Rival to Red Jacket

Referring to his personality, an eminent writer says: "He was the rival of Red Jacket. Without the commanding genius of Red jacket, he possessed a large share of the common sense, which is more efficient in all the ordinary affairs of life. They were both able men; both acquired the confidence of their people, but the patriotism of Red jacket was exhibited in an unyielding hatred of the whites, while Corn Plant adopted the opposite policy of conciliation towards his more powerful neighbors. The one was an orator of unblemished reputation, the other an orator of unrivalled eloquence. Both were shrewd, artful and expert negotiators, and they prevailed alternately over each other, as opportunities were offered to either for the exertion of his peculiar abilities. The one rose into power when the Senecas were embittered against the whites, and the other acquired consequence when it became desirable to cultivate friendly relations upon the frontier."

     On one occasion Red Jacket was boasting of what he had said at certain treaties, when Corn Plant quickly added, "Yes, but we told you what to say." Horatio Jones said of Corn Plant: "He was one of the best men to have on your side, and there you would be sure to find him if he thought yours the right side, but it was decidedly unlucky if he thought you were wrong."

     Corn Plant was the first as well as one of the most eloquent temperance lecturers in the United States, and labored hard to save his people from this growing evil, for which his white neighbors were largely responsible.

     In his latter days he became superstitious, and his conscience reproached him for his friendship towards the whites, and in a moment of alarm, fancying that the Great Spirit had commanded him to destroy all evidence of his connection with the enemies of his race, he destroyed an elegant sword and other articles which he had received as presents.

     There can no longer be any doubt of his relationship to the Abeel family. His mother told him that his father's name was Abeel, or O'Bial.  The latter name does not appear in the Albany records, and it is doubtful if such a person ever lived in that city. The name of Abeel is still preserved with the tribe on the reservation.

     The History of Montgomery County, page 233, says:

     "Cornplanter visited Fort Plain in his native dress about the year 1810, bringing with hint several Indians of dignified rank. They were cordially welcomed by the chief's relatives, going first to the house of Joseph Wagner, father of Peter J. Wagner, who was grandson on the mother's side of John Abeel. The party also visited the house of Nicholas Dygert, whose wife was a sister of Mrs. Wagner, and was richly entertained, and then at the home of Jacob Abeel, living with his widowed mother on their old homestead. The Indians were treated with hospitality. The visit lasted several days, and the guests were the central attraction of village society, for Cornplanter was a man of noble bearing, and was decorated with all the native display of costume appropriate to his rank. His father at that time had been dead more than a dozen years."

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Abeel and Allied Families

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