Tina Scherman dressed as Rachel Evans.

In Leon’s historic 1836 church Rachel Evans, Joseph Ellicott’s sister portrayed by Tina Scherman of the Leon Historical Society, came to tell her brother’s story. You might be familiar with the name Ellicott. It appears in the name of the local village of Ellicottville, the town of Ellicott and in street names through out the region. Perhaps you are curious to know the story of the man for whom these places were named and why he is significant enough to deserve the honor.

Born and raised in the back country of Pennsylvania and Maryland, Joseph Ellicott grew into a 6-foot-3 ruggedly built young man with an eye for adventure. Though he had only the limited formal education typical of 18th century rural America he demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for learning. After a brief teaching stint Joseph adopted the profession of his older brother Andrew. For 15 years Andrew, Joseph and younger brother Benjamin determined land boundaries throughout the United States.

By 1794, at the age of 34, Joseph had evolved into an expert surveyor. Not only was he very good at his craft but was painstakingly meticulous, exceptional industrious, frugal in expenditures and orderly in business management.

These qualities suited the needs of the Holland Land Company, a consortium of six Dutch banking houses who had purchases 3.3 million acres west of the Genesee River in New York State. Before the land could be sold an accurate and detailed survey was essential. In 1797 the company’s General Agent Theophilus Cazenove hired Joseph Ellicott to conduct the survey.

Upon completion of the survey, Paul Busti, the new General Agent for the Holland Land Company, hired Ellicott to become Resident Agent in charge of selling the newly acquired land.

In his new position Ellicott’s political power increased. Ellicott spent much time in Albany helping to create Genesee, Eire, Cattaraugus, Allegheny and Chautauqua counties. But Ellicott himself was not very politic. Over the years the rangy frontiersman had grown into stout pompous bachelor described as “ungentlemanly, morose, inaccessible, inhospitable and abusive.” When Paul Busti realized Ellicott was a liability to the company, he ordered Joseph to “Give in your demission yourself.”

Ellicott retired to his palatial home in Batavia New York, where his melancholy moods lengthened and deepened. Finally Ellicott was persuaded by his family to travel to New York City, where he checked into a hospital. There he lurched between periods of lucidity and incoherence. On Aug. 19 1826 Joseph Ellicott took his own life, a tragic end for one of the most illustrious founders of the Empire State.

The Leon Historical Society seeks to extend its educational outreach about Joseph Ellicott and the Holland Land Company with an exhibit in their museum located on Route 62 in Leon entitled “The Great Survey” and offering to other educational organizations, at no charge, the opportunity to have Scherman visit them as Rachel Evans and tell Joseph Ellicott’s story. The museum is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May through October.

To schedule a presentation contact Tina Scherman tnelsonscherman@gmail.com 716 296 5268