Acorn Production Survey

Legal Land Descriptions and Historical Surveys of an Oak Prairie

Yelm, Thurston County Washington

yelmbackyard@gmail.com

February 11, 1892 Yellem Prairie

The above claim by Isaac Bastion resides to the West of the areas defined in the first map in Sections: 4, 9, 10, 15 and 16 which are out of the area of the shown map. There is no BLM GLO record for this individual with this spelling in Thurston County. In looking at the Wilamette Meridian, however, Isaac Bation appears in Pierce county with Ruth Bastion noted on the homestead description. There is no image of the record available. BASTIAN, ISAAC  WA  Pierce  8/7/1878  Olympia  541  WAOAA 078150 And I have not found the map that identifies Isaac Bastion's claim in 17 N 2 E with those named sections. Oak 16 inches in diameter. This survey was conducted in 1871 by Berry.

This description, Hyde 1853, claims several Oaks in the Yelm Prairie in 1853 where there is no corresponding map to be found of this area for that date and where now which resides West of Nisqually Pines (map), but East of the following map marked Yelm Prairie. The above description indicates 87 W 90 which should be 87 N 90 E and is East of the below maps indications of the Yellem Prairie.

The following written field not description identifies an Oak 17 N 2 E at 80.54 an White Oak with a diameter of 24 inches. The surveyor placed a quart of charcoal and placed posts at Sections 31, 32 and Section 36 where this Oak resided 41 S 422 E, “There being no other trees within reasonable distance, I make mound of stone around post as per instruction...and gently rolling prairie second rate sandy.”

The following description cannot be located on the map. A line indicates a wagon trail that passes homesteads of Barnard and Edgar and follows North to the Nisqually River. At the place between Section 32 and 33 near the homestead of George Prails at 80.00 there is an Oak... The description identifies a forked fir.

This claim by Francis Gravailler is not found in the BLM GLO records, however, it is located per field notes in Township 17 N 2 E in Thurston County, Section 3, 4, 9 and 10. Included an Oak of 16 inches in diameter. Also a portion of this claim is included 18 N 2 E in Section 33. The claim is identified as Claim 38 Notification 522. circa 1871. The BLM GLO record is under the Willamette Meridian noted as *FEILD NOTE GRAVAIL, FRANCIS WA Pierce 6/9/1876 Olympia 639 WAOAA 078142 .

The following field note is unfound on the server:

http://www.blm.gov/or/landrecords/survey/yNoteView1_2.php?R0001WA0168001690

State: WA   Volume: R0001   Pages: 0168.0 - 0169.0

1853 claims Field Notes

The following is included in R 16 and 17 North 2 East where a two oaks were identified, but cannot be placed on the maps given for the time period.

At the plat noted 41.00 in Township 17 N 2 E it is noted that the area supported Oaks in addition to other types of trees like Fir, Cedar, Hemlock and Pine with an undergrowth of salal, hazel and briars. This location is noted on the map near George Prails but also notes of section 41.00 Northwest. The specific notation of variation 20.24 is on the map.

In Township 17 N 1 E plot 54.00 an oak was noted situated near post placed at South 35 West 82 lks. Where the note indicated 2 oaks - 18 inches in diameter and one 24 inches in diameter at North 28 ¼ East 19 in the Eastern Prairie.

Could not locate file on server

http://www.blm.gov/or/landrecords/survey/yNoteView1_2.php?R0001WA0168001690

State: WA   Volume: R0001   Pages: 0168.0 - 0169.0

Township:  017-0N   Range:  002-0E  

In a field note there was a mention of a tree felled or leaning having the initials B. J. carved into the trees. There is a record for a Juan Bisente in BLM GLO records:

*FIELD NOTE BISENTE, JUAN WA Thurston 8/7/1866 Olympia 101523 WAOAA 078111

Also this 1853 record identifies J. Wilson Hawk (possibly James W. Hawk) and J. Edgars (John and Betsy Edgars) as axemen and moundmen of the survey where BLM GLO records indicate the HAWK family owning property togather in the following sections of land 12 &13 by Albert R. Hawk and William C. Hawk and James W. Hawk, Section 13 by Albert R. Hawk and William C. Hawk – Section 24 being owned by Samuel W Hawk alone. All of these properties are located in Pierce County under the Willamette Meridian.

*FN HAWK, ALBERT R WA Pierce 2/25/1874 Olympia 4541 WAOAA 078134 *SEC 12, 13

*FN HAWK, JAMES W WA Pierce 2/25/1874 Olympia 4518 WAOAA 078133 *sec 1, 12

*FN HAWK, SAMUEL W WA Pierce 8/10/1874 Olympia 4642 WAOAA 078136 sec 24

*FN HAWK, WILLIAM C WA Pierce 10/1/1875 Olympia 4475 WAOAA 078140 sec 12, 13

Land Records HELP

Township:  017-0N   Range:  002-0E   

Master Title Plats, Use Plats and Historical Indices:

Survey Plats:

Field Note Records:  

Survey record count = 24