Name/Title
Deroin, Jeffrey: Slave of Joseph RobidouxEntry/Object ID
9999.BHF.261Scope and Content
Deroin, Jeffrey
Mr. Deroin died in St. Joseph March 28, 1859, at the age of 58. He was born in St. Louis, a slave of Joseph Robidoux, Sr., Esq. who was the founder of St. Joseph. He became an expert trader and realized enough to purchase his freedom in 1835. He was then employed as the Government interpreter for many years. In 1844 he accompanied a number of Iowa and Sacs and Fox Indian chiefs, under the charge of Col. Melody, to Europe. He spoke French as fluently as he did English and a dozen Indian tongues. He left a wife and children and several thousand dollars' worth of property. He purchased his wife from Dr. Brown, of Kentucky, No Negro was ever more respected or will be more greatly regretted than Jeffrey Deroin.
He signed the Platte Purchase Treaty as Francis Jeffrey Doraway. He was granted a license to reside in Holt, Missouri November 11, 1841. His landing on the river served as a stopping-off place for steamships to replenish wood, water, and supplies. It became known as Jeffrey's point. Little has been said about his surname which has been aliased. His final death notice he was called Deroin. Early Holt and Buchanan recorders transliterated his name as Dorine, Doraway, Derion, Dorien and Dorinay. In general, he has been publicized in Holt as Doraway.Collection
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Jeffery DerionPerson or Organization
Robidoux, Joseph
