George Henry Martin Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Henry Martin Johnson
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Chief George Johnson, seated centre, with anthropologist Horatio Hale on the left, and fellow chiefs of the Mohawk nation
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| Born |
Deyonhehgon
October 7, 1816 Bow Park, Grand River, North America
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| Died | February 19, 1884 (aged 67) Grand River, Canada
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| Nationality | Mohawk |
| Other names | Onwanonsyshon |
| Citizenship | Mohawk |
| Alma mater | Mohawk Institute |
| Occupation | Interpreter |
| Known for | Six Nations chief |
| Title | Chief |
| Spouse(s) |
Emily Susanna Howells
(m. 1853–1884) |
| Children | Pauline Johnson, 3 others |
George Henry Martin Johnson (also known as Onwanonsyshon) was an important Mohawk leader. He was born on October 7, 1816, and passed away on February 19, 1884. He belonged to the Wolf clan and was chosen as a traditional chief for the Mohawk nation, part of the Six Nations in Canada.
George Johnson also worked as an official interpreter. This meant he helped people who spoke different languages understand each other. He also acted as an informal diplomat, helping the Mohawk and Canadian governments communicate. His family home, Chiefswood, was built in 1856 on the Grand River. Today, it is a special place called a National Historic Site. It's the only First Nations mansion from before Canada became a country.
Contents
Early Life and Family
George Johnson was born in 1816 at Bow Park, which is located on the Grand River. This area is part of the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation, near Brantford. His family, members of the Wolf clan, had settled there after moving from New York during the American Revolution.
His father was John Smoke Johnson, a Mohawk Bear clan chief. His mother was Helen Martin, a Mohawk woman. Helen's mother, Catherine Rolleston, was Dutch. She was captured as a girl and became part of the Wolf clan. Helen's father, Ohyeatea (George Martin), was Mohawk. Following Mohawk traditions, George's parents lived with his mother's family until their first child was born.
Education and Career
George Johnson went to the Mohawk Institute. There, he learned to speak English very well, in addition to his native Mohawk language.
In 1838, George Johnson started working as an interpreter for Reverend Adam Elliot. By 1840, he became the interpreter for the Anglican church's mission on the Reserve. Because he could speak both English and Mohawk fluently, he became a very important person in both the English and Mohawk communities.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1853, George Johnson married Emily Susanna Howells. Emily was from England, and her family had moved to the United States in 1832. She was also the sister-in-law of Reverend Elliot and a cousin of the American writer William Dean Howells.
Their marriage was unusual for the time because Emily was white and George was Mohawk. Both their families and the Native community had concerns about this interracial marriage. Some Mohawk people worried that under Canadian law, Emily would gain status as a Native person. This would give her rights to a share of the band's money and other benefits. Also, under the Mohawk matrilineal system, where family lines follow the mother, their children would not fully belong to a Mohawk clan. Because of these concerns, Reverend Elliot refused to perform the wedding ceremony. However, George and Emily found another Anglican priest who agreed to marry them.
George and Emily raised their four children to appreciate both their Mohawk and English backgrounds. They often welcomed important people of their time to their home, Chiefswood. George built this beautiful house in 1856 on his large 225-acre property. Their youngest daughter, Pauline Johnson (1861-1913), became a famous Canadian poet and performer. She was well-known for sharing her First Nations heritage through her work. Her fame grew even greater than her father's. Another daughter, Evelyn, also became a poet.
Later Life and Legacy
George Johnson was chosen as a traditional chief of the Six Nations. He took over this role from his mother's brother, Henry Martin, who was also from the Wolf clan. The Mohawk people follow a matrilineal system, meaning that family lines and property are passed down through the mother's side. His mother was the one who nominated him for the position of chief.
Later, George Johnson became friends with Jasper Tough Gilkison, who was the Upper Canada Superintendent for the Six Nations. George was appointed as a government interpreter. He also worked as a timber ranger, trying to stop the illegal cutting and selling of timber on the reserve. He also tried to stop the illegal sale of whiskey by non-Native men. These activities were very profitable for some non-Native individuals. George faced challenges in this role.
George Johnson passed away in 1884 at his home, Chiefswood, on the Grand River near Brantford. Today, Chiefswood is recognized as a National Historic Site. It is the only Native mansion that still exists from before Canada became a country. The house and its summer kitchen have been carefully restored. Also, much of the surrounding land has been brought back to its original state as Ontario Tall Grass Prairie Meadows. These meadows were common when the family lived there and contained plants used by the Mohawk for medicine. While the original estate was over 200 acres, today less than five acres remain with the mansion, as other parts were sold over the years.
See also
