Plot maps

We have plotted the location of each of the Colonists farms based on the land declarations located in the Clerk and Recorder's office in Canon City.  (Chorovsky/Shardsky's plot has not been located.)  These plots are on a fairly current map that has roads shown.

1.  M. Chuteran
2.  S. Chuteran
3.  Minkowski
4.  M. Shames
5.  S. Neuman

11. A. Snyder
12 Grupitsky
14 Shames
15.  B. Shames

19.  A. Snyder
20.  D. Grupitsky
21 Lanterstein
22 Dublitsky
23  Neumann

Nudelman and Zedek are unnumbered on this map.

From this, we can then locate the GPS coordinates for each plot and publish them:

which then allows us to know where each plot is located and drive there today.  Gotta love technology!!!

Keep in mind that we have this technology today, but they didn't.  When the county was first surveyed, a pile of rocks was made at each quarter section of land.  Those piles were often moved.  It is quite possible that the houses they built were not on "their" land - but land close to it.

On the top map, starting at plot 3 - Minkowski - these plots are 2000' higher than Cotopaxi.

A section is one square mile, so looking at this, plot 3 is about 5 miles south of Cotopaxi - as a crow flies.  One must take into consideration the terrain of this area - it's not flat at all.  The "8 mile" distance that is often quoted is following the known roads at that time.

A close look at a topographical map will show peaks on some of these plots which would definitely limit the ability to farm.

I'll show you how to do this.  If you look at plot 3, you can see that Minkowski is in section 21 and 29.  He is in the SE quarter of Section 21 and the NE quarter of Section 29 which is directly south of section 21.  He is then in the NW and SW quarter  (or the west 1/2) of the NE quarter of Section 21 and the NW and SW  quarters (or the west 1/2)  of the NE quarter of Section 29.  That would be written as the W 1/2 of the SE 1/4 of Section 20 and the W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 29.  Which is exactly what he declared:

Sometimes, it can get so confusing reading quarter sections, 1/8 sections, 1/16 sections, but it actually becomes quite easy with practice.  And while these are straight lines drawn "in the sky" - on land, they will go up over mountains, down in valleys and yet today, you can find the old rock piles which have been supplemented with stakes put down by the surveyors from BLM.

This is a great way to learn about your own ancestors, where they lived, how much land they owned, what the terrain was, and where their source of water came from.







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