OHMERCER-L Archives

From: "Jason Gaerke" <>
Subject: [MERCER] Land Patents
Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2001 19:46:29 -0500

Hello,
My ancestor Dieterich Gärke purchased some land in Recovery Township. In a
letter he sent back to Hannover Germany, he stated that he moved in 1838 to
his land.

I found a Land Patent Record for him at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/ and
it was signed in 1840. The document _almost_ appears to have been signed by
President Martin Van Buren. I understand that often there was a few years
delay in getting the offical land patent document (as was the case with my
ancestor) from the land office because of the backlog.

*** Does anyone have any idea what he might have paid per acre in 1838 to
buy land from the US Government?

*** Did Martin Van Buren really sign the land patent, or was it just a "fill
in the blank" thing for a lowly clerk to do at the Lima Land Office?

Many thanks,
Jason

This thread:

• [MERCER] Land Patents by "Jason Gaerke" <>