Point M: “Corner of Sections 14, 15, 22, and 23”
Original Land Survey, Twp 7N, Rge 9E, 22-23 N
This was a northward traverse along the mile between sections 22 and 23, ending at a point very near the southeastern corner of modern Bascom Hall. When Deputy Surveyor Orson Lyon reached that point, he set a post and sighted to two trees:
“White Oak 22S 78E 61” and “Burr Oak 17S 40W 69”
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 used as witness trees a white oak 40 feet from his post, and a burr oak 46 feet from the post. This suggests that the southeastern crest of Bascom Hill was probably open savanna in 1834. Lyon characterized the mile immediately south of this point with the following words: “Land rolling & 2d rate timber Burr White & Black Oak Undergrowth Oak & Grass.”
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.