Federal Land Office
Encyclopedia
Federal Land Office is a onetime government building in Steubenville, Ohio
where the federal government sold public lands to settlers. It is now on property of a museum beside reconstructed Fort Steuben
. In 1973, while on another site about a mile away, 40°22′31"N 80°36′47"W, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
for its historical significance. It was later moved to its present location.
Section 1 established four land offices in Cincinnati, Ohio
, Chillicothe, Ohio
, Marietta, Ohio
, and Steubenville, Ohio. The Steubenville office was responsible for the Steubenville Land District, lands in the northern most 48 miles of the Seven Ranges
, and in the Congress Lands North of Old Seven Ranges
. Each office was under the direction of an officer called “Register of the Land Office”, appointed by the President with consent and approval of the Senate. Section 4 directed sales to begin at Steubenville in 1801. Section 6 created the position “receiver of public monies” at each office. The act allowed payment for land to be spread over several years, and it was the duty of the officers to keep meticulous records of buyers, property location, and payments, and issue patents when paid in full.
President Adams named David Hoge as Register. He purchased a plot of land on the west side of Third Street from Bezaleel Wells, founder of Steubenville, and built a two story log cabin as home and office. In 1809, it was moved and 12 years later encased in a brick structure, where it was discovered in 1940, and preserved by citizens of Jefferson County, Ohio
.
The Act of March 3, 1807 established a land office for the Congress Lands North of Old Seven Ranges that ended up in Canton
, creating the Canton Land District. This reduced the size of the Steubenville Land District.
David Hoge served as Register from 1801 to 1841. Receivers, in chronological order, were Zaccheus Biggs, Obadiah Jennings, Peter Wilson, Gen. Samuel Stokely
, and John Viers. The office was closed by the Act of June 12, 1840. In the nineteenth century, several hundred Federal Land Offices were established in the Public Lands states.
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
where the federal government sold public lands to settlers. It is now on property of a museum beside reconstructed Fort Steuben
Fort Steuben
Fort Steuben was a fortification erected in present day Steubenville, Ohio in the 18th century to provide protection from Indians for the first surveyors to venture into the Northwest Territory.-History:...
. In 1973, while on another site about a mile away, 40°22′31"N 80°36′47"W, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
for its historical significance. It was later moved to its present location.
History
In 1800, Congress passed the Harrison Land Act, titled An Act to amend an act entitled “An act providing for the sale of the lands of the United States, in the territory northwest of the Ohio, and above the mouth of the Kentucky River“. - Text of Act of May 10, 1800 Library of CongressLibrary of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
Section 1 established four land offices in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
, Marietta, Ohio
Marietta, Ohio
Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Ohio, United States. During 1788, pioneers to the Ohio Country established Marietta as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory. Marietta is located in southeastern Ohio at the mouth...
, and Steubenville, Ohio. The Steubenville office was responsible for the Steubenville Land District, lands in the northern most 48 miles of the Seven Ranges
Seven Ranges
The Seven Ranges was a land tract in eastern Ohio that was the first tract to be surveyed in what became the Public Land Survey System. The tract is across the northern edge, on the western edge, with the south and east sides along the Ohio River...
, and in the Congress Lands North of Old Seven Ranges
Congress Lands North of Old Seven Ranges
The Congress Lands North of the Old Seven Ranges was a land tract in northeast Ohio that was established by the Congress early in the 19th century...
. Each office was under the direction of an officer called “Register of the Land Office”, appointed by the President with consent and approval of the Senate. Section 4 directed sales to begin at Steubenville in 1801. Section 6 created the position “receiver of public monies” at each office. The act allowed payment for land to be spread over several years, and it was the duty of the officers to keep meticulous records of buyers, property location, and payments, and issue patents when paid in full.
President Adams named David Hoge as Register. He purchased a plot of land on the west side of Third Street from Bezaleel Wells, founder of Steubenville, and built a two story log cabin as home and office. In 1809, it was moved and 12 years later encased in a brick structure, where it was discovered in 1940, and preserved by citizens of Jefferson County, Ohio
Jefferson County, Ohio
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 69,709. Its county seat is Steubenville and is named for Thomas Jefferson, who was at the time Vice President....
.
The Act of March 3, 1807 established a land office for the Congress Lands North of Old Seven Ranges that ended up in Canton
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, creating the Canton Land District. This reduced the size of the Steubenville Land District.
David Hoge served as Register from 1801 to 1841. Receivers, in chronological order, were Zaccheus Biggs, Obadiah Jennings, Peter Wilson, Gen. Samuel Stokely
Samuel Stokely
Samuel Stokely was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Washington, Pennsylvania, Stokely attended private schools....
, and John Viers. The office was closed by the Act of June 12, 1840. In the nineteenth century, several hundred Federal Land Offices were established in the Public Lands states.