Jeffrey Deroine
Jeffrey Deroine ("de-ro-NAY", alt. Dorian, Deroin, Doraway; May 14, 1806 – 28 March 1859) was an
Fur trade origins
Deroine, the son of a trader of French and Spanish ancestry and an African American mother, was born in
Diplomat
Deroine, now free, began work for Hughes as a translator at the Ioway Agency, located near
In 1844 he accompanied Francis White Cloud and a group of Ioway on a tour of Europe sponsored by George Catlin (who called him "Doraway") which was widely celebrated at the time.[3]
His interpretation of their languages was so clear and intelligent that he not only made a favorable impression upon all the dignitaries of the foreign courts at which they were received, but, it is said, fascinated a lady of high title -- Disraeli had frequent conversations with him and showed him marked attention ... He spoke French as fluently as he did English, or a dozen Indian tongues with which he was familiar. He was a fine looking man, with a benevolent intelligent countenance, stout figure, modest and respectful demeanor, and was an honest and faithful man.[1]
Soon after his return, he was banned from the Indian Agency allegedly because of alcohol trading, but likely his dismissal resulted because he was considered too close to White Cloud.[2] After leaving the government, Deroine became a prosperous farmer at St. Joseph, Missouri, owning "several thousand dollars worth of property" at the time of his death.[1] In 1848, as in years earlier, Deroine served as the federal government's interpreter for negotiations with several tribal nations. He lived for almost a year at Fort Kearny in the Nebraska Territory in negotiations with the Sac and Fox Nation.[4]
Until he died, he annually collected $50 from the government, a pension negotiated by White Cloud and other grateful Ioway.[5]
Personal
Deroine was perhaps married three times. He reportedly married the mixed-blood daughter of the trader Gabriel Vasques by 1834, other sources report he was married to a different woman named Su-See Baskette by 1837.[2] Late in life, he purchased his final wife out of slavery from "Dr. Brown" of Kentucky; they had several children.[1]
References cited
- ^ a b c d "Obituary of a Negro". Burlington Hawk-Eye. 8 April 1859. p. 6.
- ^ a b c d Olson, Greg (July 2013). "Slave, Trader, Interpreter, and World Traveler: The Remarkable Story of Jeffrey Deroine". Missouri Historical Review. 107 (4): 222–230.
- ^ Catlin, George (1848). Catlin's Notes of Eight Years' Travels and Residence in Europe. The author.
- ^ Judd, Catherine Nealy. "Building New Fort Kearny, 1848: The Pawnee Nation, William Tappan, and Powell's Missouri Volunteers," Great Plains Quarterly 43, no. 2: 157-183. (2023).
- ^ Congressional Edition, Volume 924. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1858. p. 68.
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