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Saugrain-Michau Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: A1477

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of correspondence, diaries, invitations, circulars, news clips, manuscripts, Saugrain family baptismal records, land surveys, deeds, obituaries, genealogical information, and the Civil War papers of John Waddell, son-in-law of Dr. Saugrain. Saugrain's letters include information on his 1788 expedition through the Ohio Valley, financed by the Count of Galvey, Viceroy of Mexico, with detailed accounts of his escape from an Indian attack along the river. Saugrain's diary, along with a translation, also describes the expedition and Indian attack. There are a number of letters (Box 1/Folder 2) written to Dr. Saugrain from his mother in Paris that tell of post-revolutionary events in France including news of Napoleon's return from Egypt. The letters also express Mother Saugrain's concern over the health of Antoine's children and family news. There are several letters (Box 1/Folders 2-5) written by Madame Guillotine, with whom Dr. Saugrain's family was acquainted. The collection contains the marriage certificate of Antoine Saugrain and Genevieve Michau and the commission appointing Antoine Saugrain as surgeon's mate at Fort Bellefontaine. There are land documents relating to Saugrain family property and land claims. A folder of baptismal records of members of the Saugrain family is arranged separately and is located in Box 2. The papers of John Waddell, husband of Rosalie Saugrain, contain his parole and loyalty oath administered after his release from a Union prison camp at the end of the Civil War; a business card–sized sketch of Johnson's Island Prison in Sandusky, Ohio; an ex-Confederate soldier's pension application; and correspondence with family, circa 1925 (Box 2/Folder 4). The remainder of the collection consists of genealogical information on the Saugrain-Michau families along with an obituary and biographical sketch of the life of Henry Von Puhl, son-in-law of Dr. Saugrain. Addition information on the family of Henry Von Puhl can be found in the Von Puhl Family Papers.

Dates

  • 1776-1921

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, quote from, or reproduce material in this collection, please contact the Archives Reference Desk at archives@mohistory.org. Copyright restrictions may apply. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright.

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Antoine Saugrain was born February 17, 1763, in Versailles, France. He was the son of Claude Marin Saugrain, a bookseller and publisher. Antoine was educated in Paris and studied the natural sciences. In 1783, Saugrain was appointed by King Charles II of Spain to survey the mineral resources of Central and South America. In 1786, he was sent to study the natural history of the Ohio Valley. During this expedition, Saugrain was briefly captured by Indians, but managed to escape and return to Philadelphia. For his scientific work, Saugrain received a Nina Madallion from Benjamin Franklin. Saugrain made a brief return to Paris before returning to America to assist in the establishment of a colony in Ohio. He lived among the colonists at Gallipolis, Ohio, before moving to Lexington, Kentucky. Saugrain studied the inoculation process and became well known for inoculating patients against diseases such as smallpox. He performed physical and chemical experiments including the use of electric batteries. In 1799, Saugrain was persuaded by the Spanish governor of Louisiana to settle in St. Louis and begin practice. After the transfer of the Louisiana Territory to the United States in 1804, he was appointed to serve as the surgeon at Fort Bellefontaine, north of St. Louis. He is regarded as the first scientist and physician of the Mississippi Valley. Dr. Saugrain died in 1820. John Waddell was born in 1836, and married Rosalie Saugrain, daughter of Dr. Antoine Saugrain. Waddell was an assistant engineer for the North Missouri Railroad before enlisting in the Confederate army in 1861. He was commissioned as a brigade commissary major on November 1, 1862, and served under Brigadier General Daniel M. Frost before being transferred to Marmaduke's Brigade of the Missouri Cavalry. He was captured on the Little Osage River in western Missouri during Sterling Price's raid in 1864. Waddell was held prisoner at Johnson's Island Prison Camp on Lake Erie until he was transferred to a prison in New Orleans in 1865. He was released in the same year. He died April 20, 1922, in Sedalia, Missouri.

Extent

1.0 Cubic Feet ( (2 boxes; 1 volume; 1 oversize folder))

Language of Materials

English

French

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in chronological order.

Physical and Technical Requirements

There are no physical or technical restrictions.

Donor Information

The Saugrain-Michau Family Papers were received through the donations of William G. Pettus in 1967 and 1968.

Digital Copies

The Saugrain-Michau Family Papers were partially digitized by Lisa Helker, January-May 2011. The images may be viewed online by clicking the links beside each item in the inventory.

Other Resources

Further information on Antoine Saugrain can be found in an article by Dr. N.P. Dandridge, M.D., entitled "Antoine Francois Saugrain, the First Scientist of the Mississippi Valley," published in Ohio History, The Scholarly Journal of the Ohio Historical Society, Volume 15, 1906.

Processing Information

Processed by Christopher Gordon, October 2003.

Title
Inventory of Saugrain-Michau Family Papers
Status
Completed
Author
EAD by Jaime Bourassa using ArchivesSpace
Date
2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center Repository

Contact:
225 S. Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63105 United States
314-746-4510