Chief John Big Tree

Chief John Big Tree
James Earle Fraser's sculpture, "End of the Trail", for which Big Tree claims he was the model.
Born	July 2, 1877(1877-07-02) Michigan, USA
Died	July 6, 1967(1967-07-06) (aged 90) Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York, USA
Other names	Big Tree Chief Big Tree John Big Tree
Years active	1915 – 1950

Chief John Big Tree (June 2, 1877 – July 6, 1967), born Isaac Johnny John, was a member of the Seneca Nation and an actor who appeared in 59 films between 1915 and 1950.

Big Tree claimed to be one of three Native American chiefs whose profiles were composited to make the portrait featured on the obverse of the United States' Indian Head nickel, designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser. The other two chiefs were Iron Tail and Two Moons. Big Tree claimed that his profile was used to create that portion of the portrait from the top of the forehead to the upper lip.

Big Tree also claimed to be the sole model for Fraser's most recognized work, the doleful "End of the Trail".^[1] Both of these claims are broadly disputed, and Fraser identified other models^[2][3].

He also appeared on the March 1964 cover of Esquire magazine, in a pose commemorating the Indian Head nickel.^[4]

He was born in Michigan and died in Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York. His interment was also there.

U.S. Indian Head nickel, for which Big Tree claims he was one of three models used although the sculptor states that another Chief Big Tree, Adoeette, from the Kiowa tribe was one of his models ^[5]

Selected filmography

• The Spirit of '76 (1917) (Lost film)
• A Fight for Love (1919) (Lost film)
• The Avenging Arrow (1921) (Lost film)
• The Iron Horse (1924)
• The Frontier Trail (1926)
• Winners of the Wilderness (1927)
• Daniel Boone (1936)
• Stagecoach (1939)
• Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)
• She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)

References

1. ^ Chief John Big Tree appearance on CBS's I've Got a Secret, December 11, 1961. Rebroadcast on Game Show Network and viewed January 29, 2008.
2. ^ http://www.numismaticnews.net/flipside/
3. ^ http://articles.netshoppers.com/article/the-history-of-the-buffalo-nickel-part-i-by-keith-scott-894-1.html
4. ^ http://www.georgelois.com/Esq.chief.html
5. ^ Robert R. Van Ryzin. "Which Indian Really Modeled?" Numismatic News, February 6, 1990

External links

• Chief John Big Tree at Find a Grave
• Chief John Big Tree at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Tree, Chief John Big
Alternative names
Short description	Actor
Date of birth	2 June 1877
Place of birth	Michigan, USA
Date of death	6 July 1967
Place of death	Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York, USA