these streets was 36 French feet. Eighteen cross streets ran west from the river. Their width was 30 French feet. Walnut was then called "La Rue de la Tour," because it led up to the tower on the hill, and Market was named "La Rue de la Place," because it formed the northern border of the public square. Only two or three of the other streets running west had distinctive names. They were merely lanes on which there were no houses. In 1818 the village was divided into forty-nine blocks. Block 7, in the center of the river front, was called "La Place," or the public square. On this vacant space, after the cession to the United States, the first public markethouse was built. Block 34, directly west of the public square, was selected by Laclede for his own residence. It was on this site that the spacious stone house, called the Chouteau Mansion, was subsequently erected. Block 59, between Second and Third, was reserved for the Catholic Church and cemetery. The blocks between Walnut and Market were 300 French feet square; all the rest of the blocks had a frontage of 240, by a depth of 300 French feet. Within the limits of the village the original grants to settlers were commonly restricted to a quarter of a block; a few favored individuals obtained half-blocks, and in three or four instances, official distinction, merito

rious service or social dignity, secured the concession of a whole block. In 1818 there were only two approaches from the river to the town. These led up Market and Morgan Streets. The ascent was steep, rocky and difficult. Under the town organization no steps were taken to provide additional means of access, but soon after the adoption of 2 municipal government other streets were cut through the bluff to the river.

Tootle, Milton, prominent as a merchant and capitalist during the pioneer and developing periods of St. Joseph, was born February 26, 1823, in Ross County, Ohio, and died January 2, 1887, at his home in St. Joseph. He spent his boyhood days in Ohio, engaging in the pursuits of the average country lad of his day and attending the common schools of the neighborhood in which he spent the first thirteen years. In 1836 he removed with his father to Jersey County, Illinois, where, a few years later, he entered upon the mercantile career in which he was so abundantly successful. He made a wise start and employed the helpful principles of his early teachings to such good advantage that, by proper methods and strict attention to business, he accumulated the largest fortune of any individual in St. Joseph, Missouri. Milton Tootle entered the employ of George Smith, a prosperous Illinois merchant, who was then gazing toward the promising Western country, and who, in 1842, went to Andrew County, Missouri, and opened a store at Savannah. Mr. Tootle accompanied him, and, in 1844, when Mr. Smith opened a store in Atchison County, Missouri, the first named was given entire charge over it. He remained in Atchison County for one year, returning at the end of that time to Savannah, where he took charge of Mr. Smith's large interests, the latter removing to St. Joseph. In 1848 Mr. Tootle embarked in business for himself, choosing Oregon, Holt County, as a promising location. There constant and honest efforts were rewarded by success, and the venture was profitable in every way. His early employer watched with more than ordinary interest the career of the young man who had made his business start in his store, and in 1849 Mr. Smith urged Tootle to return to St. Joseph and engage in business with him. The offer was accepted and Mr. Tootle was given an