Arizona republican., 1899-01-14
HAD TO LET GO AT LAST.
How Caleb Willard Happened to Get
 Hold of 28 Feet in Washington.

For more than forty years Caleb c.
 Willard, the o,xl1er Of the Ebbitt
 house in Washington, has been trying
 to buy g strip of land twen.y-eight feet
 wide which lies between that property
 and the building on F street, which is
 occupied by the geological survey
 and also owned by him. This little
 strip belonged to his brother, the late
 Joseph E. Willard, and was occupied | by two one-story structures which to-
 gether are not worth $1,000. Joseph 1 Willard was one of the largest real es- tate owners in Washington and man
 of great wealth, as well as eccentrici- ties. He never sold a piece of property in his life and never improved enc. The buildings standing on the real estate that he bought always remained there. no matter how old or dilapidated. Nothing could induce him to erect a modern building. One of his most val uable pieces of property was Willard's $ hotel, an old ramshackle structure, oc- lcupying one of the most favorable sites in the city. Many times he received advantageous offers from hotel people and Syndicatas who wanted to tear it down and build a modern structure, but even though 1t would be greatly to his pecuniary advantage he would never
 
 gressive man, a public spirited citizen, who owns some of the fines business blocks in the city and is always repair ing and improving them, and 1t has been the disappointment of his life that he could net persuade his brother Joseph to sell him that little strip of land in F street.
 Joseph Willard was a very pious man. He belonged to the New York Avenue Presbyterian church. He paid the biggest pew rent, but never allowed anybody but specially invited strangers. to sit with him. Sometimes the church might be crowded, Eyith hundreds of people standing in the aisle5, but Mr Willard's pew would remain empty, except for his own presence. This was not due to seifshness, but to principle. He took the ground that people who at tended a church should contribute to it's support by paying pew rent, and that if they did not pay pew rent they were not entitled to seats. He lived in little old house alone, with a cOlored ''aunty" to cook his meals and keep things in order The front door was never opened. He always used the basement door, and the few people who visited him did likewise.
 About q year ago the Lord took him. ana ne l61c Ills millions to ms son, who had been brought up on farm in Vir- ginia. He has become a gentleman Of high character and influence, without any of his fathers peculiarities. He served two terms in the legislature, and went to the war in command of a regiment Of volunteers, which he equip ped alt his own expense.
 As soon as "Old Joe" was safely cov- cred in his grave and the will was read his brother Caleb asked Joseph, Jr, the son and heir 10 sell him that long coveted strip Of land on r street The latter had no sentimental objection and consented to do So for a price. He held it pretty high and the dickering has gone on until today, when S60,000 was paid fer the twen.y-eight feet, the deed was made cut and new Caleb can die content-W. E. Curtis in Chicago Record