Indian Falls, New York
Encyclopedia
Indian Falls is a hamlet
located closely within the northern border of the town of Pembroke
and the western edge of Genesee County
, Western
New York
, United States
. Located in what was traditional Seneca nation
territory for hundreds of years, the town was named also for a waterfall
near its center, where Tonawanda Creek
flows over the Onondaga escarpment
.
, Keeper of the Western Door among the first Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois League), who occupied much of upstate and western New York for centuries before European exploration. Allied with the British during the American Revolutionary War, the Seneca were forced to cede most of their territory to the United States after it gained independence. Many went to Canada and their descendants live on the Six Nation Reserve. Some stayed in New York on the Tonawanda Reservation
.
Ely Parker was born in 1828 to Seneca parents, in a log cabin overlooking the waterfalls. The area was part of the Tonawanda Reservation
at the time. He became an engineer and military officer, serving as an aide to General Ulysses S. Grant
. He wrote the final draft of the Confederate surrender terms at Appomattox
ending the Civil War
. As president, Grant appointed Parker in 1870 as the first Native American to be ommissioner of Indian Affairs].
Indian Falls incorporated as a village
in 1868, but the community later abandoned that status.
The "Big Falls" (as they are locally known) are visible from the west side of the New York State Route 77
bridge over Tonawanda Creek. Route 77 travels North and South, while the creek flows in a westerly direction through the hamlet.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
located closely within the northern border of the town of Pembroke
Pembroke, New York
Pembroke is a town in Genesee County, Western New York, United States. The population was 4,530 at the 2000 census. The town is named for a town in west Wales.The town of Pembroke lies on the west border of Genesee County, west of Batavia, NY.- History :...
and the western edge of Genesee County
Genesee County, New York
Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...
, Western
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located in what was traditional Seneca nation
Seneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
territory for hundreds of years, the town was named also for a waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
near its center, where Tonawanda Creek
Tonawanda Creek
Tonawanda Creek is a small river in Western New York, in the United States. William Bright says the best that can be said of the name is that it is "probably from an Iroquoian source, but of unclear derivation".-Description:...
flows over the Onondaga escarpment
Onondaga (geological formation)
The Onondaga Formation is a group of hard limestones and dolostones of Devonian age that form an important geographic feature in some areas in which it outcrops, in others; especially its Southern Ontario portion, the formation can be less prominent as a local surface feature.In upstate New York...
.
History
This was the territory of the Seneca NationSeneca nation
The Seneca are a group of indigenous people native to North America. They were the nation located farthest to the west within the Six Nations or Iroquois League in New York before the American Revolution. While exact population figures are unknown, approximately 15,000 to 25,000 Seneca live in...
, Keeper of the Western Door among the first Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois League), who occupied much of upstate and western New York for centuries before European exploration. Allied with the British during the American Revolutionary War, the Seneca were forced to cede most of their territory to the United States after it gained independence. Many went to Canada and their descendants live on the Six Nation Reserve. Some stayed in New York on the Tonawanda Reservation
Tonawanda Reservation
The Tonawanda Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation of the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians located in western New York, USA. The band is a federally recognized tribe and, in the 2000 census, had 543 people living on the reservation...
.
Ely Parker was born in 1828 to Seneca parents, in a log cabin overlooking the waterfalls. The area was part of the Tonawanda Reservation
Tonawanda Reservation
The Tonawanda Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation of the Tonawanda Band of Seneca Indians located in western New York, USA. The band is a federally recognized tribe and, in the 2000 census, had 543 people living on the reservation...
at the time. He became an engineer and military officer, serving as an aide to General Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
. He wrote the final draft of the Confederate surrender terms at Appomattox
Appomattox
Appomattox may refer to:*Appomattox, Virginia, a town*Appomattox County, Virginia* Appomattox Basin, a name for the Tri-Cities, Virginia region*Appomattox Court House, a court house in Virginia...
ending the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. As president, Grant appointed Parker in 1870 as the first Native American to be ommissioner of Indian Affairs].
Indian Falls incorporated as a village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in 1868, but the community later abandoned that status.
Geography
As of the 2000 census, the unincorporated community had a total population of 795.The "Big Falls" (as they are locally known) are visible from the west side of the New York State Route 77
New York State Route 77
New York State Route 77 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway runs for across mostly rural areas from an intersection with NY 78 and NY 98 in the Wyoming County town of Java to a junction with NY 31 near the city of...
bridge over Tonawanda Creek. Route 77 travels North and South, while the creek flows in a westerly direction through the hamlet.
External links
- Indian Falls Cemetery (originally Old German Cemetery, from the historic Palatine German community), Genesee County, New York Website