The Cornplanter Memorial / An Historical Sketch of Gy-ant-wa-chia - The Cornplanter, and of the Six Nations of Indians.

NOTE BY J. R. SNOWDEN.

The following is a brief statement of the present location and population of the Six Nations of Indians:

SENECAS.

1. Senecas on the Allegheny river, in Pennsylvania, fifteen miles above Warren, at Cornplanter's town, (Jennesadaga.)
Population	80
Acres of land owned	300
2. Senecas on the Allegheny reservation, in New York, a few miles above the Pennsylvania line.
Population about	900
Acres of land	26,600
3. Senecas on Cattaraugus reservation, in Erie and Cattaraugus counties, New York.
Population about	1,700
Acres of land under cultivation	5,000
4. Senecas at Tonnawandas, in New York.
Population about	700
Acres of land	7,000

ONEIDAS.
1. Oneidas, in Oneida and Madison counties N. York.
Population about	250
Acres of land	400
2. The largest remnant of this tribe, (Oneidas,) reside in Brown county, Wisconsin.
Population about	800
They possess a large body of land.

ONONDAGOS.
The residence of this tribe is about six miles south of the city of Syracuse, in the State of New York.
Population about	350
Acres of land owned	7,600

TUSCARORAS.
Their residence is about seven miles north-east of Niagara Falls.
Population about	350
Acres of laud held by them	6,250

RECAPITULATION OF POPULATION.
Senecas	3,380
Oneidas	1,050
Onondagos	350
Tuscaroras	350
Total	5,130

The present condition of these remnants of the Six Nations is quite respectable. In most of the reservations they have schools and places of public worship. Many of them belong to the Methodist and Baptist churches. The Chief of the Six Nations, Stephen S. Smith, who made a speech at the inauguration of the Cornplanter monument, is a minister in the Baptist church. He is a man of intelligence and respectability, I here insert a letter I have recently received from him, which will doubtless be interesting to our readers.

"Akron, N Y., July 10, 1867.

"Dear Sir:—I am very desirous of obtaining a copy of the history of the life of Cornplanter. If you have a copy of the history that you spoke at the raising of the monument on the Cornplanter reservation last October, and will send it to me for the use and benefit of our young men, you will confer a favor upon me and them that I shall be most grateful to re-pay, when an opportunity is presented. And if you have a copy of the minutes of the addresses delivered that day, and taken by yourself, I should be most happy to receive a copy of the same also.

"If your noble State saw fit to appropriate money to fence the grave of the deceased Cornplanter, I shall be most happy to meet you there and assist you in surrounding the last resting place of our departed brother, with the respectful barricade furnished by a grateful people.

"I am sorry, that it is necessary, in speaking of our honored brother, John Luke, who was with us at the monument meeting last October, that he will be with us no more at our meetings this side of the setting sun. He took his departure for the great spiritual hunting ground last April.

"Yours truly,
"STEPHEN S. SMITH,
"Chief of Six Nations.

"To James Ross Snowden, Philadelphia."

An appropriation having been made for that object, by the Legislature at its last session, a substantial and appropriate fence was placed around the grave and monument of Cornplanter on the 20th of September, 1867. It consists of marble posts with carved caps; iron rails with chains and tassels, and presents a very handsome appearance.

In honor of the completion of the monument, and to express their thanks to the Great Spirit, and their gratitude to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and her agents, the Senecas had a "green corn feast," on the 23d, 24th and 25th of September. It was a great occasion, and was largely attended. Their ceremonies had relation not only to the completion of the monument, but to express their thanks to the Great Spirit for the abundant crops which have this year rewarded their agricultural labors. The erection of the Cornplanter monument, and the proceedings relating to it, have had an excellent and benign influence upon these Indians. A friend writes to me: "The natives are greatly pleased with all that has been done; they have better crops than usual, and act more civilized. These proceedings have increased their self-respect, and made an enduring mark upon their grateful hearts."

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