John Cornplanter O’Bail

Bio

(1736-1836) Seneca chief, orator, treaty-composer. Was born along the Genesee River. Born along the Genesee River to a Seneca Mother and a white father (O’Bail or Abeel). A Chief who initially fought against the British, he fought alongside the British during the American Revolution. After the war he composed many treaties and was a powerful orator but not without controversy among some Native Americans as to what was achieved. He is the subject of many books, stories and studies. William Walker Canfield wrote/edited a book published in 1902: Legends of the Iroquois as told by “the Cornplanter.” Handsome Lake was his half-brother.