General Washington's answer was not preserved. As he entertained the highest respect and esteem for Cornplanter, no doubt his words to the Chief were expressive of his kind regards for his Indian friend, and his best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of the Seneca tribe.
From henceforth the career of Cornplanter was unconnected with the general history of his country. He fixed his permanent residence upon the tract of land on the Allegheny river, granted to him by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The grant from the Commonwealth is dated March 16, 1796. In the patent the tract is designated "Planter's Field," and his town is called "Jennesadaga." It became his home in life, and is now his resting place in death. Here he directed his efforts to the civilization and moral improvement of his people, and as an efficient means to produce the result inculcated the principles of temperance—to which he had himself been long devoted.
In 1802 he visited President Jefferson, at the city of Washington, for counsel and encouragement. In Mr. Jefferson's excellent and characteristic letter to him, he expresses his approbation of Cornplanter's conduct, and adds: "Go on then, brother, in the great reformation you have undertaken. Persuade our Red Men to be sober, and to cultivate their lands; and their women to spin and weave for their families. * * * It will be a great glory to you to have been the instrument of so happy a change, and your children's children, from generation to generation, will repeat your name with love and gratitude forever. In all your enterprises for the good of your people, you may count with confidence on the aid and protection of the United States, and on the sincerity and zeal with which I am animated in the furthering of this humane work. You are our brethren of the same land; we wish you prosperity, as brethren should do." Thus encouraged, our Chief devoted his time and energies to the best interests of his people, and under his influence and example they made considerable advances in civilization and moral improvement.
When the war of 1812, with England, broke forth, Cornplanter, although then far advanced in years, yet he offered his services to the United States, to go on the war path, and accompanied by two hundred warriors of his nation, repaired to Franklin, Venango county, when he learned that Colonel Samuel Dale was about to march from that place to the frontiers with the Venango regiment. Arriving at Franklin, he called upon Colonel Dale, and desired a statement of the causes and objects of the war, which being satisfactorily explained to him, he made an address, in which he said: "That many years ago a boy came over the great waters and settled among his people of the Six Nations; sometime thereafter the father followed to keep him in subjection; the Indians helped the father, but the boy was too much for both, and drove the father home. And now, when the father had become an old man, and the boy a strong man, and a good neighbor to his nation, he wished to show his friendship for the Thirteen Fires by taking his two hundred warriors to assist to drive the old man across the great waters."—Colonel Dale was obliged to inform the Chief that he had no authority to receive his warriors into his regiment, or take them to the frontiers. Cornplanter insisted that his warriors ought not to stay at home and live idly in their wigwams whilst their white friends and brothers were upon the war path. So persistent was he in sending his warriors, that he could only be satisfied by the promise of Colonel Dale to send for them when their services were required, and when he should receive authority from the government to muster the Indians into the service of the United States, and that in the mean time he was to go home to his seat at Jennesadaga and have his warriors ready to respond at a moment's call. They were not called for by Colonel Dale, but Cornplanter, sent a considerable number of his warriors to the American army; they acted as scouts, and were highly serviceable on the frontiers, and in the Niagara campaign. His son, Henry ABeel, led these warriors; he held the the commission of major, and did good service to the United States in that war.
The condition of Cornplanter's town in 1816, is thus described by Rev. Timothy Alden, of Allegheny college, Meadville, Pa., who visited it in that year: "Jennesadaga, Cornplanter's village, is on a handsome piece of bottom land, and comprises about a dozen buildings. It was grateful to notice the agricultural habits of the place, and the numerous enclosures of buckwheat, corn and oats. We also saw a number of oxen, cows and horses, and many logs designed for the saw-mill and the Pittsburg market. Last year, (1815,) the Western Missionary society established a school in the village, under Mr. Samuel Oldham. Cornplanter, as soon as apprised of our arrival, came over to see us and took charge of our horses. Though having many around him to obey his commands, yet in the ancient patriarchal style, he choose to serve us himself, and actually went into the field, cut the oats and fed our beasts. He appears to be about sixty-eight years of age,[X] and five feet ten inches in height. His countenance is strongly marked with intelligence and reelection. Contrary to the aboriginal custom, his chin is covered with a beard three or four inches in length. His house is of princely dimensions compared with most Indian huts, and has a piazza in front. He is owner of thirteen hundred acres of excellent land, six hundred of which encircle the ground-plot of his little town. He receives an annual stipend from the United States, of two hundred and fifty dollars. Cornplanter's brother, lately deceased, (called the Prophet,) was known by the high-sounding name, Goskukewanna Kannedia, or Large Beautiful Lake."
[X] Mr. Alden was deceived by appearances. Cornplanter time, about eighty-four years of age.
Thus, in the altitude and with the authority of an ancient patriarch, he continued to preside over his people, and promote their prosperity and improvement, without interruption or molestation, until the year 1822, when the authorities of Warren county, within the bounds of which he resided, attempted to levy taxes upon him and his clan. The old Chief had never before been called on for that purpose, and he objected to their payment. An armed sheriff's posse was called out to enforce the payment, but arriving near Cornplanter's town, it was deemed prudent to send forward a few of their number to confer with the Chief. When they came to his house, they noticed a considerable number of Indians lounging about, and some of them were partly concealed in the bushes near by. Cornplanter received the committee with great dignity. The interview took place near his house, and around the sides of it were arranged about one hundred rifles. When asked for the payment of the taxes, the old warrior sternly refused, and pointing to the guns, said, "an Indian for each rifle;" and in response to his call, his clansmen sprang forward to the house. Whereupon the sheriff and his men withdrew, without enforcing the claim. Cornplanter afterwards, for the sake of peace, went to Warren, and gave his note for the amount of the taxes. This note was never collected. The Legislature of Pennsylvania released the taxes, and exonerated him and his heirs forever, from the payment of taxes on the lands granted to him by the Commonwealth.[Y] The Governor sent commissioners to explain the transaction. Cornplanter met the commissioners at the court house in Warren, when he made a characteristic and appropriate address.[Z]
[Y] Journal House of Representatives, 1822-3.
[Z] This address is fully presented in Day's Historical Collections, p. 655.