BUFFALO, N.Y. — In a historic and symbolic gesture, Ely Samuel Parker, the Seneca leader, Civil War officer, and former commissioner of Indian Affairs under President Ulysses S. Grant, was posthumously admitted to the New York State Bar on Friday — 130 years after his death. This long-overdue recognition rectifies a legal barrier that had prevented him from practicing law during his lifetime solely because he was Native American.

The ceremonial admission took place in a Buffalo courtroom before an audience of judges from several New York courts. Parker’s descendants, who spearheaded the effort, marked the occasion as a meaningful correction of historical injustice. “Today … we correct that injustice,” said Melissa Parker Leonard, Parker’s great-great-great-grandniece. “We acknowledge that the failure was never his. It was the law itself.”

A Distinguished Life Denied Legal Practice

Born in 1828 on the Tonawanda reservation of the Seneca Nation near Buffalo, Parker grew up in a Baptist mission school where he was known by his Anglicized name, Ely Samuel Parker, instead of his Seneca name, Hasanoanda. He studied law under a firm in Ellicottville, New York, but his application to the bar was denied because, at the time, only U.S. citizens — natural-born or naturalized — were eligible for admission. Native Americans would not be granted citizenship until the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924.

Despite being barred from practicing law, Parker’s legal training never went unused. He became a civil engineer but applied his legal knowledge to advocate for the Seneca Nation in land disputes, partnering with attorney John Martindale to secure important victories in the New York Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Today is Ely’s triumph, but it is also all of ours, too,” said Lee Redeye, deputy counsel for the Seneca Nation of Indians. “We stand victorious over the prejudice of the past.”

Military Service and Historical Legacy

Parker’s most prominent contributions came during the Civil War. He served as General Ulysses S. Grant’s military secretary, participating in key campaigns of the war. He was present at Appomattox, Virginia, in April 1865, where he played a critical role in drafting the surrender terms for Confederate General Robert E. Lee. His meticulous work ensured that the final terms were clearly and accurately documented — a task of profound historical significance.

Grant, recognizing Parker’s exceptional abilities, appointed him as the first Native American commissioner of Indian Affairs after the war. In this role, Parker became a crucial advocate for Native communities, using his skills to navigate the complexities of federal policy and champion the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Recognition by the Legal Community

Parker’s posthumous admission to the bar reflects both his personal qualifications and the broader legal and ethical recognition of past wrongs. Retired Judge John Browning, who worked on Parker’s application, noted the historical significance of the decision, emphasizing that Parker exemplified the ideals of the legal profession. Judge Gerald Whalen, presiding justice of the 4th Appellate Division, affirmed this, stating, “Even a cursory review of his biography will show that Mr. Parker was not only clearly qualified for admission to the bar, but he in fact exemplified the best and highest ideals of the legal profession that the bar represents.”

For Parker’s family, the moment carried deep personal significance. Leonard remarked, “This moment allows Ely to rest in the knowledge that he did his best, and that his best changed the course of our history.”

A Lasting Impact

Parker’s life and career reflect the intersection of military service, legal skill, and Native American advocacy. Although the barriers of his time denied him formal legal recognition, his contributions endured, influencing both military history and Indigenous legal rights. His posthumous admission to the bar serves as both a symbolic correction and a broader acknowledgment of the systemic injustices faced by Native Americans throughout U.S. history.

Parker died in 1895 and is buried in Buffalo’s Forest Lawn Cemetery. This long-overdue honor ensures that his legacy is recognized not only for his service on the battlefield and in government but also for his legal acumen and advocacy — contributions that were denied official recognition in his lifetime due to discriminatory laws.

By formally granting Parker membership in the New York State Bar, the legal community affirms the enduring principle that ability, integrity, and dedication should transcend the limitations imposed by prejudice. For the Seneca Nation, Parker’s recognition resonates as a moment of justice and a reminder of the resilience and contributions of Native Americans to the nation’s history.

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