I searched the Index to Deeds, 1881 – 1901 for the following families: Ellison, Van Buren, and Robinson. Remember that Enoch Robinson was Benjamin Walker Ellison’s brother-in-law, married to BWE’s half- sister Annie Hudson. BWE’s middle son William Arthur married Anna Van Buren, her father was George Van Buren.
There was a serious fire at the county courthouse when in Boyne City on 8 OCT 1887 and many deed/mortgage books were destroyed. There are no records to replace what is burned, but we may want to check FHL’s microfilm # 965402 Abstract of deeds by township, Charlevoix County, 1861 – 1974. I know that sometimes after courthouses burned, individuals would record the land they owned in case of future disputes. This may be in the abstracts. The original deeds are gone though.
The following Deed Books were destroyed: Volumes 1 through 7, Volumes 9, 11, 12, 15 and 17.
Mortgage Books destroyed: Volumes 1 through 7, Volumes 9 – 15 and Volume 18.
Remember that Tax Assessment Rolls can replace some of this information, as in a Land Description and amount of acreage. The Tax Rolls will also tell you when someone with property, including personal property, began being taxed in a particular location. Know the tax rules to assess when you have found someone dropped off the tax rolls; it was not always due to death.
There is only one mention of Ellison in the Index to Deeds. We can, though, substitute BWE’s Land Patent from the Federal government for this missing deed. I do suspect the Ellison’s also owned property in Boyne City – the BW Ellison & Company Brewery.
A Grantor is the person who sold the property. A Grantee is the person who bought the property. A Mortgagor is the person who loaned the money and the mortgagee borrowed the money.
With this information, we can now order the correct film of the original book of deeds through the Family History Center. If any of you do this, please would you share a copy with me and I will post it for everyone? I will not be looking these deeds up anytime soon.
Index to Deeds 1881 – 1901 Charlevoix County, Michigan FHL US/CAN Film 965396
Date Grantor Grantee Sec/Twp/Range Vol/Pg #
FEB 1882 Robinson, Enoch K & wife Joseph R. Buster 6 32 5 8 256
FEB 1885 Van Buren, George H. Nalford 16 32 5 13 22
MAR 1886 Van Buren, George & wife S.S. Robert 16 32 5 14 416
NOV 1899 Robinson, Enoch K & wife Herman Suler 6 32 5 40 35
MAY 1900 Robinson, Enoch K & wife Paul J. Sischnewski 6 32 5 40 295
MAY 1900 Robinson, Eliza A. Paul J. Sischnewski 6 32 5 40 295
Date Grantee Grantor Sec/Twp/Range Vol/Pg #
NOV 1888 Robinson, Enoch K. United States 6 32 5 23 79
NOV 1888 Robinson, Enoch K. State of Michigan 6 32 5 21 428
APR 1891 Robinson, Annie H. Samuel Horton 6 33 6 31 178
JUL 1899 Van Buren, Oren Lucretia H. Powers Lots 7 & 8 38 416
Of the Village of Boyne Falls
OCT 1900 Ellison, Mony A. (Mary) ______ Night 12 32 5 40 519
Date Mortgagor Mortgagee Sec/Twp/Range Vol/Pg #
JUN 1883 Robinson, Enoch K & wife Eliza A. Robinson 6 32 5 8 152
Date Mortgagee Description Vol/Pg #
AUG 1886 Van Buren, George & Wife Discharge of Mortgage 17 24
Notes: The second section of the Index with Surnames beginning with V was missing entirely.
The Charlevoix County Index to Deeds, 1881- 1901 is available on microfilm from the Family History Centers. It is microfilm number 965396.
