USA > New York > Erie County > Sardinia > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 5
USA > New York > Erie County > Collins > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 5
USA > New York > Erie County > Concord > History of the original town of Concord : being the present towns of Concord, Collins, N. Collins, and Sardinia, Erie County, New York > Part 5
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Capt. William Johnston, an Indian trader and interpreter, settled himself at the mouth of Buffalo creek at an early period under the auspices of the British government, and remained there until the Holland company had effected their purchase. His dwelling house stood south of Exchange and east of Wash- ington streets. Captain Johnston had procured of the Indians, by gift or purchase, two square miles of land at the mouth of
42
PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
Buffalo creek, including a large portion of the territory on which now stands the City of Buffalo. He had also entered into an agreement with the Indians which amounted to a life lease of a certain mill site and the timbered land in its vicinity, on condition of supplying the Indians with all the boards and- plank they wanted for building at and near the creek. This site was about six miles east of the mouth of the creek. Al- though Johnston's title to this land was not considered to have the least validity, yet the Indians had the power and the inclina- tion to include it within their reservation, unless a compromise was made with Johnston, and, taking into consideration his influ- ence with them, the agents of the company concluded to enter into the following agreement with him, which was afterwards fully complied with and performed by both of the parties :
Johnston agreed to surrender his right to the said two square miles and use his influence with the Indians to have that tract and his mill site left out of their reservation, in consideration of which the Holland company agreed to convey by deed to said Johnston, 640 acres, including the said mill site and adja- cent timbered land, together with forty-five and one-half acres, being part of said two square miles, including the buildings and improvements, then owned by Johnston, four acres of which were to be on the "point."
These lands, as afterward definitely located, were a tract of forty-one and a half acres, bounded : north, by Seneca street, west by Washington street, and south by the Little Buffalo creek ; the other tract was bounded, east by Main street, south- westerly by the Buffalo creek, and northwesterly by Little Buffalo creek, containing about four acres.
This matter will again be referred to, in connection with some further notice of early events in Buffalo.
Mr. Ellicott, before leaving Philadelphia-in the time that intervened between his appointment and his departure-was actively engaged in making all the necessary preparations for the campaign. David Rittenhouse, the eminent American philosopher, was then of the firm of Rittenhouse & Potts, mathematical and astronomical instrument makers, in Philadel- phia; orders were given for compasses, chains and staffs -- all things in their line necessary to surveyors' outfits. Letters
43
DEPARTURE FROM PHILADELPHIA.
were written to Augustus Porter. at Canandaigua, to have ready such provisions, pack horses, axe-men and chain-men, as he had been ordered to provide; to Thomas Morris, at the same place, requesting his prompt performance of some agen- cies that had been entrusted to him; to different persons at New York, Albany, Fort Schuyler and Queenston, containing orders to facilitate the transportation of stores and aid the sur- veying parties in getting upon the ground, and in supplying themselves with all things necessary for going into the woods. All things requisite were remembered and provided for. Clark and Street, at Chippewa, were ordered to have ready two yoke of oxen and a stout lumber wagon (that was undoubtedly the pioneer ox team upon the Holland Purchase, other than such as had been used upon the portage); even axe-handles and tent-poles were not forgotten.
To each principal surveyor or sub-agent starting from Phila- delphia or elsewhere, written orders were issued what route to pursue, where to first rendezvous, where to draw his supplies and where to commence operations. Formulas were made out for each surveyor prescribing definitely the manner of his duties, of marking lines, keeping field notes and generally embracing all the minuta of his operations. It was as if the general of an army was acting as his own commissary and put- ting a force into the field, distributing it and making all things ready for a campaign, and the records of our war department would hardly furnish better examples of systematic and well ordered enterprises.
Embraced in these preliminary proceedings, was a corre- spondence with Mr. Williamson, in reference to a road from the west branch of Susquehannah to the "Genesee country ;" and with the Surveyor-General of this state in reference to the laying out of towns at Lewiston and Fort Schlosser.
Mr. Ellicott arrived at Canandaigua on the 12th of June, 1798.
The reader will best be enabled to catch glimpses of early events-those that attended the surveys and preceded land sales and the commencement of settlement-by occasional references to and extracts from his correspondence, the only existing records.
44
BUFFALO CREEK AND WILLIAMSBURGH.
A letter from Mr. Thompson to Mr. Ellicott, dated Buffalo Creek, states the stores had all arrived safely at Schlosser. except what had been left with Mr. Brisbane, at the "Chene- see" river; that Mr. Hoops, who had arrived in advance of him, had gone on to "Chetawque," where he had been joined by Mr. Stoddard ; that he himself was engaged in getting "axes ground and handled, and in sundry other things, prepara- tory to going to the woods."
Letters followed this very soon, by which it would seem that the camp was erected at "Chautauqua Creek," and all things prepared for active operation as early as the 19th of June.
Messrs. Smedley and Egleston were located at Buffalo Creek with surveying parties. In a letter to Mr. Ellicott, writ- ten from there, under date June 27th, Mr. Egleston says the goods have arrived, and that the "family in the house on the hill" are about to move out to make room for the surveyors. Mr. Ellicott, it would seem, had arrived at Schlosser. Antici- pating his arrival at Buffalo, Mr. Egleston very providently suggests that he had better bring with him room boards to make a mapping table, as there were none to be had in their new location, " Mr. Winne having carried off those that werein the partition."
The first principal stations of the surveyors-their head- quarters or depots-were at Buffalo Creek and Williamsburgh ; before the close of 1798, however, the principal establishments were located at the Transit Line (Stafford, the locality desig- nated as " Transit Storehouse ").
Mr. James Brisbane, moving his quarters from Williams- burgh, continued as the principal Clerk or Agent.
While upon the purchase, in 1798, Mr. Ellicott's time was principally spent at Buffalo Creek, Williamsburgh, and upon the Transit Line.
In the Spring of 1798, when the surveys of the Holland Pur- chase first commenced, all the travel between the Phelps and Gorham tract and Buffalo was an old Indian trail. The Win- ter previous, however, the Legislature of this State passed an act appointing Charles Williamson a Commissioner to lay out
45
BUFFALO IN ITS EARLY DAYS.
and open a State road from Cannewagus on Genesce river to Buffalo Creek on Lake Erie and to Lewiston, on the Niagara river.
To defray the expense of cutting out these roads, the Hol- land Company subscribed five thousand dollars. Mr. William- son laid out and established the roads in 1798, generally adhering to the course of old Indian trails ; but they were not opened throughout according to contract, under his superin- tendence. The first wagon track opened upon the Holland purchase, was by Mr. Ellicott, as a preliminary step in com- mencing operations, early in the season of 1798. He employed a gang of hands to improve the Indian trail, so that wagons could pass upon it, from the east transit to Buffalo creek.
In 1801 he opened the road from transit line as far west as Vandeventer's. The whole road was opened to LeRoy before the close of 1802. But little reference can be had to the order of time in noting the events of this period ; up to the period of the commencement of land sales and settlements, our sketches must necessarily be desultory.
Mr. Brisbane first saw Buffalo in October, 1798. There was then the log house of Middaugh and Lane-a double log house -about two squares from Main street, a little north of the present line of Exchange street. Captain Johnston's half log and half framed house, stood a little east of the main building, of the present Mansion House, near Washington street. There was a two-story hewed log house, owned by Captain Johnston, about where Exchange street now is, from six to eight rods west of Main street, where a tavern was kept by John Palmer. Palmer afterwards moved over to Canada and kept a tavern there.
Asa Ransom lived in a log house west of Western Hotel. Winne had a log house on. bank of Little Buffalo, south of Mansion House. A Mr. Maybee, who afterwards went to Cattaraugus, kept a little Indian store in a log building on west side of Main street, about twenty rods north of Exchange street. There was also a log house occupied by a man named Robbins.
The flats were open ground ; a portion of them had been cultivated. Such was Buffalo, and all of Buffalo in 1798.
46
FIRST CROPS ON THE HOLLAND PURCHASE.
The first crops raised upon the Holland purchase, were at the transit store house. In the spring of 1799, Mr. James Dewey was waiting there with a gang of hands, to start upon a surveying expedition as soon as the weather would permit. At the request of Mr. Brisbane, he cleared ten acres upon either side of the present road, twenty rods west of the Transit, which was mainly sowed with oats; though some potatoes and garden vegetables were planted. The early tavern keeper there-Mr. Walthers-reported by letter to Mr. Ellicott, that the yield was a good one, and fully demonstrated the goodness of the soil of the region he was surveying for a settlement.
In the summer of 1799, there not being a house on the road from the eastern Transit line to Buffalo, Mr. Busti, the agent general of the company, authorized Mr. Ellicott by a letter dated June Ist, 1799, to contract with six reputable individuals to locate themselves on the road from the castern Transit to Buffalo creek ; about ten miles asunder, and open houses of en- tertainment for travelers, at their several locations, in considera- tion of which they were to have a quantity of land, from fifty to one hundred and fifty acres each ; " at a liberal time for pay- ment, without interest, at the lowest price the company will sell their lands, when settlements shall be begun."
Three persons accepted of this offer, to wit : Frederick Wal- thers who was then residing on the land, took one hundred and fifty acres in township number twelve, range one, west of and adjoining the eastern Transit, including the Company's store house, and being where the village of Stafford now stands. Asa Ransom located himself Sept. Ist, 1799, on one hundred and fifty acres in township number twelve, range six, at what is now known as Ransom's Grove or Clarence Hollow. Garrett Davis located himself Sept. 16, 1799, in township number thir- teen, range two, on one hundred and fifty acres, on the south line of said township; (the Buffalo road then run through the reservation, some distance north of its present location.) These lots were severally laid out and surveyed for the purchasers, before the several townships in which they are located were surveyed. These three persons erected and furnished comfort- able houses for the purposes intended, as soon as practicable ; which although not as splendid, yet were more eagerly sought,
47
THE PIONEER WOMEN.
and cheerfully enjoyed by the forest traveler and land explorer than any of the " Astor Houses," " Americans," or " Mansions" of the present day.
With the exceptions of those residing at Buffalo, Mrs. Gar- rett Davis and Mrs. Walthers, were the pioneer women upon the Holland Purchase. In 1800, Asa Ransom and Garrett Davis raised summer crops, which were second to those raised at the Transit store house the year before.
48
AGENTS OF THE HOLLAND COMPANY.
CHAPTER IX.
Biographical Sketches of Agents of the Holland Company, and others.
THEOPHILUS CAZENOVE.
He was the first agent of the Holland Company; but little is known of his personal history. When the company made their first purchases of land in this state and Pennsylvania, soon after 1790, he had arrived in this country, and acted as their agent. In all the negotiations and preliminary proceedings connected with the large purchase of Mr. Morris, of this region, the interest of the company were principally confided to him His name is intimately blended with the whole history of the title. When the purchase was perfected, he was made the general agent, and under his auspices the surveys commenced.
In all the embarrassments that attended the perfection of the title, he would seem to have been actuated by honorable and praise-worthy motives, and to have assisted with a good deal of ability, the legal managers of the company's interests. He returned to Europe in 1799, ending then his connection with the company. He resided for a considerable period after this in London, after which he lived in Paris, where he died.
PAUL BUSTI.
He was a native of Milan, in Italy ; was born on the 17th of October, 1749. After receiving his education in his native country, he entered the counting-house of his uncle, in Amster- dam, where he afterwards established himself in business, mar- ried, and acquired a high reputation for business talents, indus- try and integrity.
About retiring from commercial life and connected with one who was interested in the Holland Company purchase, he was induced to accept the general agency at Philadelphia, in the place of Mr. Cazenove; and most faithfully and satisfactorily did he perform its duties for a period of 24 years, up to the day of his death, July 23, 1824. He left no children.
The original proprietors-the eleven who constituted the
49
PAUL BUSTI.
primitive Holland Company, were merchants in the City of Amsterdam (then in the Republic of Batavia). They had little of the spirit of speculation; had acquired wealth by careful investments and fair profits. They had spare capital and wished to invest it ; their highest anticipations were perhaps a realization of something near the per cent. interest which was generally fixed upon money in this country, instead of the then low per cent. money yielded in Europe. And here it may be remarked, that considering the period of investment-1792 and 1793, --- but ten years after the close of the Revolutionary war-these Dutch merchants were far in advance of the prevailing senti- ment in Europe, as to the success and permanency of the experi- ment of free government. We should respect their memories for such an earnest, at that early period, of confidence in the stability of our system.
Mr. Busti's agency, as will be observed, commenced before the completion of surveys and the opening of sales ; conse- quently it was under his auspices that settlements began. In his early instructions to Mr. Ellicott, he proposed liberal meas- ures-seems to have started on the basis that the interests of his principals and the interest of the settlers were mutual. While he guarded strictly and with rigid economy the one, his views and munificence were liberal in reference to the other.
Mr. Ellicott acted under general instructions from him as to the opening of roads, building of mills and public buildings ; but when he advised, as he often did, additional measures of improvement or increased outlays, he was quite sure to be sec- onded by his principal.
Next to Mr. Ellicott Mr. Busti was more closely identified with the settlement of the Holland purchase than any other individual. His administration of the general agency, embraced almost the entire period of pioneer settlement. The records of the company furnish conclusive evidence of clear judgment, great integrity of purpose and a disposition to promote the interests of the wild region he was aiding to settle and improve.
JOSEPH ELLICOTT.
No man has ever, perhaps, been so closely identified with the history of any region, as he is with the history of the Holland
3
50
JOSEPH ELLICOTT.
Purchase. He was not only the land-agent, superintending from the start, surveys and settlement-exercising locally, a one-man-power and influence-but for a long period, he was far more than this. In all the early years of settlement, especially -in all things having reference to the organizing of towns, counties, erection of public buildings, the laying out of roads, the establishment of post-offices-in all that related to the prosperity and convenience of the region over which his agency extended, he occupied a prominent position, a close identity, that few, if any, patrons of new settlements have ever attained.
As early as 1770, Joseph Ellicott's father and his brothers purchased a tract of wild land on the Patapoca, in Maryland, and erecting mills and machinery, became the founders of what was long known as " Ellicott's Mills," now, for the sake of brevity, termed " Ellicott's."
ANDREW, the eldest brother, became an eminent surveyor ; surveyed the Spanish boundary line under the administration of Mr. Jefferson ; was afterwards Surveyor-General of the U. S .: and died the Professor of Mathematics at West Point, in 1820 or '21.
BENJAMIN, entered the service of the Holland Company at an early period, as the assistant of his brother Joseph. He was at an early period, one of the Judges of Genesee county, and a representative in Congress, from the district. He was a bachelor; died a resident of Williamsville, Erie county, in 1827.
DAVID, the younger brother, a somewhat erratic genius, was in some of the earliest years, a surveyor upon the Purchase. He went south and no tidings ever came of him.
There were five sisters, three of whom married three brothers by the name of Evans. In this circumstance, the reader will find the explanation of the numerous heirs of Joseph Ellicott. bearing that name.
Joseph Ellicott's early lessons in surveying, were given him by his elder brother, Andrew. His first practical surveying, was as an assistant of his brother, in the survey of the City of Washington, soon after that site had been selected for the national capital. In 1791, he was appointed by Timothy Pickering, then Secretary of War, to run the boundary line
51
JOSEPH ELLICOTT.
between Georgia and the Creek Indians. After completing this survey, he was employed by Mr. Cazenove, to survey the Holland Company's lands in Pennsylvania.
This completed, he was engaged for a short time in Maryland, in business with his brothers, and then enlisted in the Holland Company's service in this region.
The active years of his life were those, principally, inter- vening between the years 1790 and 1821-a period of about thirty years. At least ten or twelve years were spent in the arduous duties of a surveyor ; and when he left the woods and settled down in the discharge of his duties as local agent, his place was no sinecure, as the records of the office will abund- antly testify. He was a man of great industry ; careful, system- atic in all his business, and required of all under his control a prompt and faithful discharge of all their duties.
JACOB S. OTTO.
This gentleman was the successor to Mr. Ellicott in the local agency. He was previously a resident of Philadelphia ; had been engaged in mercantile and commercial pursuits.
The period of his agency was from 1821 to his death, in 1826.
It was during Mr. Otto's administration, that the plan of receiving cattle and grain from the settlers, that had previously been entertained, was effectually commenced. Depots were designated in different parts of the Purchase, for the delivery of wheat ; where the settler could carry it, and have its value endorsed upon his contract. Agents were appointed to receive cattle. They advertised yearly, the times and places, when and where the cattle would be received, fixed upon their price, and endorsed it upon contracts. It was one among the measures of relief, and its operation was highly beneficial.
DAVID E. EVANS.
During the administration of Mr. Otto, Mr. Evans had been appointed as his associate, to give the incumbent the advantage of his long experience and familiarity with the details of the business. Yet he did not to any considerable degree partici- pate in the joint administration proposed, his time being chiefly occupied with his own private affairs, and the duties of a mem- ber of the Senate of this state.
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DAVID E. EVANS.
Upon the death of Mr. Otto, he entered upon the discharge of the duties of the local agency. Early in life he had been a clerk in the office, under his uncle, Joseph Ellicott, and had for a long period occupied the desk of the cashier and accountant of the agency. Few, therefore, could have been more familiar with the wants, interest and welfare of the settlers. They were old, familiar acquaintances, and his interests were identified with theirs.
It was during the second year of Mr. Evans' administration (in September, 1827,) that a general plan for the modification of land contracts was adopted. It was regarded at the time as a very decided measure of relief to the settlers, and its opera- tions were highly beneficial to a very large class of the debtors of the Holland company.
Mr. Evans' agency continued until 1837. It embraced the large sales of the Holland company's interest ; in fact, before it closed the entire business and interests of the company had progressed nearly to a termination.
Having served one term as State Senator, Mr. Evans had been elected a Representative in Congress at the period of Mr. Otto's death. He resigned to take upon himself the duties of the agency.
ROBERT MORRIS.
A short biography of one eminently useful in our revolution- ary struggle is suggested by his after-identity with our local region. He was, as will have been seen, at one period the pro- prietor of the whole of Western New York west of Phelps and Gorham's purchase, by purchase from Massachusetts and the Seneca Indians.
In the attempt of feeble colonies to throw off oppression there was work to be done in council as well as in the field-at the financier's desk as well as in the more conspicuous conflicts of arms. If raw troops called from the field and workshop were to be enrolled and disciplined, upon a sudden emergency provisions were to be made for their equipment and sustenance ; Both were tasks surrounded with difficulty and embarrassment ; both required men and minds of no ordinary cast. Fortun- ately they were found. Washington was the chief, the leader
53
ROBERT MORRIS-EARLY LIFE.
of our armies, the master-spirit that conducted the struggle to glorious termination. Morris was the financier. They were heads of co-ordinate branches in a great crisis, and equally well performed their parts.
Robert Morris was born in Liverpool, in 1733. His father emigrated to the United States in 1745, and settled at Port Tobacco, in Maryland, engaging extensively in the tobacco trade.
Previous to the death of his father, Robert Morris had been placed in the counting-house of Mr. Charles Willing, an eminent merchant of Philadelphia, where he soon acquired a proficiency in mercantile affairs that recommended him as a partner of the son of his employer.
When the first difficulties occurred between the colonies and the mother country, though extensively engaged in a mercan- tile business that was to be seriously affected by it, he was one of other patriotic Philadelphia merchants who promoted and signed the non-importation agreement, which restricted com- mercial intercourse with Great Britain to the mere necessaries of life.
When the news of the Battle of Lexington reached Philadel- phia, Mr. Morris was presiding at a dinner usually given on the anniversary of St. George. He participated in putting a stop to the celebration in honor of an English saint, and helped to upset the tables that had been spread. His resolution was fixed ; it was one of devotion to the cause of the colonies, and well was it adhered to.
In 1775 and '76, he was a Member of Congress, and became a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
When Washington had re-crossed the Delaware for the second time, in December, 1777, the time of service of nearly all the Eastern troops had expired. To induce them to engage for another six weeks, he promised a bounty of ten dollars each, and for the necessary funds applied to Mr. Morris. In the answer of Mr. Morris accompanying the sum of fifty thousand dollars, he congratulated the Commander-in-Chief upon his success in retaining the men, and assured him that " if farther occasional supplies of money are wanted you may depend upon my exertions either in a public or private capacity."
54
ELECTED MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
In March, 1777, he was chosen, with Benjamin Franklin and others, to represent the Assembly of Pennsylvania in Congress, and in November following was associated with Mr. Gerry and Mr. Jones to repair to the army and confidentially consult with the Commander-in-Chief upon the best plan of conducting the Winter campaign.
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