Erastus Granger, Indian Agent

“Flint Hill” was the name given to the Granger property and its immediate environs; well outside the boundaries of the then small village of Buffalo. . . ~ Steven Cichon

Our cousin Erastus Granger (4C7X) descended from our Adams family. Our immigrant grandfather, Robert Adams (10GGF), settled in Salem in 1638. Two years later he moved to Newbury where he lived for the rest of his life. Our Adams line ended when Robert's daughter Elizabeth (9GGM) married Edward Phelps (9GGF). Robert's daughter Joanna (9A) married Launcelot Granger, beginning the Granger branch of our family.

Erastus Granger's early life

Erastus Granger was born in 1765 in Suffield, CT, where many generations of Grangers lived after Launcelot and Joanna had moved there from Newbury in 1674. Erastus grew up at the homestead that had been granted to his great-grandfather Thomas (1C11X), son of Launcelot and our aunt Joanna Adams Granger.

(1) Salem, MA (2) Newbury, MA (3) Suffield, CT

Erastus' father Abner (3C8X) was a military man and spent most of the Revolutionary War away from home. Erastus would occasionally join his father while he was in camp with the Continental Army, even spending part of one winter at Valley Forge when he was only 12.

In 1790, Erastus began teaching school in Suffield. Three years later, he partnered with another man in the mercantile business "under the firm name Leavitt and Granger." He continued doing business in Suffield until 1898 when, possibly looking for more adventure in his life, Erastus moved with his cousin Gideon Granger (4C7X) to Virginia where they hired out as a surveyors of frontier land. In their travels through the state, they were fortunate enough to meet Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson must have seen something in the two young men. He convinced them to return to Connecticut and campaign for him for president. Both Erastus and Gideon were ardent supporters of Jefferson's ideology and they did just that.

According to Wikipedia, Gideon "was considered a brilliant political essayist. Using the pseudonyms Algernon Sydney and Epaminondas many of his writings, defending Jeffersonian principles, were published in many pamphlets." In the end, the work Erastus and Gideon did for the future president would pay off for both of them.  

Thomas Jefferson took office on March 4, 1801. Shortly after taking office, he appointed Gideon Postmaster General. Cousin Gideon served until 1814 when James Madison replaced him. His twelve year tenure makes Gideon the longest serving Postmaster General in U.S. history.

In March of 1804, Erasmus received an appointment as Indian Agent for the Six Nations.

He set out for New York, reaching Buffalo Creek on horseback March 30, 1804.

(1) Suffield, CT (2) Buffalo, NY

In the region that would eventually become the city of Buffalo, Erastus found "a frontier village of 16 huts, and the streets strewn with tree stumps." Seven years earlier, Robert Morris, the richest man in America, had purchased the land that would become Buffalo. The land had been acquired by the United States in the 1797 Treaty of Big Tree "which called for 1,300,000 acres of Native land to be sold for $100,000 – leaving the Seneca Nation with a 200,000 acre reservation, to the south of the tiny village of Buffalo." As was usual in these transactions, the chiefs doing the bargaining made out like bandits. Seneca Chief Red Jacket "was paid a $600 bonus at the signing, and was guaranteed $100 a year for the rest of his life."

Erastus in Buffalo

Before leaving Washington for Buffalo Creek, Erastus was appointed Surveyor and Collector of the Port on the Buffalo River by the U.S. Senate. And, as per orders from Jefferson, he made his first order of business to organize a post office of which he was, naturally, named Postmaster. Below is the desk he used to run the office:

In 1806, Erastus purchased property near Conjockety (now Scajaquada) Creek.  His acreage was extensive, running from the creek off the Niagra River to what is now Main Street in Buffalo.

(1) Niagra River (2) Scajaquada Creek (3) Forest Lawn Cemetery

The home Erastus built there stood until 1860 when it was torn down. Then, the property was incorporated into Forest Lawn Cemetery which was established in Buffalo in 1849. Below is a drawing of Erastus' homestead:

By 1807, Erastus was a major mover and shaker in the area, having been appointed the first judge of the settlement and one of the founders of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. In spite of all these accomplishments, they certainly weren't his main claim to fame. Erastus' most enduring work was as Indian Agent for the Six Nations which included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora tribes.  From a genealogical history of the Granger family by Erastus' grandson James N. Granger (6C5X):

The Six Nations occupied a position at the beginning of the century of dangerous importance in the eyes of government. In the days of their greatest prosperity their sway was acknowledged by the red men from the sands of the Carolinas to the frozen lakes of Canada; from the gentle mohawk River in the East to the muddy waters of the Missourt in the West. They were valiant in war and subtle and wise in politics; they were the match of the white men in eloquence and their equals in diplomatic controversy. As early as 1789 the government had found it necessary to locate an agent of exceptional ability near them. . .

From the Forest Lawn site:

It was stated that during Erastus's lifetime he would have an estate of almost 800 acres. . . After he purchased the property he never turned away the Seneca Chief and their people. It was here, now Granger's property, that the Seneca would have their traditonal "Councils among the Mighty Oaks." Granger would share harvests with the Seneca; allow them to hunt and gather.

letter to Thomas Jefferson

In his dealings with the Indians in his care, Erastus became "a very trusted, respected and sincere friend of the Seneca, and especially Red Jacket, the Chief of the Wolf Clan." In 1809, he wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson sharing speeches by two Seneca Chiefs, Farmer's Brother and Red Jacket:

Buffalo creek N.Y. Decr 8th 1809

Sir

having had the honor of receiving from you the appointments of Collector of the revenue for this district, and that of Indian agency to the six Nations; I take the liberty (as a small testimony of respect) of enclosing for your amusement, two Indian speeches, dilivered on different Occasions.—

I have every reason to believe the speech of Farmer’s Brother was dilivered by him, as now published, and that the translation is a literal one.—The speech of Red Jacket was dilivered in my presence—I wrote it down, sentence by sentence, and know it to be correct.—

These speeches go very far in confirming the Opinion (if confirmation was wanted) contended for by you, that nature has been as bountiful in bestowing rational faculties on the human species in the new World, as she has to those of the Old.—

I would remark, that the two Chiefs can neither write, read, nor speak a word of English.—

Wishing you the long enjoyment of health, and the greatest happiness alloted Man, I subscribe my self with great respect, Sir, your most Obet humble servt

Erastus Granger

Farmer Brother's speech was short and only to thank the Great Spirit for the chance to meet. Red Jacket's now famous and much more eloquent speech has been saved for posterity. Below are excerpts:

Brother: This council fire was kindled by you. It was at your request that we came together at this time. . .You requested us to speak our minds freely. This gives us great joy; for we now consider that we stand upright before you, and can speak what we think. . .and all speak to you now as one man. Our minds are agreed.

Brother: Listen to what we say. There was a time when our forefathers owned this great island. Their seats extended from the rising to the setting of the sun. The Great Spirit had made for the use of the Indians. He had created the buffalo, the deer, and other animals for food. He'd made the bear and the deer, and their skins served us for clothing. . .He had caused the earth to produce corn for bread. All this He had done for his red children, because He loved them. . .

But an evil day came upon us. Your forefathers crossed the great waters and landed on this island. Their numbers were small. They found friends and not enemies. They told us they had fled from their own country for fear of wicked men, and had come here to enjoy their religion. They asked for a small seat. We took pity on them, granted their request, and they sat down amongst us. We gave them corn and meat; they gave us poison in return.

The white people had now found our country. Tidings were carried back, and more came amongst us. Yet we did not fear them. We took them to be friends. They called us brothers. We believed them, and gave them a large seat. At length their numbers had greatly increased. They wanted more land; they wanted our country. Our eyes were opened, and our minds became uneasy. Wars took place. Indians were hired to fight against Indians, and many of our people were destroyed. They also brought strong liquors among us. It was strong and powerful and has slain thousands.

Brother. . .You have now become a great people, and we have scarcely a place left to spread our blankets. You have got our country, but you are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us.

Brother: Continue to listen. You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeable to His mind. And if we do not take hold of the religion which you white people teach, we shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right, and we are lost. How do you know this to be true. . . If it was intended for us as well as for you, why has not the Great Spirit given it to us, and not only to us, but why did He not give to our forefathers knowledge of that book, with the means of understanding it rightly? We only know what you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white man?

. . .Brother. . .We also have a religion, which was given to our forefathers, and has been handed down to us, their children. We worship that way. It teaches us to be thankful for all the favors we receive; to love each other, and to be united. We never quarrel about religion.

. . .Brother: We do not wish to destroy your religion, or to take it from you. We only want to enjoy our own.

Brother: We are told that you have been preaching to the white people in this place. These people are our neighbors. We are acquainted with them. We will wait a little while, and see what effect your preaching has upon them. If we find it does them good, and makes them honest, and less disposed to cheat Indians, we will then consider again what you have said.

Brother: You have now heard our answer to your talk, and this is all we have to say at present. As we are going to part, we will come and take you by the hand, and hope the Great Spirit will protect you on your journey, and return you safe to your friends.

Erastus received a reply from Monticello which said:

Th Jefferson presents his compliments to Mr. Granger with his thanks for the two specimens of Indian eloquence which he was pelased to send him & are safely received. They are both of a very high order of merit & especially that of Red Jacket, he is very sensible of the mark of attention from Mr. Granger & of the kind sentiments expressed in his letter & prays him to accept the assurances of his great esteem & support.

life before war

In 1810, two years before the War of 1812 broke out which would, once again, inevitably involve Native Americans, the Seneca presented Erastus with a tomahawk made with "exotic woods and silver." The tomahawk was a token of the "friendship and respect" that they held for him. The actual tomahawk presented to Erastus is now housed in the collection of the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. And, in 1930, Albert Stewart created a frieze for the Buffalo City Hall that included that 1810 ceremony. Below is the portion of the frieze with Erastus and Red Jacket depicted:

The area in Buffalo where Erastus lived is now known as Parkside. We learn a little more about his life there from the article "When Parkside was the Rugged Frontier" by Steve Cichon in his blog "Buffalo Stories."

“Flint Hill” was the name given to the Granger property and its immediate environs; well outside the boundaries of the then small village of Buffalo, about 4 miles to the north. Granger himself used the name “Flint Hill” to describe his home, but, by 1914, the name had so long fallen out of use that readers of Peace Episodes on the Niagara (Buffalo Historical Society) needed an explanation of the location of the place. . .

The first book ever published in Buffalo was a collection of public speeches given by Granger and his great friend, the Seneca Chief Red Jacket, made as war was declared between Great Britain and the United States. Both men spoke of the desire to keep the Six Nations neutral in the conflict which would become known to history as the War of 1812. Red Jacket, Cornplanter, Farmer’s Brother and other brilliant chiefs of the Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga, Tuscarora and Oneida tribes were present on July 6, 1812, just days after word of war had reached Buffalo, when Judge Granger first offered a message of goodwill and friendship to the Indians, then spoke these words to the assembled council of Native Chiefs:

"Your great father, the president of the 17 fires (James Madison), now gives his red children the same advice which he gave you at the beginning of the last war (the Revolution); that is you take no part in the quarrels of the white people. He stands in no need of your assistance. His warriors are numerous, like sands on the shore of the great lake which cannot be counted. He is able to fight his own battles, and requests you stay home."

Such was the wish. But when the Mohawk entered the war on the side of the British, the Seneca felt compelled to throw their hat in with the Americans.

Eratus' story will continue in our next post.