Narcisse Dorion

Canada​​​​​

Narcisse Pierre Dorion was born in 1806 in Pointe aux Trembles in Quebec. He is the son of Bernard Lorion married to Catherine Chalifoux.

The change of name is noticed in approximately of the beginning of the century.

According to the registers of time, Narcisse Dorion is a Voyageur.

In 1827, he stayed at first in Assiniboise where he married Cecile McDonnell.
Born in 1809 in the Manitoba, Cecile Mawiskak McDonnell comes from the tribe of the Indians Saulteux.

Saulteux (called also Ojibways) populated a vast territory which contained the north part of Lake Huron and Superior, from the bay Georgienne until the limit of Prairies, and which extended in the North up to the sources of the rivers which pour towards Hudson's bay. Algonquins lived in the valley of Outaouais.

In the North and east of the territory of Saulteux,, the Crees occupied as well an immense region. They lived on the southwest coast of Hudson's bay, almost up to Churchill. Their territory was limited in the East by Lake Mistassini and extended on the West until the limit of the Prairies.

In 1837, Narcisse Dorion accompanied with Cécile and her girl Marie born January 16, 1834, made an epic journey in canoe to settle down to Mattawa, to the connection of rivers Outaouais and Mattawa.

The couple was married by Father Charles de Bellefeuille at the mission of Mattawan on June 22, 1837.

Their two children Mary and Narcisse were "legitimized" that same day.

Mattawa River, Ontario

The algonquin word "Mattawa" means "meeting of waters". The river Mattawa is also called Mattawouain or Little River.

In 1837, Narcisse Dorion is 31 years old and is posted in Fort Coulonge. His winter residence is located at Lucid Allumetes (Ile aux Allumettes). He has a 3-year contract working with Hudson Bay Company.

Founded in 1670, the Hudson Bay Company was one of the first companies in Canada to make the trade of the furs on a large scale.

The Royal Charter granted to Prince Rupert conferred to him like to its 17 associated the exclusive right of the trade with the West of the Strait of Hudson like on all the grounds of North, called later "Terres de Rupert".

The only means of transport between the disagreements post of draft was the boat.

The "Road of the Furs" covered almost all Canada, of Quebec or Montreal, these courageous people went to the Territories the North-West while passing by the Large Lakes, later known as the Great Lakes.

Higher Outaouais: Extremity of the Hudson Bay Company in Mattawa

Narcisse Laurion Dorion and Elisa Glesson

Narcisse, the son of Narcisse Pierre and Cécile was born in 1836.

At the age of 36, he lived and farmed in Deux-Rivieres, or Two Rivers. Two Rivers is about 25 miles in the east of Mattawa.

The river of Deux-Rivieres or Two- Rivers

He makes the acquaintance of Elisabeth Glesson born in 1835 in Ireland. Both of catholic faith, they will have 3 children, Elizabeth, Narcisse said Nelson and Bridget.

There was also a small place called Rockcliffe way back then, it is called Stonecliffe now.

We know only little information on Narcisse Dorion, we know that he died in 1872 and is buried in St Anne Cemetery in Mattawa.

After his death, Elisabeth Glesson remarried in 1872 with Joseph Braconnier. With her husband, she had a son called Michael.

In 1888, the whole family moves in Massey Ontario.

Nelson and Martha Anne Morrissey

Nelson Dorion was born in 1866. In 1898, he married Martha Anne Morrissey. She was born in 1877 in New Brunswick.

Together, they had 10 children born between 1899 and 1919, Charles, Annie Mary, Nelson Michael, Daniel Cornelius, Kathleen Elizabeth, Ernest James, Barcley, Martha, Margaret Mary and Patricia Irene.

In 1954, the Sudbury Daily Star published an article to Nelson Dorion.

"This man is a pioneer in this Northern.Town, having come here from his birthplace, Mattawa in 1888. At the time of his arrival, Massey was the headquarters of several large lumber companies but the town itself was in its infant stages.

During his early years in Massey, Nelson was interested in the lumbering business and later in the mineral extraction in Massy and the surroundings of Sudbury. Right before the turn of the century, Nelson Dorion worked in "Copper Cliff". He extracted copper for shipment of Norway and dumping another metal as waste. Nelson Dorion asked the person who was in charge "What are these minerals?" and the answer was "it looks like stove lead, doesn't it?" The mineral was later discovered to be nickel for which the Sudbury basin is now famous.

The Basin of Sudbury is a single geological phenomenon in his kind. It extends on 100 km and its depth is of 15 km. These edges are the source of ore of nickel, copper and 15 other minerals which did of Sudbury one of the most important mining centres of Canada.

After his return to Massey, Nelson Dorion was like the guard of the town during the depression years. Many citizens will remember the acts of kindness of this grand gentleman. Transients were numerous in the depression years and on many nights, Nelson Dorion would go to the jail to make a fire or would prepare a bed for those less fortunate than he. These travellers of the roads, were often sent on their way with the price of the next meal in their pocket. Nelson Dorion took a great deal of interest in the Annual Fall Fair where he worked as part of his job. Any remuneration he received for working that day was spent on the children. Many of them now young adults will have a fond memory of this kindly gentleman.

Nelson Dorion died in 1956 in Massey. They daughters: Martha and Patricia Irene still live in Ontario.​​​​​​​