Hooray! I finally received a Land Record for our Elder family in Portage, Wood County! Do we have VAN BLARCUM researchers here? Also ELISHA A. PHILLIPS researchers? Please let me know if you have further information! J. Elder was listed in Portage Township, Landowner maps published for 1871. Joseph ELDER is listed as owner here in 1881, with reference to a "defect" corrected from 1854 and 1855. B.C. Eberly was a witness. (William and Joseph Eberly signed affidavits for Joseph's Civil War Pension in 1902.) See: http://www.teleport.com/~nancyp/elder/JosephPension.htm This land record may be related to a political incident mentioning John Elder in 1854? >From Beers history, Page 63: "On March 18, 1854, the board summarily declared vacant the office of sheriff, because Thomas L. Webb, the sheriff-elect, would not give $5,000 bail in addition to his official bonds. The coroner was notified to assume the office, discharge its duties and to furnish additional bonds for $7,000. Under this order, John Elder, the coroner, qualified on March 29, 1854. " Here is the Land Record transcript for 1881: Austin Van Blarcum and Wife, TO Joseph Elder Know all men by these presents that I, Austin Van Blarcum, and Maggie Van Blarcum of Bairdstown of the County of Wood and State of Ohio in consideration of the sum of Thirty-three dollars to us paid by Joseph Elder, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby remise, release and forever quit claim to the said Joseph Elder his heirs and assigns forever the following Real Estate situate in the County of Wood and in the State of Ohio, and in the Township of Portage and bounded and described as follows viz: Being the West half of the South East quarter (1/4) of Section Twenty-eight (28) Township Four (4) Range Eleven (11) East--all in Wood County, State of Ohio, and containing 80 acres of land more or less. The interest the said Van Blarcum herein conveys in the undivided two-thirds of the above described land which he obtained in manner as follows. On the 9th day of November 1854, Austin Van Blarcum, Elisha A. Phillips and Joseph Elder entered said land at the land office at Defiance, Ohio, each paying one third the price thereof and having an equal interest therein, and taking the Receivers receipt in the name of Elisha A. Phillips, subsequently the said Van Blarcum purchased the interest of said Phillips, when he became the owner of the undivided two-thirds of land which he hereby conveys to said Joseph Elder. This deed is to correct a defect in the transfer and sale of said land from Austin Van Blarcum to Joseph Elder in the Winter of 1854 and 1855. To have and to hold said premises with all the privileges and appurtenances thereto belonging to the said Joseph Elder his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof, the said Austin Van Blarcum and his wife, Maggie Van Blarcum, who hereby relinquishes her right of dower in the premises hereunto set their hands and seals this 13th day of January in the yar of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty-One. Austin Van Blarcum --SEAL -- Maggie Van Blarcum -- SEAL Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of A. Hampshire, B.C. Eberly. State of Ohio, Wood County SS. Be it remembered that on this 13th day of January A.D. 1881 before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally came the above-named Austin and Maggie Van Blarcum the Grantor in the above conveyance and acknowledged the signing and seals of the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. And the said Maggie Van Blarcum wife of the said Austin Van Blarcum being at the same time examined by me separate and apart from her said husband and the contents of said Instrument being by me made known and explained to her, then declared that she did voluntarily sign seal and acknowledge the same and that she is still satisfied therewith as her voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes therein mentioned. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official seal on the day and year last aforesaid. Abraham Hampshire, Justice of the Peace, Received for Record January 17, 1881 and Recorded Jan'y 28, 1881. Robert Dunn Recorder. -- Nancy Elder Petersen, Library Internet volunteer Vancouver, Washington, USA http://www.teleport.com/~nancyp/elder.htm