Standard atlas of Kent County, Michigan : including a plat book of the cities, villages and township. . . reference business directory, 1907, Part 26

Author: Geo. A. Ogle & Co; Williams, T. O. (Theodore Osborn), b. 1861
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Geo. A. Ogle
Number of Pages: 162


USA > Michigan > Kent County > Standard atlas of Kent County, Michigan : including a plat book of the cities, villages and township. . . reference business directory, 1907 > Part 26


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46


---


CHRISTIAN, MARY, IDA AND FREDERICK KAUPP.


FRANK AND VIOLA DONOVAN. MR. AND MRS. LEWIS W. BROWN


PETER KOMTOBED.


JOHN MATHEWS AND FAMILY.


G. L. ALLEN AND FAMILY.


JOHN SWARTZ.


RESIDENCE OF CHRISTIAN R. MOLT.


THE NELSON HOLMES RESIDENCE.


BOSTWICK LAKE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, REV. JEAN PAUL RICHTER, Pastor.


RESIDENCE OF A. P. O'BRIEN.


PAGE 131


ILLUSTRATIONS


E. W. ALLEN.


JOSEPH LOWN, Proprietor of Camp Lake Resort.


S. K. BYLSMA.


CHAS. R. MEAD.


L. L. PARK.


D. MCKERSIE.


FRED. WESTMAAS.


F. BEMIS.


HERBERT HOLCOMB.


CLYDE S. PONTING.


BERNARD NOEL.


JOHN J. McKENNA.


REGINALD DELL.


JOSEPH SCHULTE.


W. E. BUTLER.


RESIDENCE AND BARN OF CHAS. J. RICE.


RESIDENCE AND BARN OF FRANK E. TISDEL.


HENRY BOSS.


RESIDENCE OF MR. OTTENWESS.


RESIDENCE OF J. B. SYMES.


POMONA FARM, RESIDENCE OF CHARLES W. WILDE.


RESIDENCE OF E. A. CAMBURN.


RESIDENCE OF CHARLES PURDY.


RESIDENCE OF WM. H. STEED.


RESIDENCE OF SANTFORD ELLIS.


PAGE 133


ILLUSTRATIONS


L. W. BURRAS.


MR. BUTTRICK. (DECEASED.)


BENJAMIN F. BARENDSEN.


EBEN SWAN.


JOHN BOOM.


MILES MULFORD.


C. E. HIGBEE, Assistant City Attorney. GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


FRANK E. CAMPAU.


HORACE T. BARNABY, JR.


ELMER_C. BROOKS.


AVERY E. FIELD, "Maker of Photographs." LOWELL, MICH.


E. P. HUDSON.


JOHN BRESNAHAN.


MR. AND MRS. JAMES HOWARD, FRED HOWARD AND RAY HOWARD.


ERNEST W. BRATT.


A, WELDON.


MR. AND MRS. J. M. SCHENCK.


ANDREW HILL AND MRS. NELLIE HILL.


THREE GENERATIONS. ISAAC J. BEAR, FATHER, CHAS. A. BEAR, SON, RANDEL BEAR, GRANDSON.


MR. AND MRS. O. H. WILLIAMS AND SON, L. D. WILLIAMS.


MR. AND MRS. A. L. PECK.


PATRICK CORRIGAN.


E. E. GILBERT.


PERRY BALLARD.


MR. AND MRS. IRVING BATCHELOR.


PAGE 135


ILLUSTRATIONS


JAMES FRIAR.


PENINSULAR CLUB, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


LAKESIDE CLUB,


REEDS LAKE, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


UNION DEPOT, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


BESSIE, EDITH, ETHEL, EDISON, RUTH AND MR. AND MRS. JOHN CRAMER.


FURNITURE EXHIBITION BUILDING, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


CORNER VIEW OF W. W. KIMBALL'S MAMMOTH STORE, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


MASONIC TEMPLE, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


1. JOSEPH PETTINGALL, 3. H. P. GRIVER,


2. MRS. E. PETTINGALL, 4. MRS. MAGGIE GRIVER, 5. MISS MARY E. GRIVER.


MICHIGAN TRUST BUILDING, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


JAMES SCHOLS, FLORIST, Greenhouse, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


SCENE ON FARM OF PETER SALM.


JOHN L. CROWLEY, MRS. HATTIE CROWLEY, AND HELEN CROWLEY.


J. B. EASTERDAY AND FAMILY.


WILLIAM J. LANDMAN,


Attorney, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


HOTEL PANTLIND, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


STORE OF VANDER VEEN BROS., GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


RESTAURANT OF A. M. WOOD, GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


WM. ROESINK AND FAMILY.


PAGE 137


ILLUSTRATIONS


HARM ALLES.


OLIVER L. WILKINSON.


WM. L. HALL.


SAM E. BROWNELL.


RODY HAYES AND FAMILY.


STORE OF HARRY VANDER MEER: GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.


STORE OF CHAS. HARRIS.


C. M. SLAYTON AND FAMILY GROUP.


JOHN GUNNESON.


JAMES ABRAHAM.


RESIDENCE AND BARN OF JOHN EBERS.


RESIDENCE OF GEO. E. KELLOGG.


RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH SMITH.


RESIDENCE OF W. A. PATTERSON.


Di .


ST. MARY'S CHURCH, CASCADE, MICH.


RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. WORTHEY SILCOX.


RESIDENCE OF E. E. DENNIS.


RESIDENCE OF PETER H. PLEUNE.


MAPLE HILL FARM, WM. RISH & SON, Proprietors, Breeders of Leicester and Shropshire Sheep and Poland China Hogs, ADA, MICHIGAN.


RESIDENCE OF MOERMAN BROS.


ROGUE RIVER STOCK FARM, ORVILLE SULLIVAN, Prop. Reading from left to right: Liquezene, Sire J. C., Time 2.12}; Adaline, Sire Alcorn, Time 2.15; Belmont Boy, Sire Asheton, Time, 2.10g and Pair Norman Brood Mares.


CAMP LAKE. RESIDENCE OF C. A. PROVIN.


LOWN'S LANDING, CAMP LAKE.


LUMBERING ON ONE OF THE OLD LAND MARKS KNOWN AS ALLEN'S PINERY. PROPERTY OF MRS. C. S. 'SMITH. C. S. SMITH DRIVING A FOUR HORSE TEAM TO 1500 FEET WHITE PINE LOGS ON TRUCK.


RESIDENCE OF M. B. HEFT.


PAGE 139


ILLUSTRATIONS


RESIDENCE OF H. B. FORD.


RESIDENCE OF ALFRED TIFFANY.


RESIDENCE OF MR. AND MRS. A. T. GERARDY.


RESIDENCE OF FRANK SPAMAN.


RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL IRWIN.


RESIDENCE OF PHILANDER COLLINS.


RESIDENCE OF JAMES F. PORTER.


RESIDENCE OF E. ARMACK.


RESIDENCE OF REUBEN F. HANES.


RESIDENCE OF E. L. BROOKS.


RESIDENCE OF J. W. BROERSMA.


RESIDENCE OF JAMES McKEEN.


RESIDENCE OF CHARLES SCHEIDEL.


RESIDENCE OF JOHN WIERENGA.


RESIDENCE OF FRANK D. HEINTZELMAN.


RESIDENCE OF N. C. WRIGHT.


RESIDENCE OF MR. A. SWENSON.


RESIDENCE OF L. A. DAVIS.


RESIDENCE OF EDWARD TROOST.


MAPLE LEAF FARM. RESIDENCE OF C. B. PURDY.


RESIDENCE AND BARN OF CARL PETERSON.


RESIDENCE OF H. P. HANSEN, Prop. Spring Creek Farm.


BARN OF H. P. HANSEN, MAPLE LEAF FARM.


RESIDENCE OF JEFFREY C. MAYNARD.


UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYS.


ANALYSIS OF THE SYSTEM OF UNITED STATES " AND SURVEYS


METES AND BOUNDS.


P to the time of the Revolutionary War, or until about the beginning of the present century, land, when parcelled out, and sold or granted, was described by " Metes and. Bounds," and that system is still in existence in the following States, or in those portions of them which had been sold or granted when the present plan of surveys was adopted, viz. : New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas, and the six New England States. To describe land by " Metes and Bounds," is to have a known land-mark for a place of beginning, and then follow a line according to the compass-needle (or magnetic bearing), or the course of a stream, or track of an ancient high- way. This plan has resulted in endless confusion and litigation, as land-marks decay and change, and it is a well-known fact that the compass-needle varies and does not always point due North.


As an example of this plan of dividing lands, the following description of a farm laid out by "Metes and Bounds," is given: "Beginning at a stone on the Bank of Doe River, at a point where the highway from A. to B. crosses said river (see point marked C. on Diagram 1); thence 40º North of West 100 rods to a large stump; thence 10º North of West 90 rods; thence 15° West of North 80 rods to an oak tree (see Witness Tree on Diagram 1); thence due East 150 rods to the highway; thence following the course of the highway 50 rods due North; thence 5° North of East 90 rods; thence 45° East of South 60 rods; thence 10º North of East 300 rods to the Doe River; thence following the course of the river Southwesterly to the place of beginning.". This, which is a very simple and moderate description by " Metes and Bounds," would leave the boundaries of the farm as shown in Diagram 1.


DIAGRAM 1.


· N. of E.


& R


1 09


East 150 R.


Witness Tros


TIM'BEE


10º N. of W.


DOR


EXPLANATION.


-


Cette, 100 Rode Ons Jurk


-


G, ta Starting Point of the Survey. A, B, u tu Ifigh. -


MERIDIANS AND BASE LINES. DIAGRAM 2.


100º


90


80


B


R


I


B


0


M


I


N


I


3RD INITIAL


0


2ND INITIAL


M


A


WINNIPEG


IST PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN


LAKE


WINNIPEG


B


T


LAKE NIPIGON


N


T


BITTER OD


MISSOURI


RIVER


14TF


KILOUS


HELENA


A


N


GUIDE


10TH


10


45ª


BISMARCK &TH


OTH


5TH


LINE


MORTA


TOT


STH


JIDE


4TH


MER.


45€


YELLOWSTONE


KY MTS. PARK


YELLOWSTONE


LAKE


WITH


8TH


4TH


4TH


1ST S. P. N.


LINE


River


3RD


2ND


I2ND


3RD G


2ND GLM


2ND


CORR.


PAR.


SOUTH


W


M


IN


ME


BND


BASE


LINE


4TH


LANSING


DETROIT


DUBUQUEO


CORR.


LINE


2N


7TH


O


W


N


B


K


DES MOINES


BASE


P. UIS.


SHL!


Plate


LINCOLN


TINE


13T


PAR


BASE


LINE


IT CORE - LINE


STAN


PAR


SOUTH


5TH


END G. M


COLOR


MER.


A


D


GUIDE


N


00


A


S


FASE


LOUISVILLE


STAN.


CORP


ITH


IPAL


SOUTH


NAVAJO


7TH


CORR.


MERIDIAN


M.


BASE


7TH


STAN+


PAR. NORTH


RESERVATION


SPECIAL 8 LIT


4TH


BTME


FAR.


. SANTAFE


A


4TH


la:


E


W


TERRE


R


River®


CORR.


NORTH


IST|STAN. PAR. NORTH


LINE


LINE


LINE


WAHL LINE


197


CORK


ONE


SOUTH


SOUTH


Red


S


GE


AND STAN. PARA


WITH


CORRECTION


STH


DO EL PASO


PASO, DEL NORT


T


E


A


1


S


H


River


BATON ROUGE


Y


AUSTIN


HERMOSILLO!


NEW ORLEANS


del


River


O GALVESTON


Scale of Miles.


( )


100


200


1105


105


100ª


05.ª


-


T


IA


H


SPRING FIELD


River


CHARL


TOPEKA


OSLLoVis FL


LINE


"FRANKFOR


CITY


LINE


JEFFERSON CITY


ohio


.U


N. T


UMREL


PRIN


River


Cumberland


NASHVILLE


NNESSEE


MEMPHIS


ELINE


2ND Z


BASE


LITTLE ROCK


Tennessee


WER


A


M


F


X


BASE


MERIDIAN


NSA


CHOCTAW IEMERIDIAN


LISSYSST


MONTGOMERY


JACKSON H


WASHINGLE


BASE


COAST.T STEPHEN'S MER.


Chattahoochee


0


LINE


MOBILE


Colorado


R


AH'I


Grande CHIRUAHUA


T HE present system of Governmental Land Surveys was adopted by Con- gress on the 7th of May, 1785. It has been in use ever since and is the legal method of describing and dividing lands. It is called the "Rectangular System," that is, all its distances and bearings are measured from two lines which are at right angles to each other, viz. : +. These two lines, from which the measurements are made, are the Principal Meridians, which run North and South, and the Base Lines which run East and West. These Principal Meridians are es- tablished, with great accu- racy, by astronomical obser- vations. Each Principal Meridian has its Base Line, and these two lines form the basis or foundation for the surveys or measurement of all the lands within the ter- ritory which they control. Diagram 2 shows all of the Principal Meridians and Base Lines in the central portion of the United States, and from it the territory 'gov- erned by each Meridian and Base Line may be readily distinguished. Each Merid- ian and Base Line is marked with its proper number or name, as are also the Stand- ard Parallels and guide (or auxiliary) Meridians.


Diagram 3 illustrates what is meant when this method is termed the " Rectangular System," and how the meas- urements are based on lines which run at right angles to each other. The heavy line running North and South (marked A. A.) represents the Principal Meridian, in this case say the 5th Principal Meridian. The heavy line running East and West (marked B. B.) is the Base Line. These lines are used as the starting points or basis of all measurements or sur- veys made in territory con- trolled by the 5th Principal Meridian. The same fact applies to all other Principal Meridians and their Base Lines. Commencing at the Principal Meridian, at inter- vals of six miles, lines are run North and South, parallel to the Meridian. This plan is followed both East and West of the Meridian throughout the territory controlled by the Mer dian


ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1905, BY GEO. A. OGLE & CO., IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBARIAN OF CONGRESS AT WASHINGTON, D. C.


R


12TH


CER.


MER.


11TH! TTHOGAR, LINE


9TH


DULUTH


STP


CORA. LINE


COWFR


LAKE


DAK


T


ITHA


7TH


OTH


ETH


CORR


STH


MINNEAPOLIS . ST.PAUL


PRIN


CONSIN


TIS


2ND CORR. LINE


LINE


DASE


IddISSISSI


GORR.


LINE


CBRBE


OMILWAUKEE


MADISON


BAST


M2


A


5TH P.M


CHICAGO


1ST


LINE


BASE


LJAO STAN


SALT LAKE CITY LINE


CHEYENNETE


A NA


LINCI


OMAHA


JINTAN


bo UND


BRR.


BASE


MER


DENVER


LINE


SATHI PRIN. MERT


PRINCIPAL


INDIANAPOLIS COL


CINCINNA


7H2ND


"KANSAS


RIVER


P.V.G.M.


River


RO


C


K


PAR


STAN


5THG


CIMAR


PRINCIPAL |MER.'TOTH


BASE


LINE


BASE


BASE


2ND-


INTST


River


ATI


RKA


PRESCOTT


INDIA Kansas


WEMERIDIAN


TOLEDO


MER.


LINE


IST STAN. PAR.


1ST STAN.


PAR.


MEICHZ GA . NO.


A


15TH "STANE


PAR


13TI


ITH C-LE


12TH


AKE


SUPERIO


-11TH


IDE


6TH CORR. LINE/


BISDE OF THE ROCK


NORTH


4TH INITIAL MER.


MERIDIAN


REGINA


MERIDIAN


Longitude West from Greenwich.


115º


110


105ª


5TH INITIAL M.


WEST


TERRITORY


0


Red


GUIDE


LINE


CORR


HURON


Cheyenne


BOISE CITY


"SPO STAN. PAR.


THILOSSAK


Sil


BASE


DALLAS O


A


16' N of E. 300 Rods.


SUPPLEMENT


UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYS.


These lines are termed "Range Lines." They divide the land into strips or divisions six miles wide, extending North and South, parallel with the Meridian. Each division is called a Range. Ranges are numbered from one upward, comm cing at the Meridian; and their numbers are indicated by Roman characters. For instance, the first division (or first six miles) west of the Meridian is Range I. West; the next is Range II. West; then comes Range III., IV., V., VI., VII., and s , on, until the territory governed by another Principal Meridian is reached. In the same manner the Ranges East of the Meridian are numbered, the words East or West being always used to indicate the direction from the Principal Meridian. See Diagram 3.


Commencing at the Base Line, at intervals of six miles, lines are run East and West parallel with the Base Le. These are designated as Township Lines. They divide the land into strips or divisions six miles wide, extending East and West, parallel with the Base Line. This plan is followed both North and South of the Base Line until the territory governed by another Principal Meridian and Base Line is reached. These divisions or Townships are numbered from one upward, both North and South of the Base Line, and their numbers are indicated by figures. For instance : The first six mile division North of the Base Line is Township 1 North ; the next is Township 2 North ; then comes Township 3, 4, 5, and 6, North, and so on. The same plan is , followed South of the Base Line; the Townships being designated as Township 1 South, Township 2 South, and so on. The " North " or "South" (the initials N. or S. being generally used) indicates the direction from the Base Line. See Diagram 3.


These Township and Range Lines, crossing each other, as shown in Diagram 3, form squares, which are called "Townships" or " Government Townships," which are six miles square, or as nearly that as it is possible to make them. These Townships are a very important feature in locating or describing a piece of laud. The location of a Government Township, however, is very readily found when the number of the Township and Range is given, by merely counting the number indicated from the Base Line and Principal Meridian. As an example of this, Township 8 North, Range 4, West of the 5th Principal Meridian, is at once located on the square marked . on Diagram 3, by counting eight tiers north of the Base Line and 4 tiers west of the Meridian.


TOWNSHIPS OF LAND.


OWNSHIPS are the largest sub- divisions of land run out by the United States Surveyors. In the Governmental Surveys Township Lines are the first to be run, and a Township Corner is established every six miles and marked. This is called "Townshipping." After the Township Corners have been care- fully located, the Section and Quarter Section Corners are established, Each Township is six miles square and contains 23,040 acres, or 36 square miles, as near as it is possible to make them. This, however, is fre- quently made impossible by: (1st) the pres- ence of lakes and large streams; (2nd) by State boundaries not falling exactly on. Township Lines ; (3rd) by the convergence of Meridians or curvature of the earth's surface ; and (4th) by inaccurate surveys.


Each Township, unless it is one of the exceptional cases referred to, is divided into 36 squares, which are called Sections. These Sections are intended to be one mile, or 320 rods, square and contain 640 acres of land. Sections are numbered consecutively from 1 to 36, as shown on Diagram 4. Beginning with Section 1 in the Northeast Corner, they run West to 6, then East to 12, then West to 18, and so on, back and forth, until they end with Section 36 in the Southeast Corner.


Diagram 4 shows a plat of a Township ae it is divided and platted by the govern- ment surveyors. These Townships are called Government Townships or Congres- sional Townships, to distinguish them from Civil Townships or organized Townships, as frequently the lines of organized Town- ships do not conform to the Government Township lines.


SECTIONS OF LAND.


D IAGRAM 5 illustrates how a section may be subdivided, although the Diagram only gives a few of the many subdivisions into which a section may be divided.


All Sections (except fractional Sections) are supposed to be 320 rods, or one mile, square and therefore contain 640 acres-a number easily divisible. Sections are subdivided into fractional parts to suit the convenience of the owners of the land. A half-section contains 320 acres; a quarter-section contains 160 acres; half of a quarter contains 80 acres, and quarter of a quarter contains 40 acres, and so on. Each piece of land is described according to the portion of the section which it embraces-as the Northeast quarter of Section 10; or the Southeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 10. Diagram 5 shows how many of these subdivisions are platted, and also shows the plan of designating and describing them by initial letters as each parcel of land on the Diagram is marked with its description.


As has already been stated, all Sections (except Fractional Sections which are explained else- where) are supposed to contain 640 acres, and even though mistakes have been made in surveying, as is frequently the case, making sections larger or smaller than 640 acres, the Government recog- nizes no variation, but sells or grants each regular section as containing 640 acres "more or less."


The Government Surveyors are not required to subdivide sections by running lines within them, but they usually establish Quarter Posts on Section Lines on each side of a section at the points marked A. B. C. and D. on Diagram 5. After establishing Township corners, Section Lines are the next to be run, and section cor- DIAGRAM 5. ners are established. When these are carefully located the Quarter Posts are located at points as nearly equidistant between Section Corners as B possible. " These corners when established by Government Surveyors cannot be changed, even though it is conclusively shown that mistakes have been made which cause some sections or quarter sections to be either larger or smaller N. E. 1/4 than others. The laws, however, of all the States provide certain rules for local surveyors to follow in dividing Sections into smaller 10 160 A. parcels of land than has been outlined in the Governmental surveys. For instance, in divid- ing a quarter section into two parcels, the dis- N. 1/2 of S. E. 1/4 ance between the Government Corners is care- fully measured and the new post is located at a point equidistant between them. This plan is 80 A. N. 3% of S. W. 14 followed in running out "eighties," "forties," of S.E. M S. E. 1/4 "twenties," etc. In this way, if the Govern- W. 1/2 320 ACRES. Quarter Post (20 A.) of S. E. 1/4 ment division overruns or falls short, each- S. 34 of S. W. W of S.E. K portion gains or loses its proportion. This is (20 A.) 40 A. not the case, however, with Fractional Sections D SUBDIVIDING A SECTION. along the North or West sides of a Township, or adjoining a lake or large stream.


DIAGRAM 4.


118 R.


196 R.


100 R.


95 R.


93 R.


I R.


90 R.


90 R.


DO R.


DO R.


O R.


BR.


88 R.


R.


84 R.


82 R.


BO R.


178 R.


3KG A.


77 R.


6


5


4


3


2


78 R.


40 À


MARSH


80 R


4 A.


82 R.


% A.


85 R.


8


9


10


12


44% A.


87 R.


PO R.


47 A.


94 R.


96 R.


18


16


15


14


18


4D A.


98 R.


61 A.


103.2 R.


63 A.


106.8 R.


55 A.


110 h.


19


20


2%


23


12424


5G A


113.4 R.


58 A


115.8 R.


00 A.


119.2 R.


122.6 R.


29


28


27


26


25


63 A.


126 R.


61Y A.


129.4 R.


132.8 R.


CREEK


68 A.


136.2 R. 131


32


33


34


35


36


70 A.


139.6 R.


71 A.


143 R.


DIAGRAM 3.


BANGES WEST OF STH P M. , A BANGES EAST OF STR P.M.


10


NORTH


*


5TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN


NORTH


TOWNSHIPS


TOWNSHIPS


TOWNSHIPS SOUTH


RANGER REST OF SITH AM. . A ' RANGES EAST OF STR P.M.


FRACTIONAL PIECES OF LAND.


ONGRESSIONAL Townships vary considerably as to size and boundaries. Mistakes made in surveying and the fact that Meridians converge as they run North cause every Township to vary more or less from the 23,040 acres which a perfect Township would contain. See Diagram 4. In arranging a Township into Sections all the surplus or deficiency of land is given to, or taken from, the North and West tiers of Sections. In other words, all Sections in the Township are made full- 640 acres-except those on the North and West, which are given all the land that is left after forming the other 25 Sections.


Diagram 4 illustrates how the surplus or deficiency is distributed and the Sections it s fects. It will be seen that Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31, are the " Fractional Sections," or the Sections which are affected if the Township overruns or falls short. Inside of these Fractional Sections, all of the surplus or deficiency of land (over or under 640 acres) is carried to the "forties" or "eighties" that touch the Township Line. These pieces of land are called "Fractional Forties" or "Fractional Eighties," as the case may be. Diagrams 4 and 6 show the manner of marking- the acreage and outlining . the boundaries of these "Fractions."


Diagram 6 illustrates how the surplus or deficiency of land inside of these Sections is distributed and which "forties" or "eighties" it affects. From this arrangement it will be seen that in any Section that touches the North or West Township Lines, the Southeast Quarter may be full-160 acres-while another quarter of the same Section may be much larger or smaller. Frequently these fractional "forties" or "eighties" are lotted as shown in Diagram 6. They are always described as fractional tracts of land, a's the "fractional S. W. { of Section 6," etc. Of course those portions of these Sections which are not affected by these variations are described in the usual manner-as Southeast { of Section 6. As a rule Townships are narrower at the North than at the South side. The Meridians of Longitude (which run North and South) converge as they run North and South from the Equator. They begin at the Equator with a definite width between them and gradually converge until they all meet at the poles. Now, as the Range lines are run North and South, it will at once be seen that the convergence of Meridians will cause every Congressional Township (North of the Equator) to be narrower at its North than at its South side, as stated. See Diagram 4. In addition to this fact, mistakes of measurement are constantly and almost unavoidably made in running both Township and Range lines, and if no new starting points were established the lines would become confused and unreliable, and DIAGRAM 6. the size and shape of Townships 80.5 42 R. materially affected by the time the LOT 4. LOT 3. LOT 2. 83 surveys had extended even a hundred miles from the Base Line and Princi- 62 AC. ACRES. 85 LOT 1. 96 R. ACRES. ACRES. 85 R. 81 R. 90 R. pal Meridian. In order to correct the surveys and variations caused. by the difference of latitude and 53 R. LOT 5. straighten the lines, "Correction Lines" (or Guide Meridians and Standard Parallels) are established at 29 AC. 40 - 2 80 ACRES. ACRES. & frequent intervals, usually as follows: 80 R 80 Rods. North of the Base Line a Correction 58 R. LOT 6. 160 Rods. Line is run East and West parallel with the Base Line, usually every twenty-four miles. South of the -32 AC. Base Line a Correction Line is usually established every thirty miles. Both East and West of the Principal 160 ACRES. 64 R. LOT 7. Meridian "Correction Lines" are 160 Rods. 74 R. 37 AC. 80 ACRES. nsnally established every 48 miles. All Correction Lines are located by 81 R. 60.5 careful measurement, and the suc- 80 Rods. 160 Rods. ceeding surveys are based upon PLAT OF A FRACTIONAL SECTION. them.


ENTERED ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR BV GEO. A. OGLE FICE OF THE LIBARIAN OF CONGRESS AT WASHINGTON, D. C.


TOWNSHIPS SOUTH


BASE LINE


BASE LINE


78 R.


84 A.


MA


F


7936 A.


Ou A:


17


CREE


10


55 TIMBER


:- 130


21


RIVER


SUPPLEMENT (!),


DIGEST OF THE SYSTEM OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT.


DIGEST OF THE SYSTEM OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT,


WITH A REVIEW OF THE


DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS CONNECTED WITH THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF NATIONAL, STATE, COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT.


NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.


T THE GOVERNMENT of the United States is one of limited and specific powers, strictly outlined and defined by a written con- stitution. The constitution was adopted in 1787, and, with the amendments that have since been made, it forms the basis of the entire fabric of government under which we live. The constitution created three distinct branches of government, each of which is entirely separate and distinct from the others. They are the executive, legislative and judicial departments. The constitution spe- cifically vests the executive power in the President, but all members of the cabinet are usually classed wit t the executive department; the legislative power is held by Congress, and the judicial authority is vested in the Supreme Court and various other courts which Congress has provided for in pursuance of the provisions of the constitution.


. It has been the aim of these pages to explain each of these different branches of government, and to briefly review the duties and powers of the principal officials connected with each department.


The President and Vice-President are elected by popular vote, but the vote of each State is separate, so that a candidate may have a large majority of the aggregate popular vote of the country and yet fail to be elected. The Presidential election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, when Presidential electors are chosen in and for the various States, each State having as many electors as it has rep- resentatives in both branches of Congress. The electors are chosen by the ballots of the people of their States, and all the electors of a State constitute an electoral college. The electors meet in each State at the capital on the first Wednesday in December following a National elec- tion and vote for President and Vice-President, certificates of which are forwarded to the President of the Senate, at Washington, who, on the second Wednesday in February opens the certificates and counts the votes in the presence of both Houses of Congress and declares the result; and the final step is the inauguration, which takes place on the 4th of March. The law provides that if neither of the candidates have a major- ity then the House of Representatives shall elect a President from the three candidates receiving the highest electoral vote. In elections of this kind each State is entitled to only one vote, and two-thirds of the State" form a quorum.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.