The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-04-08

Toward the latter part of the last
century three young ScOtchmen left
Dundee and wandered forth "strange
countries for to see." Two of them,
Robert Lenox and Archibald Oracle,
came to America and settled in New
York, where they achieved fortune and
founded families the third, john Ray
Ried, did not cross the sea, but estab'
lished himself in London, and became
subsequently Governor of the Bank OF
England. The career of one of these
gentlemen, Mr.. Robert LenOx, alone con-
Germs us.
At the time of his settlement in this
country, toward the close of the war of
independence, New York presented a
most inviting field for commercial enter
prise, and to this pursuit Mr.. Robert
Lenox devoted himself with untiring
energy and remarkable success. BY his
sagacity, industry, and business talent,
he made for himself a prominent position
among the great merchants of those days.
He was not only successful merchant
he was more he was likewise a public
spirited man, and his name became
honOrably identified with the best inter-
ests of the city. At an early period Mr..
Lenox foresaw the probable growth of
this city, and turned his attention to-
ward real estate investments. He be-
came considerable holder of land in the
lower part of the town, as is evidenced
by the conveyances to him recorded in
the Registers Office, from about 1870
down to few years before his death,
which occurred in the latter part of 1889.
In the year 1917 and 1918, Mr. Lenox
purchased some thirty acres lying in the
then Ninth Ward of the city of New
York. 1t was looked upon by him at
the time as an insignificant purchase,
the land being only useful for agricul-
tural purposes-in fact, one portion of
the premises, containing over twelve
acres, was bought with view of render
ing kindness to others rather than of
furthering his own interests. Twelve
years later, in 1929, he will tell us him.
self in his last will and testament, cit
cost me much more than its present
WORTH" But already, in 1929, Mr..
Robert Lenox no longer looked upon this
acquisition of land on the Fifth avenue,
or " middle road" as ofslight importance,
and, though it was impossible for him to
grasp the wonderful growth of this city,
or divine the fabulous prices land would
bring in this particular portion of the
Ninth Ward in the year of grace 1875,
still he firmly believed that the property
would come in play at not remote
period, as we shall presently see by his
parting advice to his son. Mr.. Robert
LenOx's will is dated May %, 1929;
June %, 1882; and October 4, 1889. We
find the following under section ninth:
GO give, devise, and bequeath to my
son, my only son, James LenOx, My
Farm at the FIre. Nile Stone (the italics
are our own,) purchased in part from the
corporation of the city of New York, and
containing about thirty acres, with all
its Improvements, stock of horses, cattle,
and farming utensils, for and during the
term of his life, and after his death to
his heirs forever. My motive for so leav-
ing this property is a firm persuasion
that it may at no distant day be the site
of village; and as it cost me much
more than its present worth, from cir
cumstances known to my family, 1 like
to cherish the belief it may be realized to
them. At all events want the expert
ment made by keeping the property
from being sold."