How To Read Land Locations
Helpful Definitions:
After 1803 all land west of Ohio was surveyed and laid out in squares for settlement.
A township is 36 square miles; A section is one mile square and contains 640 acres. A quarter section is 160 acres, 1/4th mile (440 yards) square and about an average size for early farms.
Remember that "township" is a measure of land ONLY. Do not confuse township as a measurement and actual towns, or administrative divisions.
The Master plat plan for Franklin County identifies the alpha-numeric labels for the townships of Franklin County. We will display maps showing locations of original land grants for every township in Franklin County.
Introduction:
This project comes in two parts. Part one displays plat maps showing the original land grants and listing names of their owners. Part two shows the original cemeteries located within those land grants.
Land Grants:
Find ancestral land grants located by township, range and section number.
Example:
At the top of the master plat for Franklin County bordering Madison County are two partial townships alphanumerically labeled R27WT13N and R26WT13N.These townships share territory with Madison County. Same is true on county boundaries east, west and south.
Note of appreciation:
Thanks go to Lynn Risener who did the research and provided the maps and historical information. Images herein are protected by registered copyrights by Lynn Risener.
Now travel to find farms and names of original owners in each township. Note that section 16 in nearly every township was reserved for schools.