Cornplanter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cornplanter
Gaiänt'wakê, Kaintwakon
Chief Cornplanter, portrait by Frederick Bartoli, 1796
Seneca leader
Succeeded by	Edward Cornplanter
Personal details
Born	between 1732 and 1746 Canawaugus (now part of Caledonia, New York)
Died	1836 Cornplanter Tract, Pennsylvania
Resting place	Corydon, Pennsylvania
Relations	Brother, Half-Town; half-brother, Handsome Lake. Uncle, Guyasutha. Nephew, Governor Blacksnake.
Children	Henry Abeele, Edward Cornplanter
Parents	Aliquipiso/Gahonnoneh (Seneca), Johannes Abeel (Dutch)
Known for	War chief during the French and Indian War. Fought with British during American Revolutionary War. Known for his diplomacy. Opposed liquor; worked with Quakers to bring farming to the Seneca. His home, the Cornplanter Tract, was flooded by Kinzua Dam.
Nicknames	John Abeel, John O'Bail

Cornplanter (born between 1732 and 1746 – February 18, 1836) was an important Seneca war chief and diplomat. His Seneca name was Gaiänt'wakê, which means "the planter." He was also known as John Abeel III.

Cornplanter was a leader of the Wolf clan. He fought in major wars like the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. In these wars, the Seneca and other Iroquois nations were allies with the British.

After the wars, Cornplanter worked to make peace with the new United States. He signed important treaties and helped the Iroquois stay neutral in other conflicts. He also tried to help his people adapt to new ways of life. He invited Quakers to teach farming and other skills.

Later in his life, Cornplanter felt that his people were not treated well by the Americans. He supported his half-brother Handsome Lake's movement, which encouraged the Seneca to return to their traditional ways. The U.S. government gave Cornplanter a special piece of land in Pennsylvania in 1796. This land was called the Cornplanter Tract. Sadly, much of this land was later flooded in 1965 when the Kinzua Dam was built.

Who Was Cornplanter's Family?

Cornplanter was born in a place called Canawaugus, in what is now New York State. His mother was a Seneca woman named Gah-hon-no-neh. His father was a Dutch trader named Johannes "John" Abeel II.

The Dutch had settled in the area many years before. Cornplanter's father was a fur trader from a well-known family. The Abeel family name was sometimes changed to O'Bail or Abeele. Cornplanter's grandfather, Johannes Abeel I, was a merchant and even served as mayor of Albany, New York.

Cornplanter was raised by his mother among the Seneca people. The Seneca, like other Iroquois nations, had a matrilineal system. This means children belonged to their mother's family and clan. Cornplanter was part of the Wolf Clan. Men from this clan often became war chiefs.

Cornplanter's Role as a War Chief

Cornplanter first became known as a war chief during the French and Indian War. In this war, the Seneca allied with the French against the English. He was present at a big battle known as Braddock's defeat.

During the American Revolutionary War, Cornplanter and his uncle, Chief Guyasuta, wanted the Iroquois nations to stay neutral. They believed the Iroquois should not get involved in the European settlers' war.

However, both the British and the American Patriots tried to get the Iroquois to join their side. The British offered many goods and built on their long trading relationship. In July 1777, the Iroquois League met to decide. Even though Cornplanter and Guyasutha wanted to stay neutral, most chiefs voted to side with the British. Cornplanter honored this decision.

Cornplanter joined forces with British allies in battles like the 1778 Battle of Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. They fought against American settlers. Cornplanter also took part in attacks in Cherry Valley, New York. During one of these attacks, his men captured his father, Johannes Abeel. Cornplanter recognized his father and allowed him to return safely to his European family.

After these battles, General George Washington sent Major General John Sullivan to attack Iroquois villages. Sullivan's army destroyed many Iroquois villages, farms, and crops. This was a "scorched earth" campaign. Cornplanter and other chiefs fought bravely to help their people escape to Canada. Many Iroquois suffered greatly that winter from cold and hunger.

Life After the American Revolution

After Britain lost the war, Cornplanter understood that the Seneca needed to have a good relationship with the new United States government. He became a negotiator between the Americans and Native American tribes. He signed the Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784). He also met with presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Native Americans west of the Allegheny Mountains resisted American settlers in the Northwest Indian War. Cornplanter helped the Iroquois stay neutral in this conflict. He also tried to negotiate with the Shawnee on behalf of the U.S.

In 1790, Cornplanter and his brother Half-Town went to Philadelphia to meet with President George Washington. They protested how their people were being treated. Washington and Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin agreed to protect Iroquois land.

Cornplanter made many trips to cities to build relationships. He wanted to learn about European-American ways. He was impressed by the Quakers. He invited them to teach his son and start schools in Seneca territory. He and his half-brother, Handsome Lake, strongly opposed the use of alcohol among the Seneca.

During the War of 1812, Cornplanter supported the American side. He even offered to bring warriors to help the U.S., but his offer was not accepted.

He allowed Quakers to help the Seneca learn new skills. This was important because hunting and fur trading were no longer enough for their way of life. He also encouraged men to help women with farming to improve their economy.

Over time, Cornplanter became disappointed with how Americans treated his people. His half-brother Handsome Lake preached that the Iroquois should return to their traditional religion and way of life. Cornplanter agreed with this message. He burned his military uniform and destroyed his medals. He closed the schools but kept a good relationship with the Quakers.

The Cornplanter Tract

In 1796, the U.S. government gave Cornplanter about 1500 acres of land in Pennsylvania. This land was along the western bank of the Allegheny River. It was given to him and his family "forever." This land became known as the Cornplanter Tract. By 1798, about 400 Seneca people lived there.

In 1821, officials tried to make Cornplanter pay taxes on his land. He argued that the land was a gift from the U.S. government. After discussions, the state agreed that the Cornplanter Tract was tax-free.

Cornplanter's Family Life

Cornplanter married a woman named Ya-ie-wa-noh. They had children, including a son named Henry Abeel. Henry became an interpreter and helped with important treaty talks. Cornplanter sent Henry and his other children to a Quaker school. This started a lasting connection between Cornplanter and the Quaker community.

Cornplanter's family often used the last name Abeel. Later, many descendants used the name Cornplanter. They continued to be important members of the Seneca community. The artist Jesse Cornplanter (1889–1957) was his last known direct male descendant.

Cornplanter's Monument and Relocation

Cornplanter died on his Tract in 1836. He had asked for a grave without a marker. However, in 1866, the State of Pennsylvania placed a monument over his grave. This was believed to be the first monument for a Native American in the United States.

In 1965, the Kinzua Dam was finished. This dam created the Allegheny Reservoir, which flooded almost all of the Cornplanter Tract. Cornplanter's grave and monument were moved to higher ground at the Riverview-Corydon Cemetery. This cemetery holds what are believed to be the remains of Cornplanter and about 300 of his family members. Most of the Seneca people who lived on the Tract had to move to the Allegany Indian Reservation in New York.

Cornplanter's Legacy

• Most of the Cornplanter Tract was flooded after the Kinzua Dam was built in 1965.
• The story of Cornplanter's grave being moved is in the song "As Long As The Grass Shall Grow" by Peter La Farge, recorded by Johnny Cash.
• The Chief Cornplanter Council of the Boy Scouts of America is named in his honor.
• Cornplanter State Forest in Pennsylvania is also named for him.
• The Cornplanter Medal was created in 1901 to honor people who studied the Iroquois Indians.
• There is a proposal to name a wilderness area in the Allegheny National Forest the Cornplanter Wilderness.
• The Cornplanter Stage at the Warren County Fairgrounds is named after him.
• A bridge in Salamanca, New York, was renamed the Chief Cornplanter (Gayetwage) Memorial Bridge in 2011.
• A portrait of Cornplanter is kept at the New-York Historical Society.
• A pipe tomahawk given to Cornplanter by George Washington is on display at the New York State Museum.
• Cornplanter is featured in exhibits at the Museum of the American Revolution and the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown.

See also

In Spanish: Cornplanter para niños