Evening star., 1901-11-05
PAPERS OF INTEREST READ
COLUMBIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TREATED To "REMINISCENCES.
Sketch of Life and Business Opera
tiOns of James Greenicnf-Reeol-
IectiOns of Mr.. Davis.

At the meeting of the Columbia Historf-
cal Society last evening at the Shoreham.
two papers of interest and value were pre-
ssnted relating to important periods In
the history of the city. 1t was the first
coming together of the society since the
summer vacation. and beginning was made
which gave indications of another year of
successful work of the organization. Be-
fore announcing the papers Mr. John A.
Kasson, the president, referred to the losses
by death which the society has sustained
since it's last meeting. He spoke in this
connection of the passing away of Matthew
G. Emery, Calderon Carlisle, John G.
Nicolay, Rev. DIR. Byron Sunderland and
W. S. Thompson.
Mr.. Allen c. Clark then read a paper
involving much original research. tracing
the career of James Greenleaf in this city.
AS was entertainingly recounted by Mr..
Clark, Mr.. Greenleaf who. was a man of
large means and a member of a firm doing
business in Philadelphia, with a branch
in Holland, came to this city in the fall
of 1893. The corner stone of the north
wing of the Capitol had just been laid. I'M
pressed with the future prospects of the
infant city, Mr.. Greenleaf purchased large
ly of lots from the Commissioners and
from the proprietors, so that he eventually
owned, in connection with Robert Morris,
the financer of the revolution, and John
Nicholson, AZ per cent Of the lots within
the bounds of the city. To acquire this great
holding Mr.. Greenleaf. the representa-
tive of the syndicate composed of Messrs.
Morris and Nicholson, invested nearly a
million and a half of dollars.
As pointed out by Mr.. Clark, financial
difficulties overlook Mr.. Greenleaf. yet
eventually a large proportion of his obliga-
tions- were met and, as stated by the speak
er, the effect of such large investment of
private means had material influence in
n dN-l nD;f he into of hn ,,tf,- Nv
Clark gave account of some of the i'm
provements made by Mr.. Greenleaf. espe-
cially at Greenleafs Point, locality
which was given his name. row OF
houses on tl2 street subsequently known
as Wheat's row, Mr.. Clark stated had been
erected by Mr.. Greenleaf and was the first
row of houses put up in this city.
This narrative of the career of man
who was so closely identified with the city
in the days of it's infancy was brought to
a close by an account of the last years of
Mr.. Grcenleafs life, which were passed in
this city. He died here in the year 1S43
thus closing a half century of his connec-
ton with the city. lie is buried in the
Congressional cemetery. The paper of Mr.
Clark is also notable as the first attempt
that has been made to give an account
of one of the leaders in the great land op-
erations which were a feature of the OPEN
ing years of the city'S existence
The next paper was read by Mr.. Henry
b. Davis and was bright and chatty ac-
count Oh the writer s DOyh0Od rec0llecti iOnS-
OF the vicinity of 9th and F streets. While
the extreme limit of the period covered was
less than forty years the changes noted In
that section were remarkable. He recalled
to the memory of those present the days
when there was a hill running east from
the patent office down along F street, and
when the grade of 9th street was also ma
ter1ally different. When the street car lire
was laid on + street 1t was found neces-
sary, owing to the character of the ground.
to place planks between the rails for the
horses to travel on, and then the rails
were apt to spread, so that the cars We're
at times thrown from the track. He smoke
or the old buildings at the northwest and
southwest corners of 9th and F streets
used as hotels, and also of other structures,
many of which were occupied as private
residences The names of the families liv-
ing there and the mention of some individ-
uals who had more or less of local, repy-
tation, brought pleasantly to the minds of
his hearers many recollections which had
been long slumbering.