Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-13

merged ruined man. He endeayored IN
p. nus fortunes. but without avail.
O orr' Sl ms hrst ventures was to buy west
eIh New YORK, which he did in 1871 The
property then belonged to the state OF Mas
sachusetts, subject to the Indian title and
ne ne nc. pought nearly all the land lying west
then the Morris tract. and hacor 20 ea tsu
county or Genesee. The word "Genesee''
means, In the Indian language The bean
tiful valley" oe"o-
Morris made a treaty. with A.. ,,,
by Which they consented to give mn thair
title TO all the land except a few reserva-
.ions OF moderate size. Portions of these
tbs T1 are still held and occupied by
t tne liiuiahs; The one In the town of Ala
oaina, IN the present county of C;enesea
was the residence of the famous Red Lack
ct Rn ,he pe ehlet of the Six Nations.
but Robert Morris could not hold tho Lana
on account of his involved financial cnndI-
tion. so reduced was he by his losses in
the revolution that he was conneIied -
part part with 1t, and he sold the greater nor
tion OF IL In 1892 to a company Of Horand
els, and the tract thus sold became knew
ana Famous as the Holland land n,,r
chase ana the company which bought n
T Ths called the Holland Land Company.
ihose VINO composed the company were the
loentical Hollanders of whom Morris &C.
cured the loan mentioned above Proba bIv
ne was paid actually in his own Obligations.
motifs signed the deed which transferred
the property to the Hollanders. and o. a
consequence every piece of real estate in
western New York has as the basis of t,s
history OF this country.
motifs, after this, became hopelessly in
vowed, and was finally cast into prison for
deDt, put his name is remembered and
ness that the first celebrat ton TO he nada a.,
MS honor Is In the region that was once his
possession. The Hollanders employed Josa,h
Eincott, famous surveyor of the time
TO survey their lands and manage the Sol.
OF them. Mr.. Elicott continued in the most
ton OF agent for the Holland Land Com
pany Tor twenty-one years. and won great
uis.ineuon Dy mis- executive ability. He was
identlned with all the enterprises of western
New York, including the construction of the
Erie canal, In which he took great interest
He established his land office In Batavia IN
Canada to southern New York, and In the
line OF the immigration that was then NOV
Ing westward.
The Indians had council ground within
few rods of the land office. The trail
fnow Eiiicott street in Batavta) became
known as the Big Tree re ad, on account of
Us passing an enormous tree near Geneseo
The latter tnow Main street in Ratavia)
became the rain thoroUghfare from Albanv
to Niagara Falls and Buffalo. 1t is within
short distance of the intersection Of these
original Indian trails, or the crossing of
these thoroughfares. that Ellicott estab-
lished the land office. The building was the
headquarters OF the entire region All en-
terprises were discussed and determined
stands on ths banks OF Tonswauda creele
creek which even now in Its picturesnue
winnings seems to remind one Of the early
days and Is suggestive Of the original In,
dian trails. The Holland Land Tomnanv
Continued In existence until 1880 during ali
OF which time the building was used as ITS
headquarters. II then passed into other
hands, and has since had several owners
The march Of progress, however has
gradually been celebrating all the early
,nanamarks. and the destruction Of this
building was threatened. Loyal and ma
friotic spirits came to its rescue, and the
Holland Purchase Historical Society was
formed, the members Of which were nm
willing that building with such historical
memories should be destroyed For through
Robert Morris the old building recalls tSa
revolution. and 1t has been associated with
all the history of the intervening period
1t recalls the struggles of the early nion-
GERS. who were helped to Independence
within Its walls. It stands for the revoi,,-
tionary patriot, the revolutionary soIiier
and the sturdy pioneer. and keeps In mem.
DRY the debt that is owed to a past ace
and dedication.