Henry Clay survived the removal from Kansas to Indian Territory following the Treaty of 1867. He began serving on the tribal council in the 1860s and later became chief.

Described as “an energetic, unselfish worker for the advancement of the tribe” and a man of “considerable executive ability,” Clay guided the community through a period of economic adjustment. As chief, he managed issues surrounding a large influx white renters on the Ottawa reservation. These renters helped bring new land under cultivation, but their presence also generated tension between whites and Ottawas. After his term as chief, Clay continued to serve on the tribal council and remained active in tribal affairs until his death in 1883.