History of West Lane Farm Ownership
(Hopefully, I have pieced this together correctly.)
Peter Ralston's first purchase was 80 acres from the
federal government in April 1, 1845, Dixon, Illinois land office. (IL Township 45.0N Range
2.0E, West one half of South West quarter of Section 14 in
Winnebago Co.Click Here to view BLM page)
This property is on the west side of Interstate 90 at West
Lane Road.
On December 6th 1847 he bought 40 acres for $62.00 from
Alfred and Elizabeth Wyman of the Town of Caledonia. The
South West half of the North West quarter of Section 14 in
Winnebago Co.
Alfred Wyman was issued a Land Patent by the federal
government,
Dixon, Illinois land office. Signed by a representative
of President James K Polk and dated March 1st 1848.
April 9, 1852, he bought 120 acres for $535.00 from
William and Jenette Patterson of Beloit, Wisconsin. North
half of North West quarter of Section 14 (This property had
been purchased by
Hiram Shaw from the government May 1, 1843) and also the
South West quarter of South West quarter of Section 11 (This
had been purchased from the government by
Joel Shaw, Sept. 1, 1849) of Winnebago County.
I remember the north 40 of this purchase as "Uncle John's Pasture". There was access to it from the Fox Farm road, now called Swanson Rd. Uncle John used it for summer livestock pasture. I think Dad pastured young stock there on occasion. It was a hillside sloping to the south. And later I remember it was plowed for corn planting.
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