Dorion, Marie (c. 1790–1850)
Dorion, Marie (c. 1790–1850)
Native American explorer. Name variations: Marie Aioe, Ayvoise, L'Aguivoise; Marie Iowa; Marie Toupin. Born c. 1790 into Iowa tribe; died Sept 5, 1850, near Salem, Oregon; m. Jean Baptiste Toupin, July 19, 1841; children: (with Pierre Dorian or D'Orion) 3 sons; (with man named Venier) daughter (b. around 1819); (with Toupin) son (b. around 1825) and daughter (b. around 1827).
With companion Pierre Dorion, traveled 3,500 miles from St. Louis, MO, to Astoria, OR, the only woman on the famed overland expedition, and gave birth during the journey (Mar 1811–Feb 1812); accompanied a hunting expedition 330 miles east of Astoria (July 1813); with sons, escaped Indian attacks which killed Pierre and all expedition members (Jan 1814); headed for Columbia River with sons, before being trapped by snowstorm; built hut and killed a horse for food, surviving 53 days, then set out when food ran out, becoming snow blind for 3 days before finding help; lived with a man named Venier in Fort Okanogan, Washington (1810s); began relationship with Toupin in Fort Nez Percé, WA (1820s) and lived with him on farm near Salem, OR (1841–50). Was praised in Washington Irving's Astoria (1836).