Mineral Co. Montana Land Records E index This file is a part of the Bureau of Land Management Database for the states of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Data edited and prepared by Joy Fisher, sdgenweb@yahoo.com. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) inherited the functions of the General Land Office when it was established by Congress in 1946. The South Dakota Land Patents Database, derived from General Land Office and BLM information, contains deeds (primarily patents) issued by the United States in the region now known as the State of South Dakota between 1859 and 1995. While BLM has been referred to as "the Nations record keeper", it is the National Archives that actually keeps the files. The BLM, maintains diagrammatic plats known as Master Title Plats, which depict lands which are owned by the United States and lands which are patented. However, these plats do not have any information about who the lands were patented to. That information which has only been available after tedious research, it is available now in this database. The South Dakota Land Patents Database contains the following information for each land transaction: date, location (township, range, section, meridian), name of person the land was patented to, case type, conveyance type, county, and the patent document identification number. Using this information you can obtain copies of the patent file for $10 from the National Archives at the following address: Reference Branch (Lands) National Archives Washington, DC 20408 (202) 501-5428 You need to submit your request on a copy of Form 84. To get the form, send an e-mail message to inquire@nara.gov In the body of the message, be sure to ask for Form 84 "Order for Copies of Land Entry Files", tell them how many copies you want (get at least 2, in case you make a mistake) and give your name and snail address so they can send you the forms.(Or you can send a snail mail letter to above address). Sending by e-mail takes less than a week; by snail mail both ways takes about 2 weeks. Key to Case Types 181000- Public Lands Litigation 186001- Quit claim deed by US 210000- Acquisition by US 220000- Land exchange 230000- Withdrawal of Land by US 240000- Classification of Lands by US 250000 Disposition: Use and Occupancy 251000- Homestead 252000- Desert Land Act 253000- Indian Patents 254000- Color of Title Act 255000- Mining Claim Occupancy Act 260000 Grants 261000- Military Scrip Warrant Patents 262000- Lands to the State of South Dakota 262500- Swamp Land 263000- Rail Road Grants 264000- Airport conveyance act 270000 Sales 271000- Public Land Sale 272000- Cash 273000- Small Tract 274000- Recreation & Public Purposes 275000- Cemeteries and Parks 276000- Townsites 278000- Unintentional Trespass 371000 Multiple Use Act 386000 Mining Laws 386200- Lode Mining Claims 386300- Placer Mining Claims 386400- Millsite Claims Land Conveyance types in this database: PA - Patent GD - Grant Deed WD - Warranty Deed Land Conveyances to the State of South Dakota IL - State Lieu Selection (Lands the State selected in-lieu of sections 16 and 36, which they were entitled to but did not receive) LS - Forest Lieu Selection SG - State Grant SS - State Selection Meridians 05 - 5th Principal Meridian -- located in the eastern part of Iowa 06 - 6th Principal Meridian -- located south of Yankton - not used by east River counties 07 - Black Hills Meridian -- located on the SD - WY border (See map http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/images/meridians.jpg) EDWARDS DAVID 20 015 N 023 W 028 160 272002 PA 1593 05/13/1904 ELLER ESTELLE 20 018 N 028 W 006 160 272002 PA 1607 05/13/1904 ELLER ESTELLE 20 018 N 028 W 006 160 272002 PA 1607 09/03/1940 ELLER LEVI ALLEN 20 018 N 028 W 026 160 251101 PA 161504 11/14/1910 ELLIS BLANCH DAY 20 020 N 031 W 028 0 386200 PA 997465 03/11/1927 ELLIS EDWARD G 20 019 N 031 W 002 80 272002 PA 1987 12/29/1904 ELLIS EDWARD G 20 019 N 031 W 002 39.54 272002 PA 1987 05/21/1928 ELLIS EDWARD G 20 019 N 031 W 002 39.47 272002 PA 1987 05/21/1928 ELLIS MATILDA 20 019 N 031 W 003 40 272002 PA 2381 07/27/1907 ELLIS MATILDA 20 019 N 031 W 010 40 272002 PA 2381 05/21/1928 EMRICK BENJAMIN 20 018 N 028 W 028 160 251101 PA 209806 06/22/1911 EVANS HENRY W 20 014 N 024 W 006 160 272002 PA 1541 06/10/1904