[ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

Van Buren Twp. in 1841

GROOME

Posted By: Tom Lammers (email)
Date: 4/11/2013 at 19:04:21

In June-July 1841, Lt. John Charles Frémont (1813–1890) of the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers surveyed the Des Moines River from its mouth to the mouth of Raccoon River.

He started at Churchville (now Alexandria), Missouri, and followed a northwesterly course between the Des Moines and Fox Rivers, along the ridge where today are Peaksville and Revere, Missouri. On the evening of 28 June, he reached “a farm house on the verge of the prairie, about two miles and a half from Chinquest [i.e., Chequest] creek.”

I am trying to learn whose farm this might have been.

I deduce that this farmhouse was in extreme southwestern Van Buren Township (T69N R10W), in section 31 or 32, from the fact that he crossed Chequest Creek on 29 June at a spot four miles above its mouth. Extrapolating from that point 2˝ miles south puts him in section 31 or 32 of Van Buren Township. A map from that period (see link) indeed shows the border of prairie and woods in those sections.

I figure that there could not have been many settlers yet in that area, and so perhaps it might be someone of some local prominence. I've seen an old map that shows W. S. Groome living in sect. 31 in later years, and also seen that W. S. Groome came to the area in Apr 1839.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. This information is wanted for a historical article I am writing on this early Iowa survey. Thank you.

Tom Lammers
Department of Biology
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~1225~90130:Iowa---A-sectional-Map-of-the-Black
 

Van Buren Queries maintained by Rich Lowe.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen

 

Post Response
Your Name:
E-Mail Address:
Subject:
Surnames:
Your Query

If you'd like to include a link to another page with your message,
please provide both the URL address and the title of the page:

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:

If you'd like e-mail notification of responses, please check this box:

Verification Test: Please type the two letters
before submission   (helps stop automated spam):  

 

 

[ Post Response ] [ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]