mnhennep-request@rootsweb.com said: > I am tracking David Ahern and then son George Ahern of Hennepin County. > > I see that a David Ahern appears to buy public lands in 1857, described as > Township 116-N and Range 21-W with various parts designated. > > In the 1870 and the 1880 census, David and son George, appear to be living > in Bloomington Township. In 1870 it also says Richfield Post Office. > > Though there is a wonderful series of Hennepin maps online, > I have not been able to correlate the township/range > info to the maps . I am trying to figure out if these David Aherns are one > and the same and then look the family up on the 1873 map . > > Any help with understanding the land divisions/locations of Hennepin County > would be most appreciated! > > I have not been able to find a township/range map that lists the communities > for Hennepin County. It's what used to be Bloomington Township, in the furtherest south part of the county. What you are running into is the arbitrary line called the "Principal Meridian" that runs through Hennepin County. That means that there is a part of Hennepin County to the east which has a different series of township and range numbers than the part that's to the west of it. That meridian in southern Hennepin County matches the county line between Scott and Dakota Counties -- so your family lived to the west of that meridian. Hope this helps! Mary -- Mary Bakeman Park Genealogical Books mbakeman@parkbooks.com