Pierre Dorion Sr (1740 - 1810)

Born 17 Jan 1740 in Quebec City, Canada

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 10 Sep 1810 at age 70 in Fort Osage, Missouri, United States of America

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One of the Corps of Discovery members on the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Biography

Pierre Dorion Sr was involved in the westward expansion of the USA. See Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Pierre Engaged as an Interpreter

Pierre Dorion was know as a talented trapper, trader, and interpreter who lived among the Sioux, and married Holy Rainbow, a Yankton Woman.

He was hired as an interpreter for the Corps of Discovery of Lewis and Clark, and commissioned as sub agent of the Missouri and Western Tributaries of the upper Mississippi.

Birth

Pierre Dorion Sr. was born on January 17, 1740 in Québec City, Canada, to Jean Marie Dorion, and Thérèse Le Normand.^[1][2]

Early Years

Pierres life began in Quebec, Canada, where he grew up with eleven siblings, and learned the skills necessary to become a fur trapper.

Not much else is known about Pierre and his early years.

North America

Pierre had been in Sioux Country since 1774-1775, and had been trapping, trading, and living with the Sioux who taught him their customs and language.^[2]

For The Descendants of Pierre Dorian, the Four Arrows Draft Historical-Genealogical Report on Pierre Dorion States:

In 1789, the news was that The Metis, Joseph Dorion, Pierre Dorion Sr. and François Dorion, are trading out of Cahokia and the St. Louis Region (Illinois/Missouri).

The Métis, Joseph Dorion, would be his uncle. François is most likely his younger brother.

He had been issued 240 acres of land in St. Louis, Missouri that was issued by the Spanish Government.^[2][3]

Lewis and Clark

Pierre Dorion is listed under Non Military Members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Personel or "Corps of Discovery." Pierre Dorion: For twenty years Dorion lived with the Sioux Indians and was a talented interpreter and trapper.^[4][5]

Sioux Interpreter

August 27, 1804: Lewis delivered a long speech, translated into Siouan by his recently hired interpreter and local envoy, Pierre Dorion, Sr., then distributed peace medals and sundry gifts, plus an American flag–a symbol of the nation that now "owned" the land of the Sioux.

1809: Pierre Dorion, Sr. (ca.1750–1810) continued upriver with Pryor after dropping off the Sioux in his party. He had worked for Lewis and Clark in their dealings with the Sioux, and also was to accompany Pierre Chouteau on the 1809 expedition to take Sheheke home.^[6] See Chief Big White

Family

Pierre Dorion married Wihmunke Wakan Win, "Holy Rainbow," in 1780. "Hanson said, "He married a Yankton woman, Holy Rainbow, in 1780."^[2][7]

"About 1775 he married a Yankton Sioux woman named Wihmunke Wakan Win (Holy Rainbow Woman) who was the daughter of a Yankton Chief."^[8]

Their first son Pierre Dorion Jr., was born around 1780 to 1782 in the Yankton Village, South Dakota.

Children

1. Pierre Dorion Jr. Born 1780/82 Yankton Village , South Dakota)^[2]
2. Paul Dorion Born 1781, married Zeah Whitecloud.
3. Louis Dorion Born about 1782, Illinois, died, April 29, 1890, married a native woman. Sioux of the Lakes Treaty, 7/19/1815, signed as witness.
4. Charles-Martin Dorion, Born in 1783.
5. Antoine Dorion Born 1785.
6. Thomas Dorion Born 1787.
7. Perechie Dorion Born 1789, Illinois, Sioux Treaty signatory.
8. Marie "Mary" Dorion Born 1791, Nemaha Territory, Missouri.
9. Jean Baptiste Dorion Born about 1795.
10. Ellen (Dorion) Tackett Born about 1796, married Charles Tackett.
11. Margaret Dorion Born about 1800, Nemaha Territory.
12. Comanaka/Comanna Born about 1807, Nemaha Territory.^[9]

Siblings

1. Joseph Dorion-b 17 Nov 1730, bu 9 Jun 1733, Quebec.
2. Therese Dorion -b 3 Mar, bu 19 Jun 1733, Quebec.
3. Francois Etinne Dorion-b 8 May 1734, m 6 Sep 1762, Marie Nathalie Trudel, Quebec.
4. Jean Marie Dorion-b 19 Jan 1736, Quebec.
5. Louis Noël Dorion-b 3 Mar 1738, Quebec.
6. Françoise Dorion-b 13 May 1742, Quebec.
7. Jaques Philippe Dorion-b May 1744, Quebec.
8. Jean Baptiste Dorion-b 31 Dec 1745, m 7 Nov 1774, Marie Joseph Glinel, Quebec.
9. Marie Therese Dorion-b 25 Sep, bu 19 Dec 1747, Quebec.
10. Marie Madeleine Dorion-b 12 May 1749, Quebec.
11. Charlotte Dorion- b 25 Sep, bu 19 Nov 1751, Quebec.

Parents

Jean Dorion

Thérèse Le Normand

Death and Burial

Pierre Dorian passed away on September 10, 1810, at Fort Osage, Missouri.^[2][8]

Pierre Dorion Sr. apparently died on 23 July 1810 at Petite Rocher, below St. Louis.

"The remains of Pierre Dorion lie at rest on the corner of Locust and Second streets on the southern edge of Yankton, Hanson believes. During the next few months, the National Park Service will erect a marker and plaque to commemorate the life and activities of this early settler and significant historical figure. The grave was discovered while local historian Bob Hanson was studying the history of Dorion, who died sometime in the early 19th century."^[2]

He was buried in Yankton, Yankton County, South Dakota on September 11, 1810.Pierre Dorion Memorial.^[2][8]

Time Line

• 1740- Born: January 17, 1740.

• 1779- August 18, Charles Gratiot writes to Pierre at Prine du Chien.

• 1780-Meets George Roger Clark. May 31, writes to George Roger Clark, asking to remove his belongings to Chokia from Spanish St Louis.

• 1781- Trading along the River Mississippi and Des Moines.

• 1789- Trading in St Louis, and Chokia with "The Métis," Joseph Dorion, and François.

• 1804- June 12, Hired as interpreter by Meriwether Lewis, and William Clark who purchased 300 pounds of buffalo grease, used as bug repellent, from Dorion.

August 27, Sgt. Nathaniel Pryor, Pierre Cruzatte, and Dorion sent to River Jaques, where large group of Sioux were camping, to invite major Chiefs to council at Calumet Bluff.

August 30, At Calumet Bluff, Lewis and Clark called the Sioux to council, Dorion translated the children speech given by Meriwether Lewis, and helped with making Chiefs.

Research Notes

1. (http://www.museum.bmi.net/MARIE%20DORION%20PEOPLE/pierre__dorion_ii.htm) by Lenord Dorion, deceased 2003.
2. (https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=34829) Historical Marker Database.
3. (https://books.google.com/books?id=6clvoz0AfTwC&pg=PA183&lpg=PA183&dq=pierre+dorion+sr&source=bl&ots=eMkyooOJ0i&sig=150UmuTmBUGkaYMYIVVvamsB8rQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjypL3hqJzQAhXL5CYKHZ9eA7Y4ChDoAQgkMAQ#v=onepage&q=pierre%20dorion%20sr&f=false) Divided Loyalties in Doomed Empire
4. (http://www.history.army.mil/LC/The%20People/interpreter.htm) a paragraph about Pierre Dorion Sr and his languages. See Paragraph 7.

• In 1785 Pierre Dorion, afterwards guide to Lewis and Clark, settled with the Yanktons on lower James River and married one of their women.(http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/history/brief/ch_iv.txt)

Sources

1. ↑ "Tanguay; Dictionnaire Généalogique," Vol. 3, p. 432, DOR, (Di 30 pages, p. 19). |Dictionnaire Généalogique1730 (19 Fév) Quebec, II-Dorion, Jean-Marie, Thérèse Le Normand, Pierre, b.17, Janvier 1740. Bibliothèque et Archives Nationales du Québec.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} "Four Arrows Draft Historical-Genealogical Report on Pierre Dorion, 10/10/02," 27 page research paper, pgs. 1-9, 15, 16; birth, death, marriage, children, biography, research information. Pierre Dorion Sr., four_arrows AT canada.com, Pierre Dorion Sr. Born January 17, 1740, Quebec City, died September 10, 1810, Fort Osage, Missouri, buried Yankton, September 11, 1810, married Yankton woman, Holy Rainbow on the Lower Illinois River, 1780.
3. ↑ "1975 St. Louis Genealogical Society Quarterly," volume 8, number 3, pages 53–68, prepared by Mary Berthold. Originally compiled by Missouri State Archives. French and Spanish Land Grants. Dorion, Pierre; Book B, p 212. Dorion, Pierre; Book E, p 303. St Louis Geneaological Society
4. ↑ "Historical Collections at The Claude Moore Sciences Library,," University of Virginia, The Healthiest, Strongest, and Most Skilled Were Recruited for the Lewis and Clark Expedition Lewis & Clark Discovery Corps
5. ↑ "Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery," Ken Burns, director and co-producer, PBS Documentary. Inside The Corps, profiles of Discovery Corps employees. Profile Pierre Dorion, www.pbs.org
6. ↑ "Discovering Lewis and Clark," articles; 2600, -Barbara Fifer,. 2933, 1562, -Joseph Mussulman, Ebenezer Tuttle, 33. Yankton, South Dakota, Pryor's Second Mission, lewis-clark.org
7. ↑ "Historical Markers Database," Pierre Dorion Sr., Yankton, North Dakota. Historical Markers Database Historical Marker, Pierre Dorion, marker 34829.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2} "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch Pierre Dorion Memorial, Pierre Dorion, 1810; Burial, Yankton, Yankton, South Dakota, United States of America, Pierre Dorion Memorial; citing record ID 33415119, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
9. ↑ "Allottees on the Nemaha Half-Breed Reservation,1860," Adapted for the web by Lance Foster from "The Otoes and Missourias" by Berlin Basil Chapman, Pages 381-384, Appendix A. Times Journal Publishing Company(Oklahoma), 1965. (http://ioway.nativeweb.org/genealogy/nemaha1860.htm)