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Who Was Ely S. Parker?
Born with the name Hasanoanda, meaning “Leading Man,” Ely Samuel Parker was a member of the Wolf Clan in the Seneca Nation, part of Six Nations of the Iroquois. He was raised in the traditions of his Native Nation, and he attended the Baptist “mission” school to learn English.
Education Limited by Racism
He originally wanted to study law, but was denied entrance to law school on multiple occasions because he was Native American and not considered an American citizen. He switched career paths and became a Civil Engineer. It was during his career as a civil engineer that he met Ulysses S. Grant.
Parker had been declined admission to the Union Army during the Civil War because he was not considered an American citizen, even though others had had citizenship granted through their service.
He utilized his connection to Ulysses S. Grant and was commissioned as a Captain in 1863 and worked closely with Grant throughout the war. It was Ely S. Parker who wrote up the conditions of surrender at Appomattox. As the story goes, Robert E. Lee shook his hand at Appomattox and said “I’m glad to see one real American here,” to which Parker responded “we are all American.”
However, racism continued to block his advancement. In March 1867, he was brevetted brigadier general, which means he was acknowledged for his services during the war but not provided with any of the pensions or authority.
Presidential Appointment
Parker and Grant stayed connected, and Grant appointed him as the first Native American to be in charge of the Office of Indian Affairs in 1868. He held that position until 1871, when he resigned following allegations of fraud by disgruntled political opponents. He was cleared of all charges, but still stripped of all authority.
He had a few other jobs throughout his life, from Wall Street to a desk clerk for a police department, but died in poverty after multiple health problems. His final resting places is in Buffalo New York, among other notable Seneca people, and finally given full military burial honors. His widow originally only received $8 a month for a military pension ($307.68 a month in 2025 dollars), but Congress later increased it to $30 a month ($1,153.80 in 2025 dollars).
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One Real American
The Life of Ely S. Parker, Seneca Sachem and Civil War General by Joseph Bruchac
I could not find this one on Bookshop, sadly, but the author is quite prolific and has dozens of other children’s books about Native Americans.
Warrior In Two Camps
Ely S. Parker, Union General and Seneca Chief by William H. Armstrong
The White Man’s War
Ely S. Parker: Iroquois General, Poems Based on the Life of Ely Parker by Joseph Bruchac
The Life of General Ely S. Parker: Last Grand Sachem of the Iroquois and General Grant’s Military by Arthur C. Parker
The internet tells me this was written by his relative!
