Vermilion County, Illinois - Chapter 7: United States Land Surveys, 1911

Chapter 7: United States Land Surveys

The system which governs the survey of the territories of the United States is a peculiar one. It is based upon a plan which makes a division of the land into squares of uniform size, so arranged that any tract of 160 acres, or a "quarter section," may have its distinct designation and be readily found upon the map, or recognized upon the ground by the marks the surveyors leave. Appleton's American Encyclopedia describes this plan clearly and concisely as follows :

Each great survey is based upon a meridian line run due north and south by astronomical measurements, the whole extent of the survey in these directions, and upon a "standard parallel" or base line, running east and west, similarly established with great accuracy. Parallels to these lines are run every six miles, usually with the solar compass corrected by frequent celestial observations, and thus, as nearly as the figure of the earth admits, the surface is divided into squares of six miles north and south and the same east and west, each one containing thirty-six square miles. The territory is further divided into sections by meridians and parallels run at every mile ; while the half mile is marked on these lines by setting what is called a "quarter post," the points are established for the subdivisions into quartersections.

The squares of thirty-six square miles are termed townships, often contracted into "towns;" and each line of theml east and west is numbered either N. or S. from the base line, and each line of them N. and S. is termed a range, and either numbered E. or W. from the meridian. The N. and S. lines bordering the townships are known as range lines, and the E. and W. lines as township lines. Each survey is designated by the meridian upon which it is based, and of these principal meridians there are six designated by numbers, and eighteen by special names. The first meridian adopted for these surveys was the boundary line between Ohio and Indiana; the second through Indiana on the meridian of 86 degrees 28 minutes, west from Greenwich ; the third through Illinois, beginning at the mouth of the Ohio river ; the fourth north from the mouth of the Illinois river ; the fifth north from the river Arkansas ; the sixth on the 4Oth parallel of longitude.

After a township is determined the sections of it are numbered beginning with the northeast corner, running thence across and back until the 36th is reached in the southeast corner.

Because of the conquest of the Northwestern Territory by George Rogers Clark, and the addition of this land north and west of the Ohio river to the United States by surrender of her rights on the part of the commonwealth of Virginia, there remained but satisfactory treaties to be made with the Indians to open the country to the use of the white settler.

William Henry Harrison was appointed governor of the territory of Indiana at the time of its organization, in 1800, and not only that but he was made general Indian agent for that territory which extended to the Mississippi river on the west, and to the line of the state of Ohio on the east. This territory held the most numerous and most populous Indian tribes west of the Mississippi river.

William Henry Harrison served his country in many and various ways, and at last was given the highest honor the nation can confer upon any one yet no where did he render greater service than in the official dealings he had as superintendent of Indian affairs. He extinguished the title of the Indians to a greater part of the territory in Indiana and Illinois and in all his dealings with them his conduct was marked by a kindness and fair dealing which won him their confidence and esteem. His correspondence, both official and private, well shows that he had a tender regard for, and understanding of, the unfortunate race and a desire to protect their rights against the designs of the unscrupulous white man. At the same time he was as anxious to shield the white man from the aggressions of the Indian. It is said that Governor Harrison, while in this official capacity, was acquainted with almost every prominent chief of the many tribes within his jurisdiction, and by his tact and honest dealing he attracted many of the leading savages to bonds of closest friendship.

It was during his term as superintendent of Indian affairs that he was instrumental in securing the treaty by which the coveted strip of land, now known as the Harrison Purchase, was ceded to the United States. This land, a portion of which lies within the boundary of what is now Vermilion County, was long coveted by Harrison, but it was not until the treaty held at Fort Wayne, September 3Oth, 1809, that it was obtained. This land was run out in 1810, but, because of the trouble with the Indians at that time, nothing more was done then.

This preliminary survey was made by John McDonald, of Vincennes, who was probably the first man who ever set a surveyor's compass thus far up the Wabash. Events quickly followed which led to the battle of Tippecanoe and the war of 1812, during all of which time the enmity of the savages kept the settlements of southern Illinois and Indiana in constant peril and held back immigration. After the close of the war the Harrison Purchase was surveyed and the hardy pioneer took possession.

This, however, opened up but a small portion of what is now Vermilion County. It was not until the treaty of 1819, made at Edwardsville, Illinois, on the thirtieth day of July, between the United States and the Kickapoo Indians, that the territory therein described of which Vermilion County is a part, was surveyed and opened to the occupancy of the white man.

The territory ceded at this time was bounded as follows: - Beginning at the northwest corner of the Vincennes tract (about twenty miles northwest of Vincennes), thence northeasterly to the dividing line between the states of Indiana and Illinois, thence along said line to the Kankakee river ; thence with said river to the Illinois river ; thence down the latter to the mouth ; thence with a direct line to the northwest corner of the Vincennes tract, the place of beginning. The language of his treaty recites that, "said Kickapoo tribe claims a large portion by descent from their ancestors, and the balance by conquest from the Illinois nation and undisputed possession for more than half a century."

This new territory was duly surveyed and became the undisputed property of the white man. When this survey was made the fact was discovered that there was a discrepancy between it and the survey of the Harrison Purchase, of threequarters of a mile. Because of this fact, there is a dip of that extent in the lower part of not only this county but of those south as far as the territory of the Purchase goes.

The Harrison Purchase

Any map of Vermilion county shows an odd extension of irregular shape on the south side, very near to the eastern border. This extension looks as though a wedge-shaped piece of land had been attempted to have been driven into the county, and did not get entirely in. Following the lines marking the east and west boundaries of this wedge, they are found to meet at a little east of Ridge Farm. The area included in this boundary is that part of the Harrison Purchase which falls within Vermilion County. When William Henry Harrison, who was at that time the Superintendent of Indian affairs of the Indiana Teritory, had arranged the purchase of the land he so much desired for the United States and had concluded the treaty with the Delawares, the Kickapoos, the Pottowatomies, the Miamis and the Eel River Indians, at Fort Wayne, September 30, 1809, he came back to locate the new possession. He and the selected Indians met at a certain rock in a grove a little to the east of what is now Ridge Farm. Knowing nothing of the use of the compass, the Indians stipulated that the line bounding the east of the tract should run in the direction of the sun at ten o'clock in the morning, and that the western boundary line should run in the direction of the sun at one o'clock in the afternoon. The agreement was that such territory as fell within the boundary of the extent of a man's riding in two days and a half, would be included in this purchase. All the requirements were met and, it is said, that on the return trip, the grove from which the riders started was their pilot back. It was the only grove of trees in that part of the country and it safely piloted them back, and was for that reason called Pilot Grove.

The west line of this tract of land extends south and west, passing through Marshall, the east line crosses the Wabash at the mouth of Raccoon Creek, below Newport, Indiana, and continues north and east of Terre Haute. The easterly line of this survey has always been called the "ten o'clock line" and the westerly boundary the "one o'clock line" by old settlers and early surveyors. Near the north side of the Harrison Purchase lay a very fertile section which early attracted settlement, and was known as the North AYm Prairie. This was the source of the early settlement of Vermilion County. On account of the difference in the survey of the Harrison Purchase and the later U. S. survey of three quarters of a mile, the boundary lines of Vermilion and Edgar Counties on the south, and Edgar and Clark Counties on the north, have always been irregular.

Second Survey

That small portion of the "Harrison Purchase" which extended into Vermilion County was the only part of this territory which was surveyed up to 1821. After the treaty made at Edwardsville, July 30, 1819, which forever extinguished the claim of the Indians, the United States surveyors came. Unlike their predecessors, the Indians, their work was to be permanent; it was to last through all time, and to be a law to all future dwellers in the land. The lines, as then fixed and marked by these surveyors, are the lines which now divide the townships and farms of the county and which determine its boundaries, and the location of its public roads. A detailed account of the first surveys of Vermilion County has been secured from the General Land Office at Washington, and is as folows :

In making these surveys these men marked the section corners by throwing up mounds of earth around stakes which had been charred in the camp fire, and driven into the ground, and they were left so well marked that other surveyors easily found them after many years.