Jesse J. Cornplanter (September 16, 1889 – March 18, 1957) was an actor, artist, author, craftsman, Seneca Faithkeeper and decorated veteran of World War I.

[1] The last male descendant of Cornplanter, an important 18th-century Haudenosaunee leader and war chief, his Seneca name was Hayonhwonhish (He Strokes the Rushes[2]).

[3] Cornplanter was also the first Native American to play a lead in a feature film titled Hiawatha, which was released in 1913 and a year before the notable Western The Squaw Man.

This was followed by the deaths of most of his remaining family in the 1918 flu pandemic, including his mother Nancy, sister Carrie, and nieces and nephews.

The US Army Corps of Engineers acquired the land and built the dam for flood control, hydropower and recreation.

The young artist was credited as illustrator on the book's cover as "Jesse Cornplanter, Seneca Indian Boy".

[11] In selecting the 12 year old Cornplanter for the commission, Starr recognized the talent of the artist in showing, "firmness of line, boldness, and good skill in grouping" in his drawings.

[12] The proceeds from sales of Jesse's illustrations were used to produce and award the Cornplanter Medal every two years to a person best contributing to the research and knowledge of the Iroquois.

[13] He illustrated The Code of Handsome Lake, a manuscript collaborated between his father, Edward Cornplanter (Seneca name Sosondowah), and Arthur C.