Friday Find

Have you ever used a Miscellaneous book of records in a register of deeds office? My first experience with these books was in the Ford County, Kansas, Register of Deeds office. While the use of these books varies from county to county, they are worth investigating if they exist.

Today’s find is some handwritten notes taken from an entry in a Ford County (Kansas) Miscellaneous book.

Miscellaneous Book J page 222

Affidavit of H. B. Bell
Sworn 5 Nov 1918
filed 15 Jan 1929

States
he was well acquainted with Abraham L. Crawford patentee of lots 3 and 4 and S1/2 NW 1/4 S3 Township 27 Range 25 Ford County Kansas filed 6 Dec 1894 Recorded Vol C page 12
A. L. Crawford gave mortgage on above lands

That the said Abraham L. Crawford and A. L. Crawford are identical

Ford County Kansas, Deeds, Miscellaneous Book J page 222; Abraham L Crawford, 5 November 1918; Register of Deeds, Dodge City Kansas.

Besides identifying Abraham L. Crawford as A. L. Crawford, this record indicates that Abraham L. Crawford patented land. Thus, one can search the Bureau of Land Management records for the patent.

388
The United States of America
Osage Trust Lands
Certificate
No 935 To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting:
Whereas, Abraham L Crawford of Ford
County Kansas
has deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office
at Garden City Kansas, whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said
Abraham L. Crawford
according to the provisions of
the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled “An Act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands,”
and the acts supplemental thereto, for the lots numbered three and
four and the South half of the North West
quarter of section three in Township twenty
seven South of Range twenty five West of the
Sixth Principal Meridian in Kansas contain
ing one hundred and fifty nine acres and seve
ty hundredths of an acre
according to the official plat of the survey of the said lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General
which said tract has been purchased by the said Abraham L. Crawford
Now know ye, that the Untied States of America, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity
with the several acts of Congress in such case made and provided, Have given and granted, and by these presents
DO GIVE AND GRANT, unto the said Abraham L. Crawford
and to his heirs, the said tract above described: TO have and to hold the same, together with all the rights
privileges, immunities, and appurtenances, of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said Abra
ham L. Crawford
and to his heirs and assigns forever.
In testimony whereof, I Benjamin Harrison
President of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made patent, and the seal of the General Land
Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand, at the City of Washington, the seventeenth day
of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and ninety, and of the Independence of the United States the
one hundred and fourteenth
By the President: Benjamin Harrison
by M. McKean Secretary
J. M. Townsend Recorder of the General Land Office

United States Bureau of Land Management, “General Land Office Records,” database with images, BLM.Gov (: viewed online 3 February 2024), Abraham L Crawford.