BIO: Joseph Ellicott; Buffalo, Erie Co., NY

Transcribed by W. David Samuelsen

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MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY NEW YORK
VOLUME I, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL, ILLUSTRATED, PUB. 1906-8

JOSEPH ELLICOTT was the founder of the city of Buffalo. He selected its site,
designed its plan, prevailed upon the Indians to surrender their title and
upon the Holland Company to secure possession, and used his resources and
influence to induce immigration and settlement. He was the central figure of
early Buffalo, pioneer of pioneers.

Born in Bucks County, Pa., Nov. 1, 1760, Joseph Ellicott gained the rudiments
of knowledge in the common schools, but he was practically self-educated. The
son of a farmer and miller, in early life lie worked on his father's farm and
assisted him in his milling business. Meantime he began the study of surveying
and mastered that profession. His elder brother was also a surveyor and young
Ellicott became his assistant. He was chosen to survey the disputed line
between South Carolina and Georgia, and later became the chief surveyor of the
Holland Purchase.

In the fall of 1797, Mr. Ellicott came to Western New York, being accompanied
by several assistants. To determine the number of acres in the Holland
Purchase a preliminary survey was made, but the real surveying campaign began
in 1798. Besides Mr. Ellicott eleven surveyors were employed, each having a
corps of assistants, the whole force being under his direction. He himself
surveyed the east line of the purchase, usually called the East Transit, and
the others worked at dif ferent points. It was a task of toil and critical
negotiation to preserve the site of Buffalo, there being reason to apprehend
that the State and Buffalo Creek Reservations would be so bounded as to
interfere with the future city's building and growth. The danger was obviated
by Mr. Ellicott's skill as a surveyor and diplomat, and through his efforts
the Indians were persuaded to leave the city site out of the reservation. In
the spring of 1798 Mr. Ellicott opened the first wagon track in Erie County by
improving the Indian trail from East Transit to Buffalo. The first map of
Buffalo was made by Mr. Ellicott in 1804, the place being then called the
village of New Amsterdam. For many years and throughout the rest of his active
career M r. Ellicott continuod to be the local agent of the Holland Company.
He energetically furthered the settlement of Buffalo and the building up of
the place along broad lines of commercial advancement. He was also an earnest
promoter of the Erie C anal and one of the first Canal Commissioners appointed
by the Legislature. About 1824 Mr. Ellicott's health failed, his mind being
seriously affected, and at last he became a hypochondriac. He entered the
Bloomingdale Asylum at New York, but his malady was hopeless, and August 19,
1826, he died by his own hand. Mr. Ellicott never married.