Ely Parker
1828 – 1895
Ely Parker, a Seneca chief, served as a key aide and secretary to Gen. Ulysses Grant during the war, and drew up the documents for Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. After becoming the first Native American to serve as Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Parker settled in Fairfield in the 1870s.
Parker bought the home on Old Post Road (built for Colonel Wetmore? by the Bridgeport architect Steinberger, who also built Glover House, #373 Old Post Rd., still standing as of December 1977), which was torn down c 1902. A Seneca Indian and graduate of Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, General Parker joined the army as captain of engineers, was General Grant’s secretary and was present at surrender of General Lee at Appomattox; served as commissioner of Indian Affairs from 1869-71 and was chief of the Seneca Indians. Parker, whose Indian name was Do-Ne-Ho-Ga-Wa, died August 31, 1895 in the Brown home (present site of Tomlinson Middle School) and was buried in Oaklawn Cemetery. His body was later exhumed and taken to Buffalo, NY.
Parker bought the home on Old Post Road (built for Colonel Wetmore? by the Bridgeport architect Steinberger, who also built Glover House, #373 Old Post Rd., still standing as of December 1977), which was torn down c 1902. A Seneca Indian and graduate of Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, General Parker joined the army as captain of engineers, was General Grant’s secretary and was present at surrender of General Lee at Appomattox; served as commissioner of Indian Affairs from 1869-71 and was chief of the Seneca Indians. Parker, whose Indian name was Do-Ne-Ho-Ga-Wa, died August 31, 1895 in the Brown home (present site of Tomlinson Middle School) and was buried in Oaklawn Cemetery. His body was later exhumed and taken to Buffalo, NY.
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