Potosi was founded in 1763 by French soldier, hunter and adventurer Francis Azor, known as The Breton, because of his birthplace in the province of Brittany, France. Legend has it that Azor, while chasing a bear along a creek in the mining country discovered a rich surface outcropping of lead ore at what is now Potosi. The mineral wealth drew other settlers, and a mining camp sprang up along the south side of the creek and up into the mines of the Citadel, and later a village — the mines, creek and village were named for The Breton — Mine Au Breton.

Moses Austin, a Connecticut Yankee who became Missouri’s first industrialist, came to the area in 1797 to view the rich lead deposits, he obtained a Spanish Land Grant and the next year brought his family here. Austin’s experience as a pewter manufacturer and a lead and zinc miner, along with his hard driving character, transformed lead mining and smelting into Missouri’s first industry. He built a store, large home, sawmill, flour mill, blacksmith shop, bridges and roads, a shot tower, etc.

A new town, established in 1814 as the county seat was developed on the north side of the creek. It was named Potosi after a silver mining town in Bolivia. Potosi and Mine Au Breton were separate villages until 1826 when the community incorporated under the single name Potosi.

* excerpted from “The Miner’s Prospect” by George W. Showalter