Nov 15

Burdick Family Land Records, Wexford County, Michigan Liber 9 page 332

This entry is part 10 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

This is something a little different.

Date: 4 Feb 1880
Liber: 9
Page: 332
Location: Colfax Township, Wexford Co., MI
Grantor: William Backus of Chicago Illinois by C.A. Lamb of Manton Wexford County MI his Attorney In Fact
Grantee: Mary J. Burdick
Witnesses: W.P. Smith; D.K. Bellis
Type of deed: Quit Claim
Rec’d and recording: 21 Feb 1880
Clerk/registrar: C.J. Manktelow
Location of land: Greenwood, Wexford MI
Consideration: $100
Notes:
Description: The NW1/4 of the NW1/4 of Sec 28 and the SW1/4 of the SE1/4 Sec 15 all in T24N R10W

Mary J. Burdick has purchased whatever claim William Backus has to the land described above. I am not in Wexford County, or I would run to the courthouse and find out what that claim is. The next few deeds will help explain what happened. For now, here is the land, and you can also see the relationship of the the land to the Burdick homestead in Colfax Township, just to the south. I pasted portions of the two township maps from the Atlas1 together. I drew a dashed line where I pasted the townships together; Greenwood is north of Colfax. This is a thumbnail, you may see a larger view by clicking on it.

You can also note that when the atlas was published in 1889, Mary J. Burdick did own the land in question.

after 9-332

  1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 29; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009.

Nov 14

Burdick Family Land Records, Wexford County, Michigan Liber 8 page 168

This entry is part 9 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

Date: 5 Nov 1878
Liber: 8
Page: 168
Location: Cedar Creek, now Manton
Grantor: John P. Fenton and Susie M. Fenton his wife
Grantee: Mary J. Burdick
Witnesses: George Fenton, Salina Fenton
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 23 Nov 1878
Clerk/registrar: C. J. Manktelow
Location of land: Wexford Co mi
Consideration: $75
Notes: Susie is Mary J. Burdick’s daughter
Description: Lots 8, 9, & 10 block B Seamons & Maqueston’s village plat in the N 1/4 Sec 10 T23N R9W

I have been scratching my head over this deed, and the previous two. Although John Fenton was listed on the 1880 census as a horse trader, more than one person appears to be doing a little horse trading. I needed a visual to understand, so here goes:

Recorded in 8-167 8-168 8-174
Date signed 5 Nov 1878 5 Nov 1878 18 Nov 1878
Date recorded 23 Nov 1878 23 Nov 1878 19 Nov 1878
Grantor Geo & Mary Burdick John & Susie Fenton Geo & Mary Burdick
Grantee John Fenton Mary J. Burdick Susie Fenton
Land Block B lots 8, 9, 10 Block B Lots 8, 9, 10 Block B Lot 3

For reasons I do not understand, George W. Burdick wanted lots 8,9 and 10 in his wife’s name, and could not, or would not transfer them directly to her. I guess Lot 3 is where Susie and John were living in Manton in 1880, when George and Mary J. were out in Colfax township.

Nov 13

Burdick Family Land Records, Wexford County, Michigan Liber 8 page 174

This entry is part 8 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

Date: 18 Nov 1878
Liber: 8
Page: 174
Location: Wexford Co., MI
Grantor: George W. Burdick & Mary Jane Burdick, his wife
Grantee: Susie M. Fenton
Witnesses: F.A. Jenison, C.A. Lamb
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 19 Nov 1878
Clerk/registrar: C.J. Manktelow
Location of land: Cedar Creek, now Manton
Consideration: $50.00
Notes: Susie AM. Fenton is George & Mary Jane’s daughter
Description: Lot 3 Block B of Seaman & Maquestons Village Plat on the NW 1/4 Sec 10 T23N R9W

In the same month as George transferred lots 8, 9, and 10 to his daughter’s husband, he transfers another of his lots to his daughter. On this date, John Fenton owns lots 8, 9 and 10 and Susie Burdick Fenton owns lot 3.

block b 8-9-10 3-4

Nov 12

Burdick Family Land Records, Wexford County, Michigan Liber 8 page 167

This entry is part 5 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

Date: 5 Nov 1878
Liber: 8
Page: 167
Location: Cedar Creek Village, now Manton, MI
Grantor: George W. Burdick and Mary J. Burdick
Grantee: John Fenton
Witnesses: E. VanAlstine, C.A. Lamb
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 23 Nov 1878
Clerk/registrar: C.J. Manktelow
Location of land: Wexford County, MI
Consideration: $75
Notes: Lots 8, 9, and 10 of block B, Seaman & Maqueston’s village plat on the NW 1/4 Sec 10 T23N R9W
Description:

George is transferring three of the lots he purchased on December, 1876, Liber 4, page 491 to his son-in-law, John Fenton. There were two John Fentons win Colfax Township, John P. and his father. Although this deed did not say, “John P. Fenton”, it could have not been his father who died about 1872. These lots are clearly shown on the map from the old Atlas.1

According to the 1880 census of Manton2, John Fenton was a “dealer in horses”, born Indiana, age 29. George W. Burdick resided in Colfax Township3, perhaps on the land described in the deed recorded in liber 2, page 403 of Wexford County deeds.

block b 8-9-10 3-4

  1. E.L. Hayes, Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations (Chicago, Illinois: E.L. Hayes & Co. 1889), page 21, digital images, University of Michigan Library, Michigan County Histories and Atlases (http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009)
  2. “1880 United States Federal Census,” database, (Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2009), entry for John Fenton, [b.] ca 1851, Roll T9_609; Family History Film: 1254609; Page: 469.2000; Enumeration District: 248; Image: 0671.
  3. “1880 United States Federal Census,” database, (Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 November 2009), entry for Geo W. Burdick, [b.] ca 1827, Roll T9_609; Family History Film: 1254609; Page: 479.1000; Enumeration District: 248; Image: 0690.

Nov 11

Burdick Family Land Records, Wexford County, Michigan Liber 7 page 606

This entry is part 7 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

Date: 11 Nov 1878
Liber: 7
Page: 606
Locator: Wexford Co., MI
Grantor: George W. Burdick & Mary J. Burdick of Wexford Co., MI
Grantee: John P Fenton of the state and county aforesaid
Witnesses: C.A. Lamb, George Fenton
Type of deed: Quit Claim Deed
Rec’d and recording: 23 Nov 1878
Clerk/registrar: C.J Manktelow
Location of land: Sect 4 T23N R10W
Consideration: $300
Notes: John P. Fenton is George W. Burdick’s son-in-law
Description: NE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 4, T23N R10W

I remember this piece of land, George Burdick purchased E1/2 of the NE 1/4 of T23N R10W from Erasmus D. Abbott. The price was $200.

ehalf ne quarter

Now, George is selling 1/2 of the land to his son-in-law, John P. Fenton:

ehalf ne quarter

The price is higher, perhaps a reflection of improvements made to the land. Looking closely at the old 1889 atlas1 shows the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter is a fractional 40. That means that allowances were made for the curvature of the earth along the north line of the township, and this area is not a full 40 acres. It is just over 10 acres short, and I was confused at the time I made the extraction. However, the old map shows it perfectly: 29.97 acres.

29-97

You can see that adjustments were made all along the Township line, all the property seems to be fractional, a portion of a 40. the plots just below are are listed as a full 40 acres. You can also see that in 1889, or whenever the data from the 1889 atlas was collected, George W. Burdick owned both pieces, and there appears to be a house on each part.

  1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), page 29; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009.

Nov 10

Until We Meet Again

Papa’s Dad left us nine years ago today. In many ways, it seems like yesterday, but it was not yesterday. Our niece, who is his youngest granddaughter, had traveled the distance between a little girl and a teen. We have two granddaughters he never saw or held. Our youngest grandson does not remember him, and our older grandsons, his great-grandsons that he was so proud of, are far from the safety of home, one in the Navy and the other the Army.

This picture of him hangs in M-in-L’s home. It looks so much like him, that I expect him to say something every time I see it. But he has said all he had to say, and helped us all he could. He never said a disparaging word about anyone. His family, the neighborhood, and the world are richer for his passing this way.

I am not sure if it is the tractor, or the man on it, or the beautiful scene behind him that looks so like home, but today looking at this gives me a sad feeling.
bill sr tractoredited
William R. Warren, Sr., 7 March 1918 – 10 November 2000.

Nov 09

George W. Burdick, Another Look

This entry is part 6 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

OK, I admit it. I have been holding out information on George. I probably would have continued to hold off on some information, but one of Papa’s cousins reminded me, and I am coming clean! The Michigan Histories and Atlases have given me quite a few clues about our families, and here is a crumb:

In January, 1877 a resident of Manton described the village as follows: “We have three good hotels, The Wexford House is the largest, and is a credit to any town. Its proprietor is William Martin, The Burdick House is kept by G. W. Burdick….”1

In addition, in December of 1876, George’s oldest daughter was married.

27 Apr 1827 Birth: Berlin, Rensselaer Co., NY
1850 Census: Andover, Allegany Co., NY
1855 Marriage: Mary Jane Abbott
1850 Census: Andover, Allegany Co., NY
29 Mar 1856 Daughter: Susie Melissa born, Andover, Allegany Co., NY
1860 Census: Andover Allegany County, New York
24 Oct 1860 Son: Fink Clement born Andover, Allegany Co., NY
24 Oct 1860 – 23 Jn 1868 Migration: New York to Pennsylvania
23 June 1868 Daughter: Mable Genevieve born, Eleven Mile, Potter Co., PA
23 June -May 1870 Migration: Pennsylvania to Michigan.
27 Aug 1870 Census: Colfax, Wexford County, Michigan.
11 Jan 1871 Daughter: Gertie W. born Colfax, Wexford Co., MI
12 Mar 1874 News item: The Grand Traverse Herald; Boardman, Grand Traverse County, Michigan Listed as arrivals at the Boardman River House for the week ending March 9th: (lengthy list) Geo. W Burdick, Manton.
20 May 1874 Purchased Interest: E 1/2 of the NE1 /4 Sec. 4 T23N R10W Wexford Co., MI.
26 May 1876 Sold Interest: E 1/2 of the NE 1 /4 Sec. 4 T23N R10W Wexford Co., MI
.
8 Nov 1876 Purchased 1/2 interest: Seaman & Maqueston Addition to the village of Cedar Creek Block B 1/2 interest lots 3 & 4.
13 Dec 1876 Daughter, Susie M. marries John P. Fenton.
28 Dec 1876 Purchased Interest: Seaman & Maqueston Addition to the village of Cedar Creek Block B lots 8, 9, 10 and 1/2 interest lots 3 & 4.
1877 Mentioned as a hotel keeper in an old county history.
1880 Census: Colfax Township, Wexford County, Michigan
8 Jan 1885 News item: the Grand Traverse Herald, “Geo. W. Burdick will log quite extensively in Colfax this winter.”
1910 Census: Colfax Township, Wexford County, Michigan
24 Oct 1914 Death: Irons, Lake County, Michigan
26 Oct 1914 Burial: Colfax Township, Wexford County, Michigan

Now I am wondering, where was the hotel located? At the same time, I remember descriptions I have read of hotels on the frontier, with people sleeping every which way on the floors, using all available space. I am not sure when I may be able to further assess the location of the hotel.  Once again, I checked in the Michigan County History site, and found three atlases.  The 1889 atlas2 is 12 years later than 1876-78, the time period I am interested in, but worth a look.

Block B

Lot 3 is empty, but lot 4 has a building of unknown size.  Lot 10 is the home of the “Friends Meeting Ho.”, with 8 and 9 appearing to be empty.

It is possible that buildings may have existed on these lots earlier, and burnt down or otherwise been destroyed.  Without further review of early plat maps at the courthouse, I probably will not know if one of these lots contained a hotel that Burdick may have operated.

  1. Alexander Winchell, The Grand Traverse region : a report on the geological and industrial resources of the counties of Antrim, Grand Traverse, Benzie and Leelenaw in the lower peninsula of Michigan (Ann Arbor: Dr. Chase’s steam printing house 1866), page 348; digital images, University of Michigan Library, Michigan County Histories and Atlases (http://name.umdl.umich.edu/BAD0780.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009)
  2. E.L. Hayes, Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations (Chicago, Illinois: E.L. Hayes & Co. 1889), page 21, digital images, University of Michigan Library, Michigan County Histories and Atlases (http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009)

Nov 07

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun – Surname Distributions!

Randy says:

Hey, genealogy fans – it’s Saturday Night, and time for some Genealogy Fun!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible music…), is:

1) Find out the geographical distribution of your surname – in the world, in your state or province, in your county or parish. I suggest that you use the Public Profiler site at http://www.publicprofiler.org/worldnames/, which seems to work quickly and easily. However, you cannot capture the image as a photo file – you have to capture the screen shot, save it and edit it.

Here is the world-wide view for my name, which is Yearnd:

world

According to the map, this name exists only in the United States. Here is the USA distribution:

uw

The stats are a little small in this, but it says: Arizona, 1.2 frequencies per million, and Illinois, .33 frequencies per million.

stats

I know this name is infrequent, it seems that my g-grandfather and his family invented the spelling after they arrived in Michigan about 1870. Although I have found a few other occurrences in early records, they seem to be errors, or people with no connection. In one case, a family claiming German roots, as my ancestors did, resided in Wisconsin in 1860. Footnote members may see information on them, which I spot-lighted on Footnote. I have spent the majority of my adult life dreaming up possibilities for the original spelling of my name. Knowing what the name was is my key to finding any connection to Germany, or wherever the family originated. The key is still hidden.

Currently, There are exactly five living males with this surname, my two brothers, their two sons, and my cousin. There are eight females that I am aware of, my two brother’s wives, my cousin’s mother, my cousin’s wife, and two ex-wives of my brother, and my two nieces. That is 13 total people, and six of them live in the states found and highlighted by this profiler. The remaining seven people live in states which do not show up.

Based on my results, this is an interesting tool, but I wonder where the data comes from. I believe at least some of the missing individuals are “listed” in either in phone or city directories. I guess I would use care in quoting the results, since there is a pretty large error rate.

Nov 06

Michigan Electronic Library and Michigan Electronic Catalog — A Survey

You remember last summer, right? Members of two pretty main-stream groups, genealogists and librarians protested in support of the Library of Michigan when funding was threatened.

The Department of History, Arts and Libraries was abolished, the Library of Michigan and the services it provides were moved to the Michigan Department of Education. Some subtle changes in the website indicate this, although every “History, Arts and Libraries” banner has not been replaced on the websites.

Today’s topic is: Electronic services provided through the Library of Michigan (and Archives of Michigan) to the citizens of Michigan. The Michigan Electronic Library (MeL) is a large collection of digital resources provided to the citizens of Michigan. A grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services helps fund this group of electronic services.

They are as follows:

  1. The Michigan Electronic Catalog MeLCat is a database of resources in participating Michigan Libraries which allows patrons of those libraries to borrow, books, CD’s movies and other resources, and have delivered to their home library.
  2. MeL Databases containing databases and full-text resources in these categories:
    • Books and Reading
    • Business and Jobs
    • Genealogy
    • Health and Wellness
    • Kids
    • Reference Desk
    • Teens
  3. Mel Michigan – A large collection of on-line resources. This category includes Seeking Michigan which contains the new death record collection and much more, Michigan Histories and Atlases, and many more full-text electronic resources available from home.
  4. Online resources for Educators, including lesson plans and curriculum aids.
  5. Featured resources, a list of current and highlighted topics.

Why am I writing this? If you are a library user, you have may get great benefit from these services. Even if you never leave your home, you can use electronic resources like Seeking Michigan, or Heritage Quest, or the on-line newspaper collection if you have a library card or a Michigan Driver’s license.

According to the Michigan Electronic Library Website:

“The MeL Study is here! In an effort to continue improving MeL and MeLCat so libraries and Michigan residents get the most benefit from the program, the Library of Michigan has contracted with EPIC MRA to study the program. See here for more information or take the survey that applies to you below. “

Please follow drop over to the Library site, check out the resources, read about the survey and take it.

Thanks to Brenda K. Wolfgram Moore, MGC Corresponding Secretary Tom Koselka, and Pam Epple for pointing out this opportunity to me.

Nov 05

Burdick Family Land Records, Wexford County, Michigan, Liber 4 Page 492

This entry is part 4 of 99 in the series Deeds in the Family

I am posting information gleaned from land records in the areas where our family’s ancestors resided. You can read more about this project in the overview. You may also check my deed record listing, which I will update with each post.

I have elected to post all the deeds related to George W. Burdick and his family first.

Date: 8 Nov 1876
Liber: 4
Page: 492
Location: Wexford Co. MI
Grantor: William E. Gilbert & Maggie Gilbert his wife of Cedar Creek, Wexford, MI
Grantee: George W. Burdick of the same place
Witnesses: Ezra Harper, Lana Patridge
Type of deed: Warranty
Rec’d and recording: 29 Dec 1876, 9 a.m.
Clerk/registrar: Sturtevant
Location of land: Wexford Co. MI
Consideration: $200
Notes:
Description: An undivided 1/2 interest in lots 3 & 4 in block B in Seaman & Maqueston Addition to the village of Cedar Creek.

I left the maps here, in case you did not read yesterday’s deed. In the deed recorded on page 491, George Burdick purchased lots 8,9 and 10 and 1/2 interest in lots 3 and 4. The deeds were received in the registrar’s office at the same time, but executed consecutively. I appears that George purchased this 1/2 interest in the two lots on 8 November 1876, and the additional 3 lots and the other half of these lots on 28 Dec.

I have illustrated the location of the property in drawings from an old 1889 atlas1, Here is the overview, it can be enlarged by clicking it.

block B

After both deeds were executed, George Burdick’s holdings in block B of Seaman & Maquestons addition:

block b 8-9-10 3-4

I wonder if this needed to be cleared? Is there some other reason that George may have purchased it?

As I was wondering why George was buying up land, something crossed my mind, the 1860 census for George’s family:

Geo W. Burdick, 33, male, house carpenter, value of real estate not filled in, value of personal estate 50, born New York.
Mary Jane, 23, house labor, born New York
Susan M. 4, female
Rosanna Perkins 69, female, born New York.

Now I really wonder about George W. Burdick. Was he building something? Clearing something? Just investing? Perhaps time will tell.

  1. E.L. Hayes & Co., Atlas of Wexford County, Michigan / compiled by Eli L. Hayes from government surveys, county and township records, and personal investigations and observations (Chicago, Ill.: E.L. Hayes & Co., 1889), 21; digital images, The University of Michigan. Michigan County Histories and Atlases. http://name.umdl.umich.edu/3928170.0001.001 : accessed 2 November 2009.
  2. 1850 U.S. Census, Allegany County, New York, population schedule, Andover, page 27 (penned) p 985 (stamped), dwelling 203, family 203. Geo W. Burdick: digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 2 November 2009); from National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 718.