Dohrman Tract facts for kids
Dohrman Tract or Dohrman’s Grant is a special piece of land in eastern Ohio. It was given by the United States government to Arnold Henry Dohrman (1749–1813). He received this land because he helped the American side during the American Revolutionary War.
At the start of the war, Dohrman was a rich businessman from the Netherlands. He lived in Lisbon, Portugal. He helped the United States by providing clothes and war supplies. He also took care of American sailors who had been captured by the British and then released.
In 1780, the American Congress heard about his kind actions. They made him an official agent for the United States in Portugal. This was an unpaid job. He was allowed to help American citizens and send the bills to Congress. They promised to pay him back as soon as they could.
Dohrman later asked for $26,084.24 to cover his costs. However, he only had receipts for $5,806.80. Congress paid him the smaller amount in 1787. They did not pay the remaining $20,277.44. Instead, they gave him a salary of $1600 per year for his help. They also let him choose any piece of land from a specific area in Ohio. This area was part of the first land surveys done in Ohio, known as the Seven Ranges.
Dohrman had never seen Ohio. He chose his land based on advice from others. He picked the thirteenth township of the seventh range. Today, this land is split between Harrison County, Ohio and Tuscarawas County, Ohio. President John Adams officially gave the land to Dohrman in 1801.
Dohrman lived in New York City for many years and worked in business. He later had financial problems. This meant he had to use his land as a guarantee for loans. This made it hard for him to divide the land and sell it for a profit. After his businesses failed, he moved to Steubenville, Ohio. He wanted to be closer to his land. He passed away there in 1813. In 1817, Congress gave his wife, Rachel Dohrman, $400 a year. They also gave $100 a year for each of his children until they turned 21.
Where is the Dohrman Tract Today?
The Dohrman Tract is about 36 square miles (93 square kilometers) in size. It includes parts of four townships in Ohio:
- A three-mile wide by 1 ½ mile high section in the southwest corner of Monroe Township, Harrison County, Ohio.
- A three-mile wide by 4 ½ mile high western half of Franklin Township, Harrison County, Ohio.
- A three-mile wide by four mile high strip on the east side of Mill Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
- A three-mile wide by two mile high strip on the east side of Rush Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
The corners of the original grant are located at these points:
- Northwest: 40°23′24″N 81°19′49″W / 40.39000°N 81.33028°W
- Southwest: 40°18′16″N 81°20′05″W / 40.30444°N 81.33472°W
- Northeast: 40°23′17″N 81°12′51″W / 40.38806°N 81.21417°W
- Southeast: 40°18′07″N 81°13′05″W / 40.30194°N 81.21806°W
The small town of Stillwater, Ohio is located within the tract. Also, part of Tappan Lake and its dam are inside this land. Major roads like Ohio State Route 800 and U.S. Route 250 also pass through the Dohrman Tract.
