It is said that the selection of the site for the desired village was determined by a suggestion from Gouverneur Morris (son of the statesman of the same name), who, commenting on the extensive growth attained by Morrisania, observed that the next large settlement should naturally be at a point near the intersection of the New York and Harlem and the Now York and New Haven Railroads. Some one hundred farms in different parts of Westchester County were offered to the association, but the location pointed out by Mr. Morris was chosen by unanimous agreement. The land bought consisted of five farms, owned by Colonel John R. Hayward, Sylvanus Purdy, Andrew Purdy, and his two sons, .John and Andrew Oscar Purdy -- the aggregate area of the purchase being about three hundred and seventy acres. The first check in payment for the land, $3,400, was dated November 1, 1850. Among tin1 names originally proposed for the place were Columbia, Fleetwood, Rising Sun, Stevensville, Jefferson, Thousandville, Palestine, New Washington, Monticello, Washington, Lafayette, Little New York, Linden, Olive Branch, New Amsterdam, Enterprise, Homesville, Industria, Youngfield, and Industry.1 The name of Monticello was selected, but, as there was already a Monticello in the State of New York, this was soon changed to Monticello City. The postal authorities were still dissatisfied, however, and on the 10th of January, 1851, the present name of Mount Vernon was adopted. On the 12th of November, 1850, the site was visited by a large number of members of the association and practically dedicated to the uses of the new village, Mr. Greeley making an address in which he spoke in complimentary terms of tin1 wisdom displayed in the choice of locality and predicted rapid growth for the community about to be established. In the spring of 1851 the village was laid out into streets and avenues, various contracts for grading were effected, and the distribution of the one thousand quarter-acre lots among the members was made.