USA > New York > Genesee County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Genesee County, New York, v. 1 > Part 8
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When peace was made with the Indian nations I turned my thoughts toward the purchase, which is to me an object very interesting; but non it being represented that a little longer patience, until the Western posts should be delivered up by the British government, might be public utility. I concluded to wait for that event also, which is now happily accomplished, and there seems no obstacle to restrain me from making the purchase, especially as I have reason to believe the Indians are desirous of making the sale,
The delays which have already taken place and that arose solely from the con- siderations above mentioned, have been extremely detrimental to my private affairs; but, still being desirous to comply with formalities prescribed by certain laws of the United States, although these law, probably do not reach my case, I now make ap- plication to the President of the United States and request that he will nominate and appoint a commissioner to be present and preside at a treaty, which he will be pleased to authorize to be held with the Seneca nation, for the purpose of enabling me to make a purchase in conformity with the formalities required by law, of the
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
tract of country for which I have already paid a very large sum of money. My right to pre-emption is unequivocal, and the land is become so necessary to the growing population and surrounding settlements that it is with difficulty that the white people can be restrained from squattering or settling down upon these lands, which if they should do, it may probably bring on contentions with the Six Nations. This will be prevented by a timely, fair, and honorable purchase. This proposed treaty ought to be held immediately before the hunting season, or another year will be lost, as the Indians cannot be collected during that season. The loss of another year, under the payments thus made for these lands, would be ruinous to my affairs; and as I have paid so great deference to public considerations whilst they did exist. I expect and hope that my request will be readily granted now, when there can be no cause for delay, especially if the Indians are willing to sell, which will be tested by the offer to buy
With the most perfect esteem and respect, I am, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,
ROBERT MORIAIS. GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq .. President of the United States.
In accordance with Morris's request Washington designated Isaac Smith, a member of Congress from New Jersey, as commissioner. But Mr. Smith subsequently having been appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, he declined the appointment, and Colonel Jere- miah Wadsworth, who had been a member of Congress from Connecti- cut, was named in his place. Morris being unable personally to par. ticipate in the convention, he appointed his son Thomas and Captain Charles Williamson as his attorneys; but the latter declined to act, on account of pressing private business, and the entire responsibility for conducting the difficult negotiations devolved upon the younger Morris.
It was decided to hold the convention at Big Tree, near the site of the present village of Geneseo. Thomas Morris entertained the prin- cipal persons participating in the treaty, and caused a large council house to be erected.1 Late in the month of August the Indians began to arrive at Big Tree. Of the fifty-two who signed the treaty, many were foremost sachems. The leaders of the Senecas included such noted chieftains as Young King, chief warrior, Red Jacket, Cornplanter. Handsome Lake, the Prophet, Farmer's Brother, Little Billy, Pollard, the Infant, Little Beard, Destroy Town and Blacksnake. There were
In Doty's History of Livingston county it is asserted that the Ind an village of B. ¿ Tree was west of the Genesee river, be that the historic bist versefor me from the eastern bank of the river. Some historians claim that the village was cast of the river Bothare correct as the vil- lage was moved ; but it was west of the tieneser at the time of the treaty Not only dres ? ip- pear so on the first map o' the region ma le from actual surveys, but ofthe treaty as agreed upon it was stated that the reservation of Big Tree should embrace the village Elfett's map of hell shows the reservation to be west of the river. The village was need in Just, and on the map showing the Phelpsand berlin Pare live in law, Big Tree village posted on the cost of the Genesee. Is all probability the tignes house erected by Thomas Morris stoel on the east bank.
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EXTINGUISHMENT OF INDIAN TITLE.
two Indians known to the whites as Big Tree. Ga-on-dah-go-waah, some- times called Great Tree, was a full-blooded Seneca of the Hawk clan and for many years resided at Big Tree village. July 8, 16ss, when Phelps and Gorham made their purchase, he attended the Buffalo treaty. In 1790 he went to Philadelphia with Cornplanter and Half Town to protest against what they deemed unjust treatment on the part of Phelps and his associates. In 1792 he went there again in company with Red Jacket and died in that city in April of that year. His daugh. ter had a son whose father was a Niagara trader named Pollard. He became a famous chief, named Ga-on-do-wan-na, and was also known as Big Tree. He was one of the signers of the Big Tree treaty. He was almost the equal of Red Jacket as an orator, but had a finer char- acter, becoming one of the noblest of the Senecas, especially after the death of the famous Cornplanter. He was one of the first Indians at the Buffalo Creek Reservation to become a convert to Christianity, and after his conversion his life was pure and beneficent. He was known by many as Colonel John Pollard. His death occurred on the Buffalo Creek Reservation April 10, 1811, and his body was interred in the old Mission cemetery.
August 22 Thomas Morris reached the Genesee valley. The com- missioners arrived four days later, Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth rep- resenting the United States and General William Shepherd appearing for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Among the others who were there were Captain Israel Chapin, who had succeeded his father, Gen - eral Israel Chapin, as superintendent of Indian affairs; James Rees, later of Geneva, who acted as secretary to the commission; William Bayard of New York, the agent of the Holland Land Company; two young Hollanders named Van Staphorst, relatives of the Van Stap- horst who was one of the members of the Holland Land Company; Nathaniel W. Howell, Horatio Jones and Jasper Parrish.
At one o'clock on the afternoon of August 28, 1197, the council was formally opened. The first to speak was Cornplanter. The two com- missioners then presented their credentials and addressed the council, assuring the Indians that no injustice should be done them, but that their interests would be fully protected. Young Morris then informed the Indians of his father's desire, and concluded by offering the sum of $100,000 for the entire tract, allowing the Senecas to retain such reser. vations as might be needed for their actual occupation.
In order to give the Indians tine for deliberation, the council was
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
then adjourned. Upon reassembling Farmer's Brother replied to the propositions made by Morris, stating that the Indians had various ob- jections to selling. Morris answered the arguments advanced, and another adjournment was taken. Upon reconvening, the famous Red Jacket arose to announce the determination of his people. At the previous session Morris had thoughtlessly remarked, in referring to the small value of the lands while remaining in the natural and unproduc- tive state, that their only value while in that condition arose from the consciousness of their ownership that the Indians felt. In the famous speech now delivered by Red Jacket he admitted the truth of the re. mark; but added :
That knowledge is everything to us. It raises us in our own estimation It creates in our bosoms a proud feeling which elevates us to a nation. Observe the difference between the estimativa in which a Seneca is held and that of an Oneida. We are courted, while the Oneidas are considered a degraded people, tit only to make brooms and baskets. Why this difference ? It is because the senecas are known as the pro- prietors of a broad domain, while the Oneidas are cooped up in a narrow space.
For two weeks the question was discussed in all its aspects. The Indians not yet agreeing to sell, the commissioners exhibited impa. tience and urged upon young Morris the wisdom of more vigorous action. The latter protested, insisting that he knew the Indian char- acteristics better than his advisers; but so strongly did the commission- ers insist that at the next session Morris pronounced an emphatic neg- ative to the proposition of the chiefs, declaring that if they had nothing better to offer the council might as well end. Springing to his feet Red Jacket exclaimed :
You now have arrived at the point to which I wished to bring you. You told us in your first address that, even in the event of our not agreeing, we would part as friends, Here, then, is my hand. I now cover up the council fire.
This decision was received with great applause, and to all appear- ances the council was ended. The commissioners, realizing how un- fortunate had been the results of their interference, now begged Morris to endeavor to rekindle the council fire. The latter acted promptly and with great sagacity. Approaching Farmer's Brother he declared that, according to the Indian custom, the council fire could be put out by none other than by him who had kindled it; that Red Jacket had exceeded his authority, and that the council fire was still burning. The force of Morris's argument was admitted. The latter then called the Seneca women together, distributed handsome presents among them and argued with them in favor of the proposed transfer of the lands.
£
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THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY.
According to the Indian laws the lands belonged to the warriors who fought for them and the women who cultivated them. While the treaties generally were negotiated by the sachems, the warriors and the women held the right to interfere when the question involved was the sale of land. Morris knew this, hence his diplomatic dealings with the women of the nation present. As the result of his efforts, the women here ex- ercised their inherent right and the council reassembled. Cornplanter, the principal war chief, superseded Red Jacket and conducted the negotiations for the Indians. After a comparatively brief conference the Indians decided to accept the offer made by Morris, and September 15, 1107, the treaty was signed. By its provisions all the land now embraced within the counties of Allegany, Wyoming, Genesee, Erie, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua was sold to Robert Morris,' amount paid therefor to be invested in the stock of the bank of the United States and held in the name of the president for the benefit of the Indians.
CHAPTER VII.
The Holland Land Company an 1 Its Representatives in America-Joseph Ellicott. the First Agent on the Purchase, and His Operations-Old Indian Trails-Taxpayers in Genesee County in 1900-Sketch of Joseph Ellicott.
The main office of the Holland Land Company was located at Phila. delphia, and the members of the company were Wilhelm Willink, Jan Willink, Nicholas Van Staphorst, Jacob Van Staphorst, Nicholas Hub- bard, Pieter Van Eeghen, Christian Van Eeghen, Isaac Ten Cote, Hen- drick Vallenhoven, Christina Coster, Jan Stadmitski and Rutger J. Schimmelpennick. Theophilus Cazenove, the first general agent of the company, took charge of all the business relating to the company from the time of the first purchase of the lands until 1799. Upon his retire.
" Pertain modern writers who have investigated the subject have produced what appears to be documentary evidence that Morris and the representatives of the 1 Hand Land Comptes were compelled secretly to bite the seneca warriors to induce them to I asent to the sale their lands. It is said that Cornplanter received an annuity of two hundred an Inits dollars .is ing aske ved as his share of og uribe, while Red Jacket, Young King and litt e Ily rettel one hundred dollars per anque: Robert Morris hunger evidently expected that the Ind in given to manual chiefs and to which they chat SEpagan, & me lotit's me bel before the treaty and paid when finished, to the amount of Sam or sum, or, it necessary ilo.' C.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
ment Paul Busti succeeded to the management, remaining in charge until 1824, a period of a quarter of a century. He in turn was suc- ceeded by John J. Vander Kemp, who remained in control until the final settlement of the affairs of the company.
Joseph Ellicott, an eminent surveyor, was employed by the famous Holland Company to survey their lands and manage the sale of them, his engagement with them dating from July, 1797. He at once took charge of the surveys of these lands, completing them in a little less than a dozen years. Surveying began on a big seade in 1298, after elaborate and extensive preparatious. Besides Mr. Ellicott there were eleven surveyors, each of whom was provided with a corps of assist- ants.' A part of this force, under the leadership of John Thompson, proceeded westward over the usual route to Buffalo, where a portion of their outfit was left for use on the western part of the purchase. The remainder was taken to Williamsburg, on Genesee river, where a storehouse for the use of the surveyors had been built. At the start these two points were the principal depots for the surveyors; but before the end of the year Mr. Ellicott, who had personally surveyed the Tran- sit Line, made the principal headquarters at the point on that line known as the Transit storehouse. The Transit Line extended from Pennsylvania to Lake Ontario, forming the basis for the future surveys and divisions of the territory. These surveys were continued until the whole territory was divided into ranges and townships. The ranges were numbered from east to west and the townships from south to north.
The first plan of the agent of the company was to divide cach township, which was six miles square, into sixteen portions, one and a half miles square, to be called sections, and to subdivide each section into twelve lots, each lot to be three quarters of a mile long (generally north and south) and one-quarter of a mile wide, con- taining about one hundred -and twenty acres each. It was presumed that many wealthy farmers would purchase one section each, while those possessed of moderate capital would content themselves with the smaller farms. The surveys of twenty-four townships were begun in
' The principal surveyors engaged during the active season of fin noway ! line and reservation surveys and n like an I river malte ses, well astohows Jet . and liga- min Ellicott. John Thompson Richard M. Stallard George Burger King Dewy De .! ! ! cott, Aaron Oakland, jr. August as Porter, Seth Perse, James Serthey. William Shepher !. George Eggleston. In a Nation to these were two free heten. Mes ro. Hathe air and Age this who were employe in some survey of View and can In de were the - gineers than surveyors. - Turner', History of the Himand Purchase, page is.
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THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY.
conformity to this plan, although the surveyors departed from the uni- formity of the size and shape of the lots where large streams like the Tonawanda creek, running through townships, were made convenient boundaries of lots.
From experience, however, it was ascertained that, in the purchase of land, each individual, whether father, son or son-in-law, would locate himself according to his own choice or faney. That this formal and regular division of land into farms, sel- dom was found to be in conformity to the topography of the country, for to the dif- ferent requirements as to quantity, likewise that the addition of sections to townships. and lots, rendered the descriptions of farms more complex, and increased the hability to err in defining any particular location ; for which reasons, the practice of dividing townships into sections was abandoned, and thereafter, the townships were simply divided into lots of about sixty chains or three fourths of a mile square, which could be divided into farms to suit the topography of the land and quantity required by the purchasers. In those townships in which the surveys had been commenced to divide them into sections, and not completed, the remaining sections were divided into four lots only of three-fourths of a mile square each. These lots consequently contained about three hundred and sixty acres each, but could not be laid off exactly umform in shape and area.1
When the survey of the Holland Purchase began in the spring of 1:98, all travel westward to Buffalo was along the ancient Indian trail. During the preceding winter, however, the State Legislature had ap- pointed Charles Williamson a commissioner to lay out and open a State road from the Genesee river to Buffalo Creek and to Lewiston. The Holland Company subscribed $5,000 toward defraying the expense of constructing this road. Mr. Williamson began his task in the summer of 1798, following the Indian trails as closely as possible Mr. Ellicott, with the aid of a party of Senecas, opened the first wagon road early in the season as a preliminary to the work of the survey, improving the trail from the East Transit to Buffalo Creek to an extent that made it passable for wagons. The construction of this road was undertaken thus early for the purpose of providing a good highway to those who might settle on the lands of the company. That the managers of the company's business appreciated the value of such a road is evident from the following extract of a letter from Paul Busti, who in 1199 succeeded Theophilus Cazenove as agent of the company, to Mr. Elli- cott, dated August 15, 1800:
The opening of communication through the country, is a matter deemed of such importance, that it will not escape your attention, and that the application of money for that purpose has been appropriated on a much larger scale than you thought
I Turaer's History of the Holland Purchase, page +f.
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
necessary. By extending the amount of expenditures on that head, I mean to evince to you how much I am persuaded of the usefulness of having practicable roads cut out. You will have to take care that the roads to be laid out at present, are to be cut in such a direction as to become of general advantage to the whole country.
The old Indian trail, on which the principal part of this road was built, crossed the Genesee at Avon, passed thence through Batavia and down the north side of Tonawanda creek, entering Erie county at the Tonawanda Indian village; from there it crossed the site of Akron, passed through Clarence Hollow and Williamsville to Cold Spring, and thence followed nearly on the line of Main street, in Buffalo, to the creek. A branch continued to Black Rock, where the river was crossed. Another branch extended from Clarence to Lancaster and ran thence along Cayuga creck to the Seneca Indian village. Another trail ex- tended from Little Beard's Town, on the Genesee, to the boundary of Erie county near the southeast corner of the town of Alden and con- tinued westerly to the Seneca village. There were also trails up Ca .:. enove and Eighteen Mile creeks and between Cattaraugus and Buffalo villages
As late as the summer of 1199 no house had been built on the road from the East Transit Line to Buffalo, To remedy this situation, June 1, 1799, Paul Busti authorized Mr. Ellicott to induce six persons to locate on the highway about ten miles apart and to open taverns, in consideration of which each was to receive from fifty to one hundred and fifty acres of land at a low price and liberal terms of payment.
In accordance with the offer of Mr. Ellicott three persons immedi- ately grasped the opportunity presented. Frederick Walthers took one hundred and fifty acres, including the East Transit storehouse and the site of the village of Stafford. Soon afterward Asa Ransom of Buffalo located on a one hundred and fifty acre tract at Clarence Hollow.1 September 16, Garritt Davis took one hundred and fifty acres east of and adjoining the Tonawanda Reservation. These three persons at once erected houses for the accommodation of the traveling public.
As soon as Mr. Ransom had erected his tavern, at " Pine Grove," as it soon became known, Mr. Ellicott made it his headquarters. His ap-
I Harry B. Kanom, who was born in the house ball been More In was tin nes white male chill born in that part of the or ginal Genere anty and any. M.
text were constructed of iss.
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THE HOLLAND LAND COMPANY,
pointment as local agent of the company took effect October 1, 1800, at which time he began the sales of land. His office was located in one end of Ransom's tavern. James W. Stevens of Philadelphia acted as his clerk, and occasionally Mr. Brisbane assisted in the work of the office, though the latter spent most of his time at the Transit store- house. January 16, 1801, Mr. Ellicott wrote to Mr. Busti as follows:
I have the satisfaction to inform you (although after a diasgreeable journey) that I arrived here in good health the Ist instant, since which period I have been busily employed in making arrangements for the sale of the lund placed under my charge. The season of the year being such as to prevent persons from making their e tablish- ments, prevents me at present from effecting any bona fide sales. Settlers generally wishing to defer entering into articles before they are able to commence their ini- provements. I have, however, abundant reason to conclude, that at the opening of Spring I shall effect the sale of considerable land.
May ; of the same year Mr. Ellicott, writing to Le Roy and Bayard, says :
In respect to sales of land, we have not as yet made rapid progress. The best and most eligible situations are only in demand. However, we dispose of more or less almost every day. Settlements form more rapidly on the east side of the Purchase than on the west, owing to its contiguity to the old settlement in the Genesee, where provisions and necessaries for their beginning is more easily attainable. However, there are some going on the western side, and I continue to live under the expecta. tion of selling a considerable quantity of lands in the course of the summer and fall, and presume after this season the sales will increase, the ice will then be broken, and conveniences will be had for settiers on the Purchase.
The survey of the Holland Purchase into townships was concluded in 1800, by which time several of them had been divided into lots. In the same year Mr. Ellicott, while on a visit to the East, had printed a number of hand bills headed " Holland Company West Genesee Lands," in which he portrayed the attractions of the territory and announced that it was for sale on reasonable terms.1
) A portion of this hand bill Fea Is as follows :
" The Holland Land Company will open a Land Office in the ensuing month of September, for the sale of a portion of their valuable lands in the Geneve country, State of New York at- nate in the last purchase made of the seneca Nation of Indians, on the western si le of war nesce river. For the convenience of applicants, the land Ofice will be established near the centre of the lands, intended for sale and on the main road, leading from the Eastern and Middle Naresto Upper Canada Presque Isle in Pennsylvania, and the Connecticut Reserve. These htmly are sit. uate, a livin.ne and contiguous, to the lakes Erle, Ontario, and the s're gh! sof Niagara possess- ing the advantage of the navigation and trade of all the Upper Makes, as well as the river Surt Lawrence, from which the British aliments derive great advantages also mer cted by the Allegany river, navigable for butdo mer tens burton, to Pasburgh and New Orleans, and contagious to the navigable waters of the west branch of the Susquehanna ri ran falmet dir. Pourle ! by settlements, where provision of every kind is to be had in ald abundance and on
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
In May, 1801, acting as the special agent of Le Roy and Bayard. he employed Richard M. Stoddard to survey the Triangular Tract, giving explicit directions, particularly as to laying off five hundred acres at " Buttermilk Falls." In a letter to Mr. Munger, at the Transit store house, dated at Ransom's in May, 1801, he states that he has been in - formed that " the inhabitants of your neighborhood have undertaken to open the road to Ganson's. You will please consider me a subscriber toward the expense of the undertaking."
For a period of more than twenty years Mr. Ellicott had practically exclusive control of the local business of the Holland Company. Under his management an immense tract of wilderness was converted into one of the finest agricultural regions in the world. He was identified with all the enterprises of Western New York, and in the construction of the Erie canal he took a great interest. Paul Busti, who had succeeded Cazenove as general agent at Philadelphia, managed the general affairs of the company with great shrewdness and ability for a period of twenty-four years.
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