Kaiiontwa-Ken, Cornplanter

Cornplanter known as John O'Bail, was born in the village of Conewaugus sometime around the year 1732. Because of the influence of this chief the Senecas did not join the western Indians as Wayne's army marched against them. The Senecas, who flanked Wayne's advance, were in a position to bring about his defeat. Had they thrown their great weight against Wayne, it is very doubtful whether he would have succeeded when he did. Historians say that because Cornplanter prevented his Senecas from falling upon Wayne he rendered the United States a great service. If this chief had been the enemy of the Americans it is doubtful if the Jay Treaty with England would have taken place and that the British would have left the western posts then held by them.

In 1790 Cornplanter appeared before the governing body of Philadelphia in behalf of his people. Two Seneca chiefs had been murdered by whites as well as his brother-in-law. His nephew also had been killed by unscrupulous white border ruffians. Said Cornplanter on this occasion, "Fathers, consider me and my people, and the many injuries we have been stained by the repeated robberies and in the murders and depredations committed by the whites among us." When he stood before President Washington he laid before him the complaints of the Senecas. It is said that Cornplanter spoke the following words on that occasion, "Father Washington, we know that you are very strong, and we have heard that you are wise, BUT WE WAIT TO SEE THAT YOU ARE JUST!"

Because Cornplanter was a signer of several treaties which were unfavorable to the Iroquois be was regarded by his people as a traitor. They suspicioned this all the more when Pennsylvania granted him a reservation of 640 acres of land "for valuable services to the whites" and an annual pension of $250.00.

During his old age Cornplanter turned on again to the "Indian ways," refusing to have anything to do with white people and returning to the religion of his people. He died; an Indian of the old way, at Cornplanter Town on the banks of his long loved Allegany. Though he wished no marker over his grave, the State of Pennsylvania erected one in 1866; It bears the following inscription:

"Gy-ant-wa-chia, the Cornplanter, John O' Bail alias Cornplanter died at Cornplanter Town, Feb. 18, A. D. 1736 aged about 100 years. Chief of the Seneca Tribe, and a Principal Chief of the Six Nations from the period of the Revolutionary War to the time of his death. Distinguished for talent, courage, eloquence, sobriety, and love for tribe and race to whose welfare he devoted his time, his energy, and his means during a long and eventful life."

Crossing the Allegany River the warriors headed south. At Kinzua the warriors passed a favorite Seneca fishing spot. The mouth of the creek nearby was a favorite place of the Senecas for spearing fish. The word Kinzua means, "Fish up there."

Continuing down the river, the warriors passed three ancient Indian burial mounds 'Sugar Run Mounds' containing implements for daily life. They represent an outpost of the so-called Hopewellian Peoples, ancient Indian mound builders who lived here long before the arrival of the Iroquois. Near Warren, Pennsylvania they visited the site of an old Seneca village called Conewango 'Below the Rifles'. Near Irvin the warriors saw the site of Buckaloons, a famous Indian village at the junction of the Allegany and Brokenstraw Creek. This was visited by Celoron in 1749.

Still following the Allegany River the warriors arrived at Indian Paint Hill. This is near the village of Tidioute. Deposits of red ochre and nearby petroleum springs on this hill and vicinity provided the Indians with materials for face and body paints.

Continuing down the river the Mohawks passed the sites of several Indian villages. Though they were not Iroquois village sites, they were inhabited by Indian peoples who were under Iroquois protection. They were as follows. Goschgoschink, last name of Zeisberger's "Lower Town," located on side of river here. This was the residence of a Seneca sentinel chief at that time. The town name is a Muncey Delaware word meaning Muskrat. The next village was known, as Hickey Town. This was Zeisberger's "Middle Town," and it was here that the Indian paths from the south ended, by which trade goods were obtained. Across the river here paths led over the hills to Oil Creek. Each year during the Spring the Indians used to travel westward to gather petroleum from the oil pits, boil maple sugar and make bark canoes. The next village site that the Mohawks visited was Luwunakkhannek which was the name of an Indian mission. Here the first protestant church west of the Allegany mountains was built by Zeisberger in 1769 at Delaware Indian village, the name of which means, Northerly Stream Place. This part of the Allegany region was allotted to Muncey Delaware and other displaced Indians, by the Seneca Iroquois before 1750-70. A missionary named Zeisberger worked among these refugee groups, whose former homes were then occupied by the white people. They then occupied three towns along the river here.

From this region the warriors headed directly west, leaving the State of Pennsylvania and entering the State of Ohio. Traveling across part of Ohio they arrived at the Logan Elm and Monument near the village of Circleville, Ohio.

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