Chief John Big Tree (born Isaac Johnny John, June 2, 1877 – July 6, 1967) was a member of the

Seneca Nation The Seneca Nation of Indians is a federally recognized Seneca tribe based in western New York. They are one of three federally recognized Seneca entities in the United States, the others being the Tonawanda Band of Seneca (also in western Ne ...

and an actor who appeared in 59 films between 1915 and 1950. He was born in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...

and died in Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York. His interment was also there. 1935 Indian Head Buffalo Nickel

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. JEFEndOfTheTrail

Big Tree also claimed to be the sole model for Fraser's most recognized work, the doleful '' End of the Trail''. Both of these claims are broadly disputed, and Fraser identified other models. He also appeared on the March 1964 cover of ''

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...

'' magazine, in a pose commemorating the Indian Head nickel.

Partial filmography

* '' The Spirit of '76'' (1917,

Lost film A lost film is a feature or short film that no longer exists in any studio archive, private collection, public archive or the U.S. Library of Congress. Conditions During most of the 20th century, U.S. copyright law required at least one copy ...

) as Gowah * '' A Fight for Love'' (1919, Lost film) as Swift Deer * '' The Avenging Arrow'' (1921, Lost film) as Madoo * ''

The Primitive Lover ''The Primitive Lover'' is a 1922 American silent drama film produced by and starring Constance Talmadge and distributed by Associated First National (later First National Pictures). Sidney A. Franklin served as the director of the movie and Fra ...

'' (1922) as Chief Johnny Bluebottle * '' The Huntress'' (1923) as Otebaya * '' The Iron Horse'' (1924) as Cheyenne Chief (uncredited) * '' The Red Rider'' (1925) as Indian Chief * '' Ranson's Folly'' (1926) as Chief Standing Bear * ''

The Frontier Trail ''The Frontier Trail'' is a lost 1926 American silent Western film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and starring Harry Carey. Plot Cast * Harry Carey - Jim Cardigan * Mabel Julienne Scott - Dolly Mainard * Ernest Hilliard - Captain Blackwell ...

'' (1926) as Chief Gray Wolf * '' Mantrap'' (1926) as Indian (uncredited) * ''

The Desert's Toll ''The Desert's Toll'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Clifford Smith and starring Kathleen Key, Francis McDonald, and Tom Santschi.

'' (1926) as Red Eagle * ''The Outlaw Breaker'' (1926) as Indian (uncredited) * '' Winners of the Wilderness'' (1927) as Chief Pontiac * ''

The Frontiersman ''The Frontiersman'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Reginald Barker and written by Tom Miranda and Gordon Rigby. The film stars Tim McCoy, Claire Windsor, Tom O'Brien, Russell Simpson, Lillian Leighton and Louise Lorraine ...

'' (1927) as Grey Eagle * '' Painted Ponies'' (1927) * '' Spoilers of the West'' (1927) as Chief Red Cloud * ''

Wyoming Wyoming () is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the southwest, and Colorado to t ...

'' (1928) as An Indian * ''

The Overland Telegraph ''The Overland Telegraph'' is a 1929 American silent Western film directed by John Waters and written by Harry Sinclair Drago, George C. Hull and Edward J. Meagher. The film stars Tim McCoy, Dorothy Janis, Frank Rice, Lawford Davidson, Clare ...

'' (1929) as Medicine Man * ''

Sioux Blood ''Sioux Blood'' is a 1929 American silent Western film directed by John Waters. It stars Western action star Tim McCoy. A print is preserved at the George Eastman House in New York. Cast * Tim McCoy as Flood * Robert Frazer as Lone Eagle * En ...

'' (1929) as Crazy Wolf * ''

The Big Trail ''The Big Trail'' is a 1930 American pre-Code Western early widescreen film shot on location across the American West starring 23-year-old John Wayne in his first leading role and directed by Raoul Walsh. In 2006, the United States Libra ...

'' (1930) as Indian (uncredited) * ''

Red Fork Range ''Red Fork Range'' is a 1931 American pre-Code Western film directed by Alan James and starring Hal Taliaferro, Ruth Mix and Al Ferguson. Main cast * Hal Taliaferro as Wally Hamilton * Ruth Mix as Ruth Farell * Al Ferguson as Black Bard * Cl ...

'' (1931) as Chief Barking Fox * '' Fighting Caravans'' (1931) as Indian Chief in Opening Credits (uncredited) * ''

The Last of the Mohicans ''The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757'' is a historical romance written by James Fenimore Cooper in 1826. It is the second book of the '' Leatherstocking Tales'' pentalogy and the best known to contemporary audiences. '' The Pathfinde ...

'' (1932, Serial) as Huron Warrior (uncredited) * '' The Golden West'' (1932) as Indian (uncredited) * '' The Telegraph Trail'' (1933) as Indian Chief (uncredited) * '' King of the Arena'' (1933) as Circus Indian (uncredited) * ''

Massacre A massacre is the killing of a large number of people or animals, especially those who are not involved in any fighting or have no way of defending themselves. A massacre is generally considered to be morally unacceptable, especially when per ...

'' (1934) as Indian Judge (uncredited) * '' Wheels of Destiny'' (1934) as Chief War Eagle * ''

The Cat's-Paw ''The Cat's-Paw'' (1934) is a comedy film starring Harold Lloyd and directed by Sam Taylor. It was Lloyd's seventh and final collaboration with Taylor and the fourth of his seven starring roles in sound. ''The Cat’s Paw'', a novel by Clarence ...

'' (1934) as Chinese Guards (uncredited) * '' Wake Up and Dream'' (1934) as 1st Indian (uncredited) * '' The Miracle Rider'' (1935, Serial) as Old Indian h. 1(uncredited) * ''

The Farmer Takes a Wife ''The Farmer Takes a Wife'' is a 1934 play by Frank B. Elser and Marc Connelly based on the 1929 novel '' Rome Haul'' by Walter D. Edmonds. It was well-received upon its opening night on Broadway on October 30, 1934, at the 46th Street Theatre ...

'' (1935) as Indian (uncredited) * ''

The Singing Vagabond ''The Singing Vagabond'' is a 1935 American Western film directed by Carl Pierson and starring Gene Autry, Ann Rutherford, and Smiley Burnette. Written by Oliver Drake and Betty Burbridge, the film is about a cowboy who rides to the rescue when ...

'' (1935) as Chief White Eagle (uncredited) * '' Custer's Last Stand'' (1936, Serial) as Medicine Man

h. 9 H is the eighth letter of the Latin alphabet. H may also refer to: Musical symbols * H number, Harry Halbreich reference mechanism for music by Honegger and Martinů * H, B (musical note) * H, B major People * H. (noble) (died after 1279) ...

* '' The Adventures of Frank Merriwell'' (1936, Serial) as Indian John (uncredited) * '' Daniel Boone'' (1936) as Wyandotte Warrior (uncredited) * ''

The Bold Caballero ''The Bold Caballero'' is a 1936 American Western film written and directed by Wells Root. It is based on the character Zorro, created by Johnston McCulley. The characters Don Alejandro Vega (Don Diego's father) and Bernardo are notably absent. ...

'' (1936) as Tavern Indian (uncredited) * ''

Maid of Salem ''Maid of Salem'' is a 1937 film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Frank Lloyd, and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. Plot It tells the story of a young girl in Salem, Massachusetts, 1692, who has an affair with an adventurer. ...

'' (1937) as Indian (uncredited) * ''

Lost Horizon ''Lost Horizon'' is a 1933 novel by English writer James Hilton. The book was turned into a film, also called '' Lost Horizon'', in 1937 by director Frank Capra. It is best remembered as the origin of Shangri-La, a fictional utopian lamaser ...

'' (1937) as Porter (uncredited) * ''

Hills of Old Wyoming ''Hills of Old Wyoming'' is a 1937 American Western film directed by Nate Watt and written by Maurice Geraghty, the 10th film of the 66 Hopalong Cassidy movies. The film stars William Boyd, George "Gabby" Hayes, Morris Ankrum, Russell Hayd ...

'' (1937) (with Hopalong Cassidy) as Chief Big Tree * '' The Painted Stallion'' (1937, Serial) as Commanche Chief (uncredited) * '' Prairie Thunder'' (1937) as Indian (uncredited) * '' The Girl of the Golden West'' (1938) as Indian Chief in Prologue (uncredited) * '' Flaming Frontiers'' (1938, Serial) as Arapaho Chief hs. 12-13(uncredited) * '' Hawk of the Wilderness'' (1938, Serial) as Medicine Man (uncredited) * ''

Stagecoach A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are dra ...

'' (1939) as Apache Scout (uncredited) * '' Susannah of the Mounties'' (1939) as Chief (uncredited) * '' The Oregon Trail'' (1939, Serial) as Spotted Elk (uncredited) * '' Drums Along the Mohawk'' (1939) as Blue Back * '' Destry Rides Again'' (1939) as Indian in Saloon (uncredited) * ''

Heroes of the Saddle ''Heroes of the Saddle'' is a 1940 American Western (genre), Western "The Three Mesquiteers, Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by William Witney. Cast * Robert Livingston (actor), Robert Livingston as Stony Brooke * Raymond Hatton as Rusty J ...

'' (1940) as Rodeo Indian (uncredited) * ''

Pioneers of the West ''Pioneers of the West'' is a 1940 American Western " Three Mesquiteers" B-movie directed by Lester Orlebeck. Cast * Robert Livingston as Stony Brooke * Raymond Hatton as Rusty Joslin * Duncan Renaldo as Renaldo * Noah Beery as Judge Platt * ...

'' (1940) as Indian Chief (uncredited) * ''

Brigham Young Brigham Young (; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), from 1847 until his death in 1877. During his time as chu ...

'' (1940) as Big Elk * '' Too Many Girls'' (1940) as Chief (uncredited) * '' North West Mounted Police'' (1940) as Blue Owl (uncredited) * '' Hudson's Bay'' (1941) as Chief * ''

Western Union The Western Union Company is an American multinational financial services company, headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1851 as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company in Rochester, New York, the company cha ...

'' (1941) as Chief Spotted Horse * '' Las Vegas Nights'' (1941) as Indian (uncredited) * ''

Unconquered Unconquered or The Unconquered may refer to: Films * ''Unconquered'' (1917 film), a drama film by Frank Reicher * ''Unconquered'' (1947 film), an adventure film by Cecil B. DeMille * ''The Unconquered'' (documentary) or ''Helen Keller in Her Sto ...

'' (1947) as Indian (uncredited) * '' She Wore a Yellow Ribbon'' (1949) as Chief Pony That Walks * '' Devil's Doorway'' (1950) as Thundercloud

References

External links

* *
Rogue River War of 1855-1856
{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Tree, John 1877 births 1967 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors 20th-century American male actors Male actors from Michigan First Nations male actors People from Onondaga County, New York Burials in New York (state) Male actors from Buffalo, New York