 The Erielhonan are believed to have lived and farmed on the peninsula . They fought several wars , the last starting in 1653 with the Five Nations of the Iroquois . Despite initial victories over the Senecas , in 1654 the Erielhonan their largest village , <unk> ( at the modern city of Erie ) , was destroyed by 1 @,@ 800 Iroquois warriors . By 1656 the Erielhonan were destroyed as a people , although the Iroquois adopted survivors who were absorbed primarily into the Senecas . 
