Cornplanter

Cornplanter
Gaiänt'wakê, Kaintwakon
Chief Cornplanter, portrait by Frederick Bartoli, 1796
Born	Between 1732 and 1746 Canawaugus (now part of Caledonia, New York)
Died	1836 Cornplanter Tract, Pennsylvania
Other names	John Abeel, John O'Bail
Occupation	Seneca Leader
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.
Successor	Edward Cornplanter
Children	Henry Abeele, Edward Cornplanter
Parent(s)	Aliquipiso/Gahonnoneh (Seneca), Johannes Abeel (Dutch)

John Abeel III or Gaiänt'wakê (Gyantwachia – "the planter") or Kaiiontwa'kon (Kaintwakon – "By What One Plants"), generally known as Cornplanter was a war chief of the Seneca tribe. He was also Dutch. His father was a Dutch trader, and his mother was a Seneca woman. He was born at Canawagus in New York. He fought in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. He initially wanted neutrality, but later was allied with the British. After the war, he was a negotiator between the Americans and Seneca people. He signed the Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1784), the Treaty of Fort Harmar (1789) and the Treaty of Canandaigua (1794) These treaties gave up Native land to the United States. Cornplanter invited Quakers to teach young Natives. Natives did not like this that much. Cornplanter believed that Natives should not resist whites. He also believed that Natives should peacefully give up lands. Many Natives were against his views. As a result, Red Jacket replaced Cornplanter as the Seneca leader. Conrplanter later got land in Pennsylvania and retired there.

Related pages

• Seneca (tribe)
• Iroquois Confederacy
• Northeastern Woodlands
• Native Americans in the United States