Last Updated: 7 years ago
Seneca War Chief Seneca War Chief Corn Planter, born between 1732 and 1746 and passing away on February 18, 1836, remains a significant figure in the history of the Seneca Nation and the interactions between Native Americans and the burgeoning United States. Known in the Seneca language as Gaiänt’wakê (Gyantwachia), meaning "the planter," or Kaiiontwa’kon (Kaintwakon), translating to "By What One Plants," his life spanned a period of immense change and upheaval for his people. He was also known by his white name, John Abeel III. A skilled warrior and a shrewd diplomat, Seneca War Chief Corn Planter navigated the treacherous waters of war and negotiation, leaving a complex legacy that continues to be examined and debated.
Early Life
The story of Seneca War Chief Corn Planter begins in Canawaugus, a Seneca village located on the Genesee River in what is now the Town of Caledonia, New York. The exact year of his birth is uncertain, falling somewhere between 1738 and 1746. This period marked a time of increasing contact and conflict between European settlers and the Iroquois Confederacy, of which the Seneca were a powerful member.
Cornplanter’s parentage reflects the merging of two distinct cultures. His mother, Gah-hon-no-neh (She Who Goes to the River), was a Seneca woman of the Wolf Clan, a lineage of considerable importance within the matrilineal Seneca society. His father was Johannes "John" Abeel II, a Dutch fur trader from Albany. The Abeel family was well-established in the region, with connections to prominent figures like the Schuyler family, leaders in business and politics.
Johannes Abeel I (1667-1711), Cornplanter’s grandfather, was a trader and merchant who fostered relationships with the indigenous people along his trade routes. He later served as the second mayor of Albany, demonstrating the family’s growing influence in the colonial landscape. John Abeel II, Cornplanter’s father, continued this connection with Native communities, working as a gunsmith and providing essential services to the Seneca people.
Raised by his mother within the Seneca community, Cornplanter was immersed in their traditions, customs, and values. He learned the skills of hunting, warfare, and diplomacy that would serve him well in the years to come. His Seneca name, Gaiänt’wakê, reflected the importance of agriculture in Seneca life and hinted at his future role as a provider and protector of his people.
The matrilineal system of the Seneca dictated that Cornplanter belonged to his mother’s clan, the Wolf Clan. This clan held significant power and influence, particularly in matters of war. As a member of the Wolf Clan, Cornplanter inherited a tradition of leadership and a responsibility to defend the interests of his people.
Warrior and Diplomat
Cornplanter’s life unfolded against the backdrop of major conflicts that shaped the North American continent. He participated in both the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), aligning himself with the British in both instances. The Seneca, along with three other Iroquois nations, saw the British as a more reliable ally than the American colonists, who were encroaching on their lands and threatening their way of life.
As a war chief, Cornplanter demonstrated courage and skill in battle. He led Seneca warriors in numerous raids and skirmishes against American settlements, defending their territory and resisting the expansion of colonial power. However, he also recognized the devastating consequences of war and the need for diplomacy to secure the future of his people.
Following the American Revolutionary War, Cornplanter emerged as a key figure in negotiations between the Iroquois and the newly formed United States. He understood that the defeat of the British had fundamentally altered the balance of power and that the Iroquois needed to find a way to coexist with the Americans.
Cornplanter played a crucial role in the Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784), which established peace between the United States and the Iroquois Confederacy. Although the treaty ceded vast amounts of Iroquois land to the United States, Cornplanter believed it was the best possible outcome under the circumstances. He sought to protect the remaining Seneca territory and ensure the survival of his people.
In the years that followed, Cornplanter worked to maintain a policy of neutrality during the Northwest Indian War (1785-1795), a conflict between the United States and a confederation of Native American tribes in the Ohio Country. He understood that further involvement in war would only weaken the Iroquois and make them more vulnerable to American expansion.
Adaptation and Disillusionment
Despite his efforts to protect Seneca lands and traditions, Cornplanter recognized the need for his people to adapt to the changing world around them. He believed that education and exposure to European-American ways could help the Seneca survive and thrive in the new environment.
Cornplanter invited Quakers to establish schools in Seneca territory, hoping that they could provide his people with the skills and knowledge necessary to compete in the American economy. However, he soon became disillusioned with the results of this experiment. He observed that many Seneca who adopted European-American ways lost their connection to their own culture and traditions.
Disappointed by the negative consequences of assimilation, Cornplanter closed the schools and turned to traditional Seneca values for guidance. He embraced the teachings of his half-brother, Handsome Lake (Sganyadai:yo), a Seneca religious leader who preached a message of cultural renewal and spiritual revival. Handsome Lake’s teachings emphasized the importance of traditional Seneca ceremonies, moral values, and agricultural practices.
The Cornplanter Tract
In recognition of his service and his efforts to promote peace, the United States government granted Cornplanter approximately 1,500 acres of land in Pennsylvania in 1796. This land, known as the Cornplanter Tract, was given to him "and his heirs forever." It became a refuge for Cornplanter and his followers, a place where they could preserve their traditions and maintain their independence.
By 1798, around 400 Seneca people were living on the Cornplanter Tract. They established a thriving community, engaging in agriculture, hunting, and trade. Cornplanter served as their leader, providing guidance and protection.
In 1821, Warren County, Pennsylvania, attempted to impose taxes on the Cornplanter Tract. Cornplanter protested, arguing that the land had been granted to him by the U.S. government and was therefore exempt from taxation. After a period of debate, the state eventually agreed that the Cornplanter Tract was indeed exempt from taxation.
Legacy
Cornplanter died on his Tract in 1836 at the age of approximately 98. He requested a simple grave with no marker. In 1866, the State of Pennsylvania erected a monument over his grave, believed to be the first monument erected in the United States honoring a Native American.
The Cornplanter Tract remained occupied by his descendants for many years, serving as a symbol of Seneca resilience and self-determination. However, in 1965, the federal government completed the Kinzua Dam on the Allegheny River, creating the Allegheny Reservoir for flood control. This project resulted in the flooding of all but a small corner of the Cornplanter Tract, displacing the Seneca community and submerging their ancestral lands.
Cornplanter’s grave, along with the 1866 monument, was relocated to higher ground at the Riverview-Corydon Cemetery in Elk Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania. The cemetery contains the remains of Cornplanter and approximately 300 of his descendants and followers.
The story of Seneca War Chief Corn Planter is a complex and multifaceted one. He was a warrior and a diplomat, a traditionalist and a pragmatist. He sought to protect his people from the forces of colonialism while also recognizing the need for adaptation and change. His legacy continues to be debated and reinterpreted, but his significance as a leader and a symbol of Seneca identity remains undeniable.
Family Connections
Gaiänt’wakê’s personal life offers further insight into the complex interactions between Native American and European cultures. He had a sister, Catharine Maria Abeel (1764-1825), and was a younger half-brother to Handsome Lake (Sganyadai:yo, ca. 1735-1815). He was also the uncle of Governor Blacksnake (Thaonawyuthe, ca. 1760-1859), a Seneca war chief who, like Cornplanter, lived a remarkably long life for his time.
Cornplanter’s son, Henry Abeel, served as an interpreter at the Treaty of Canandaigua negotiations. Cornplanter sent Henry and his other children to a Quaker school, which fostered a continuing relationship between him and the Quaker community.
Descendants of Cornplanter used the surname Abeel (or variations) during his lifetime, transitioning to Cornplanter by the 20th century. They remained prominent members of the Seneca community, though many perished in the 1918 flu pandemic.
Intriguingly, Cornplanter’s lineage extends to several prominent figures in American history. Through his father’s Danish ancestry, he is related to the Roosevelt family, including Presidents Theodore Roosevelt (3rd cousin 3 times removed) and Franklin D. Roosevelt (4th cousin 4 times removed), as well as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (3rd cousin 4 times removed).
He is also connected to inventor Thomas Edison (4th cousin 2 times removed) and Declaration of Independence signer Philip Livingston (3rd cousin 1 time removed). The connections extend to George H. W. Bush (4th cousin 6 times removed), George W. Bush (4th cousin 7 times removed), and Jeb Bush (4th cousin 7 times removed).
Jesse Cornplanter (1889-1957), an artist, was his last known direct descendant. These familial connections highlight the intricate web of relationships that existed between Native American and European-American families during this period of profound social and political change.
