The First Families Of Maryville University

first-families

From the very beginning, our alumni have been distinguished and impressive. In St. Louis, that means that many of our first students and alumnae were from families that were closely connected with the civic, social and business development of St. Louis.

Some were descendants of the very early French families: Chouteau, Papin, Cabanne, Desloge, Benoist, Fusz and Valle. Some were members of German families that arrived in the 1850s: Anheuser, Busch, Bardenheier, Griesedieck, Von Brecht and Padberg.

The Irish were represented by numerous descendants of Alexander McNair, the first governor of Missouri, and John Mullanphy, early patron of the Sacred Heart and father of a mayor of St. Louis.

There were daughters of families which were prominent in the 19th Century growth of St. Louis: Fruin, Barney, Haydel, Gross, Schlafly, Clemens, Ring and more. There were descendants of Joseph Murphy, maker of the famous “Murphy Wagon” the prairie schooner that took many pioneers west.

In addition to these first families of St. Louis, there are many multi-generational families, women, and now men, who continue the family tradition of a Maryville University education.