Point A: “Shore of Lake Mendota Between Sections 16 & 17”
Original Land Survey, Twp 7N, Rge 9E, 16-17 N, 16-21E
At the end of this northward partial traverse between sections 16 and 17, Deputy Surveyor Orson Lyon reached the shore of Lake Mendota at a point probably located in modern Wally Bauman Woods. Here he set a post and sighted to two trees:
“B. [black] Oak 6S 63 E 26” and “Do. [ditto] 20S 23W 43”
Translated (converting the final number in each entry from surveyor’s links to feet, and ignoring the initial compass bearing information), this means that he found two black oak trees, one 17 feet from the post, the other 28 feet from the post. This suggests an oak forest.
Learn how to read and interpret this data with the help of our page Original land survey notes for the Lakeshore Nature Preserve vicinity, December 1834.