Jules DeMun
Julius "Jules" DeMun was a 19th-century French-American fur trader.DeMun was born in Port-au-Prince, Saint-Domingue to an aristocratic family. He was educated in Paris, before moving to St. Louis in 1800.Trading career
In September 1815, DeMun went with Auguste Pierre Chouteau and his brother Pierre Chouteau Jr. to the Rocky Mountains on an expedition, to trade horses with the Arapahos and Comanche tribes. After a while, however, the trade began to dwindle and they ceased operations. While trading in Mexico, DeMun was imprisoned alongside A. P. Chouteau for 48 days in Santa Fe, leading the group to file a claim against the Mexican government for confiscated goods worth $30,000. Payment for the claim was not obtained until 1851, through an act of Congress.
In 1817, DeMun opened a trading business with Auguste Pierre Chouteau in St. Louis, known as A. P. Chouteau, DeMun & Co., or Chouteau, DeMun & Sarpy. On 14 September 1818, DeMun dropped out of the business.Post-trading career and death
In 1820, DeMun moved with his family to Cuba, where he had purchased a large coffee plantation. They returned to St. Louis in 1831 and DeMun was made recorder of deeds for the county. DeMun died in 1843, leaving his property to his wife.Family
In 1812, DeMun married Isabella Gratiot, the daughter of Charles Gratiot Sr. and the granddaughter of Pierre Laclède, and had three daughters.
