From the SYRACUSE POST STANDARD newspaper
Wednesday, February 3, 1971 p. 11
MRS. BIG TREE SERVICES SLATED; FORMER ACTRESS
Services for Mrs. Cynthia Johnson Big Tree, 84, of Route 80, Onondaga Indian Reservation Nedrow, will be at 1:30 pm tomorrow at the home of Mrs. Andrew Casey, Route 11A, Nedrow, and at 2 pm in the Onondaga Longhouse. Burial will be in the Reservation Cemetery. Calling hours will be at Mrs. Casey's home after 11 a.m. today. Arrangements are by the Hall Funeral Home, 6033 Cherry Valley Road, LaFayette.
Mrs. Big Tree died Monday at her home, apparently of a heart attack, the county medical examiner's office said.
She was the widow of the late Seneca Chief John Big Tree (Isaac Johnny John) who died in 1967. Mrs. Big Tree had traveled throughout the United States with her late husband.
A full-blooded Iroquois, she was born on the Onondaga Reservation and was a member of the Onondaga Tribe.
She was a part-time actress for many years, appearing in many Western Movies. In "DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK," she was cast as an Indian woman.
Mrs. Big Tree was accomplished at Indian crafts and skills. She was noted for her miniature and life-size corn husk dolls and sold Indian bread and soup on the reservation for many years.
Her late husband, also a full-blooded Iriquois, was one of three models used to design the profile on the Indian head nickel.
Surviving are many cousins.
************
(Note from biography submitter, Sam Lawson)...Cynthia's husband, Chief John Big Tree, although stated in her obituary as being a full-blooded Iroquois, was actually of the Seneca tribe and he 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' buffalo nickel, designed by sculptor, James Earle Fraser. The other two chiefs were said to have been Iron Tail and Two Moons. Chief 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. This claim has been disputed and argued as Fraser has identified other models.
Wednesday, February 3, 1971 p. 11
MRS. BIG TREE SERVICES SLATED; FORMER ACTRESS
Services for Mrs. Cynthia Johnson Big Tree, 84, of Route 80, Onondaga Indian Reservation Nedrow, will be at 1:30 pm tomorrow at the home of Mrs. Andrew Casey, Route 11A, Nedrow, and at 2 pm in the Onondaga Longhouse. Burial will be in the Reservation Cemetery. Calling hours will be at Mrs. Casey's home after 11 a.m. today. Arrangements are by the Hall Funeral Home, 6033 Cherry Valley Road, LaFayette.
Mrs. Big Tree died Monday at her home, apparently of a heart attack, the county medical examiner's office said.
She was the widow of the late Seneca Chief John Big Tree (Isaac Johnny John) who died in 1967. Mrs. Big Tree had traveled throughout the United States with her late husband.
A full-blooded Iroquois, she was born on the Onondaga Reservation and was a member of the Onondaga Tribe.
She was a part-time actress for many years, appearing in many Western Movies. In "DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK," she was cast as an Indian woman.
Mrs. Big Tree was accomplished at Indian crafts and skills. She was noted for her miniature and life-size corn husk dolls and sold Indian bread and soup on the reservation for many years.
Her late husband, also a full-blooded Iriquois, was one of three models used to design the profile on the Indian head nickel.
Surviving are many cousins.
************
(Note from biography submitter, Sam Lawson)...Cynthia's husband, Chief John Big Tree, although stated in her obituary as being a full-blooded Iroquois, was actually of the Seneca tribe and he 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' buffalo nickel, designed by sculptor, James Earle Fraser. The other two chiefs were said to have been Iron Tail and Two Moons. Chief 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. This claim has been disputed and argued as Fraser has identified other models.
From the SYRACUSE POST STANDARD newspaper
Wednesday, February 3, 1971 p. 11
MRS. BIG TREE SERVICES SLATED; FORMER ACTRESS
Services for Mrs. Cynthia Johnson Big Tree, 84, of Route 80, Onondaga Indian Reservation Nedrow, will be at 1:30 pm tomorrow at the home of Mrs. Andrew Casey, Route 11A, Nedrow, and at 2 pm in the Onondaga Longhouse. Burial will be in the Reservation Cemetery. Calling hours will be at Mrs. Casey's home after 11 a.m. today. Arrangements are by the Hall Funeral Home, 6033 Cherry Valley Road, LaFayette.
Mrs. Big Tree died Monday at her home, apparently of a heart attack, the county medical examiner's office said.
She was the widow of the late Seneca Chief John Big Tree (Isaac Johnny John) who died in 1967. Mrs. Big Tree had traveled throughout the United States with her late husband.
A full-blooded Iroquois, she was born on the Onondaga Reservation and was a member of the Onondaga Tribe.
She was a part-time actress for many years, appearing in many Western Movies. In "DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK," she was cast as an Indian woman.
Mrs. Big Tree was accomplished at Indian crafts and skills. She was noted for her miniature and life-size corn husk dolls and sold Indian bread and soup on the reservation for many years.
Her late husband, also a full-blooded Iriquois, was one of three models used to design the profile on the Indian head nickel.
Surviving are many cousins.
************
(Note from biography submitter, Sam Lawson)...Cynthia's husband, Chief John Big Tree, although stated in her obituary as being a full-blooded Iroquois, was actually of the Seneca tribe and he 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' buffalo nickel, designed by sculptor, James Earle Fraser. The other two chiefs were said to have been Iron Tail and Two Moons. Chief 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. This claim has been disputed and argued as Fraser has identified other models.
Wednesday, February 3, 1971 p. 11
MRS. BIG TREE SERVICES SLATED; FORMER ACTRESS
Services for Mrs. Cynthia Johnson Big Tree, 84, of Route 80, Onondaga Indian Reservation Nedrow, will be at 1:30 pm tomorrow at the home of Mrs. Andrew Casey, Route 11A, Nedrow, and at 2 pm in the Onondaga Longhouse. Burial will be in the Reservation Cemetery. Calling hours will be at Mrs. Casey's home after 11 a.m. today. Arrangements are by the Hall Funeral Home, 6033 Cherry Valley Road, LaFayette.
Mrs. Big Tree died Monday at her home, apparently of a heart attack, the county medical examiner's office said.
She was the widow of the late Seneca Chief John Big Tree (Isaac Johnny John) who died in 1967. Mrs. Big Tree had traveled throughout the United States with her late husband.
A full-blooded Iroquois, she was born on the Onondaga Reservation and was a member of the Onondaga Tribe.
She was a part-time actress for many years, appearing in many Western Movies. In "DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK," she was cast as an Indian woman.
Mrs. Big Tree was accomplished at Indian crafts and skills. She was noted for her miniature and life-size corn husk dolls and sold Indian bread and soup on the reservation for many years.
Her late husband, also a full-blooded Iriquois, was one of three models used to design the profile on the Indian head nickel.
Surviving are many cousins.
************
(Note from biography submitter, Sam Lawson)...Cynthia's husband, Chief John Big Tree, although stated in her obituary as being a full-blooded Iroquois, was actually of the Seneca tribe and he 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' buffalo nickel, designed by sculptor, James Earle Fraser. The other two chiefs were said to have been Iron Tail and Two Moons. Chief 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. This claim has been disputed and argued as Fraser has identified other models.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
