Washington's Crop Wars
The life of a produce-named chief and a spiritual battle with apples.
Happy Friday!
This week, we launched the first episode of what promises to be an epic six-part series on the Lewelling family and their remarkable role in shaping the Pacific Coast’s produce industry.
Last week we heard the shocking story of Washington's mission to destroy the Iroquois threat by targeting produce. Cornfields were torched, orchards were cut down, and the violence was brutal. It’s a side of the American Revolution they definitely didn’t teach you in school.
And to top off these past two weeks, John and Patrick met up in Times Square for a big moment - and even took time to record a special live bonus episode (more on that below). But first, a few extra stories for you, including the life of a produce-named chief and the surprising role apples played in a spiritual battle.
Chief Cornplanter
In last week’s episode, we met a few colorful characters from the Sullivan Expedition - but one important figure didn’t make the final cut: John Abeel III, better known as “Cornplanter.” So, who was he? What role did he play in the conflict? And how did he earn such a distinctive name?
Born sometime between 1740 and 1750 in Ganawagus, New York, John Abeel III was the son of a Dutch trader, also named John Abeel, and a Seneca woman named Gah-hon-no-neh, whose name translates to “She Who Goes to the River.” John's father did not stay with his Seneca family. He returned to Albany, New York (formerly Fort Orange when under control of the Dutch). So, young John junior was raised by his Seneca side of the family. In time, he embraced his Seneca identity and took on the name Kaiiontwa'kon, or “Cornplanter.”
Cornplanter belonged to the Chenussio group of Senecas, one of the more prominent Iroquois communities in the Finger Lakes region. His uncle, Chief Kiasutha, led the group. Because Chenussio was a hub of trade and diplomacy, its people were familiar with both British and American settlers. At the start of the American Revolution, both sides urged the Iroquois to remain neutral. But neutrality didn’t last.
By 1777, the British - alarmed by how the war was unfolding - pressured and bribed the Iroquois to join their cause. That July, a council was held in Oswego to decide the Confederacy’s position. Cornplanter, now in his late twenties or early thirties, attended with his uncle. Both men argued for neutrality. But the majority of the tribes voted to side with the British.
Cornplanter became a war "captain" of the Seneca tribes and led the Seneca at the Cherry Valley Massacre. He also fought at the Battle of Newtown, where he joined forces with Joseph Brant and John Butler. That battle ended in defeat, forcing the Iroquois fighters to retreat toward Fort Niagara.
Just under a year after General Sullivan’s brutal campaign through Iroquois territory, Cornplanter and Joseph Brant launched a retaliatory raid into New York. During the raid, Seneca warriors captured Cornplanter’s estranged father and burned down his house. Cornplanter recognized his father, spoke to him and invited him to live with him or return to his European family. Unsurprisingly, John preferred his white, European family and so Cornplanter sent him back safely.
When the American Revolutionary war ended, Cornplanter had risen to the rank of chief. Though the British had promised to support their Native allies, those promises quickly dissolved. So Cornplanter turned to the Americans. In 1784, he joined other Iroquois leaders in negotiating with the new U.S. government. The result: the Iroquois ceded a vast stretch of hunting land in exchange for $5,000, opening it up to white settlement.
But peace was short-lived. American settlers kept pushing westward, sparking new tensions. In 1790, Cornplanter and his brother Half-Town traveled to Philadelphia to meet with President George Washington and Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin. They voiced their concerns about broken promises and mistreatment. Washington, in turn, vowed to protect Iroquois lands.
Committed to peace and adaptation, Cornplanter sought to understand American culture. He became deeply interested in the Quakers and their values. So much so, he invited them to live on Seneca land and teach practical skills - animal husbandry, reading and writing, road-building, and farming methods.
By the War of 1812, Cornplanter - then an elder statesman - offered 200 Seneca warriors to support the American cause. His offer was declined. As he aged, Cornplanter’s influence among the Seneca gradually faded. He died on February 18, 1836, on his land. True to his wishes, he was buried without a grave marker. But in 1866, the state of Pennsylvania honored him with a memorial, recognizing the legacy of Cornplanter, the Seneca chief who straddled two worlds.
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A Big Apple Moment and a Legendary Battle
This week, John and Patrick were together in person in none other than the “Big Apple.” Yes, we're referring to New York City. But this trip wasn’t about apples or farm visits (though, to be fair, there are some fascinating agricultural landmarks tucked around the city). Instead, they were there to witness a milestone moment for the show and for its parent company, The Produce Industry Network.
A spot on the billboards of Times Square!
That’s right. The History of Fresh Produce lit up one of the world’s most iconic locations. A thrilling moment for everyone involved with The Produce Industry Network and of course, for John and Patrick themselves.
Naturally, the guys made the most of the moment. While soaking in the energy of Times Square, they climbed the famous red risers and recorded a special bonus episode for members of The History of Fresh Produce Club. In it, they dig into the origins of New York’s nickname, “The Big Apple,” share their dream produce-themed dinner guests, debate which historical fruit-fueled adventure they'd be least likely to survive, and more.
That episode drops Monday exclusively for HFP Club members. Not a member of the HFP Club? Now is this time to sign up! Click here and gain access to this bonus episode and more.
Sticking on the topic of apples, this fruit was also quite significant in the Iroquois creation story.
According to Iroquois legend, in the beginning the world lay deep beneath water, shrouded in total darkness. No sun. No moon. No stars. Just pure dark. Only water animals roamed the shadowy depths: beaver, muskrat, duck, loon.
High above this watery world was the Land of the Happy Spirits, home of the Great Spirit. At the center of this sky-realm stood a magnificent apple tree, its roots buried deep in the soil. One day, the Great Spirit uprooted the tree, leaving a gaping hole. He called his daughter to the pit and told her to look in. Then he instructed her to descend into the world below.
This woman became known as Sky Woman.
As Sky Woman began her descent, the animals below grew fearful. They dove deep into the water to avoid her. But as she came closer, they realized she would need a place to land. The beaver suggested they search for dry earth to create a resting place.
One by one, the animals dove in search of land, but each returned lifeless - until the muskrat surfaced. Though he, too, had died, his tiny claws were clenched around something. When the other animals pried them open, they found a small bit of soil.
They placed this soil on the back of a great turtle. As the soil spread, the turtle grew larger, forming what would become North America - a great island.
Sky Woman landed safely on this earth and gave birth to twin sons. One was the Good Spirit; the other, whose birth caused Sky Woman’s death, became the Evil Spirit.
The two brothers would eventually go to war, using thorns from the giant apple tree as weapons. The battle raged for days. In the end, the Good Spirit prevailed, banishing his brother to a dark cave beneath the earth. But the Evil Spirit’s influence lived on, his servants roaming the world in many forms, tempting people toward darkness.
And so, the Iroquois say, every person carries two hearts - one good, one evil. The battle that began with thorns from a sacred apple tree still echoes through every choice we make.
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HFPC Book Deal
f you’re looking to dive deeper into the Sullivan Expedition, Narratives of Sullivan's Expedition, 1779: Against the Four Nations of the Iroquois & Loyalists by the Continental Army is an excellent read. It offers vivid, firsthand accounts through the journals of those who took part in the campaign. And yes - maize (corn) makes more than a few appearances.
But wait! If you're a member of the History of Fresh Produce Club you can get this book at a DISCOUNT!
We partner with Books Are Magic, so that each week, HFP Club members can get either a 10% or 15% off books mentioned in the podcast. So, make sure to sign up today!
Fresh Merch
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And if you really want a gift that keeps giving, treat yourself or your loved ones to a subscription to The History of Fresh Produce here.
History test
Have you listened to the latest HFP episode? If yes, you may just know the answer to this week's trivia.
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Livestream Event
On July 8th, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the administration is determined to reclaim farmland owned by what it calls "foreign adversaries" and to establish a "100% American workforce" in agriculture.
But how much U.S. farmland is actually owned by foreign governments? When did this trend begin? Has there ever truly been a 100% American agricultural workforce? And when did immigrants first begin working on American farms?
In this month's livestream, John and Patrick dive into the historical roots of these questions, unpack the claims made by the current Trump administration, and explore what this could mean for the future of American agriculture.
Join us LIVE on Wednesday, July 23rd at 12PM EST.
You can join HERE.
We hope to see you there!
Can't make it live? No problem. It'll be available afterwards on YouTube via the same link. You can listen back to it later in your podcast feed.
You can send your questions and comments in advance via email to historyoffreshproduce@gmail.com.
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDARS
Here's what's coming your way in the next few weeks:
Monday, July 21st: HFPC: The Big Apple, Dinner with Bartram, and Hiking with Robert Fortune
Tuesday, July 22nd: The Lewellings: On The Oregon Trail (Part 2)
Wednesday, July 23rd: LIVESTREAM @ 12:00PM EST
Tuesday, July 29th: The Lewellings: Planting Pacific Roots (Part 3)
Tuesday, August 5th: The Lewellings: California Calling and Free Love (Part 4)
Tuesday, August 12th: The Lewellings: Icon of Napa Valley (Part 5)
Tuesday, August 19th: The Lewellings: Legacies Secured (Part 6)
Thanks for reading, and please use the button below if you have questions for the show or episode suggestions.
See you next week!
The History of Fresh Produce team