Parker, Ely Samuel (1828-1895), was the first Native American to serve as United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs. President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Parker, a member of the Seneca, in 1869.
Fighting between the Native Americans and the whites decreased during Parker’s term as commissioner, largely because Native Americans trusted him. Parker made many enemies among white politicians because he defended Indian rights. His enemies accused him of bribery and fraud. An investigation proved Parker’s innocence, but he resigned as commissioner in 1871.
Parker was born in Pembroke, New York, near Batavia. His Indian name, Ha-sa-no-an-da, means Leading Name. His father was a Seneca chief, and his mother’s ancestors included the Seneca prophet Handsome Lake.
As a young man, Parker studied law. But few Native Americans of the 1800’s were considered citizens, and so New York would not permit him to practice law. He then attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and became a civil engineer. During the Civil War (1861-1865), he served as General Grant’s military secretary. Parker wrote out the terms of the final Confederate surrender, as set forth by Grant. Parker became a brigadier general in 1867. He resigned from the Army when he became Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He died on Aug. 30, 1895.
