Young Jeffrey Deroine - a gifted communicator

This was my favorite Notable Missourian book to illustrate out of the 2015 series.  Jeffrey Deroine was a fascinating guy.  Born a slave, Jeffrey had a natural gift for language.  As a teen he was owned by a fur trapper who used Jeffrey's communication skills to negotiate trades with native peoples such as the Ioway tribe.  Starting with simple exchanges such as these, Jeffrey and the Ioway would form a strong friendship.  A friendship that would ultimately help Jeffrey to become a free man, travel the world, and own property - very rare things for a former slave during the early 19th century.  

This illustration is for the Notable Missourian book on Jeffrey Deroine, published by Truman State University Press.

Young Jeffrey Deroine interpreting for his fur-trapper master.

Big Neck's Trial

Here is the Chapter 5 illustration for the Notable Missourian book on Great Walker (Truman State University Press).  

The raid on Big Neck's village resulted in the deaths of three Ioway and three militiamen.  Big Neck and his band thought the village they were defending was located on ancestral land outside of the state of Missouri (and therefore not in violation of the treaty).  In fact they were about 20 miles inside of Missouri.  Big neck was brought to trial and quickly acquitted by a jury that believed it was an honest mistake.

Great Walker - Tree Line

Another Great Walker illustration for the Notable Missourian book series to be published by Truman State University Press.

Great Walker - Burial Gaze

Another chapter illustration for the Truman State University Press book on Notable Missourian Great Walker. This scene depicts Great Walker after a trip he and Ioway chief White Cloud made to sign a treaty with the government.  Great Walker thought the treaty was a bad idea and regretted signing away the rights to their ancestral land.  He painted his face black and mourned when they returned to Missouri.