E-Mail 'Burdick Family Land Records, Wexford County, Michigan Liber 80 page 440' To A Friend

I received a comment from one of Papa’s cousins (The Uncle Ross this person refers to was Ross P. Fenton, Papa’s grandfather):

The strip of land that is involved in that transaction, I believe, was the original right of way for the Grand Rapids and Indiana RR lumbering spur that ran west from the mainline north of Manton. The GR & I is indicated on the Colfax map that you have displayed. As a kid I can remember going along these old right of ways as they seemed to be a place where you would often find wild berries (especially blackberries ) growing. There was an area on the West side of Uncle Ross’s farm where a line had been that was particularly lush with berries.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about these land transactions. They must have been the wheeler dealers of their time.