December 15, 1855 - Warranty Deed

The first document I have encountered transferring the portion of the property where the Browne school would eventually be built was dated December 15, 1855.   This warranty deed transferred the property from Edwin Pearse to his father, Richard Pearse.

The property was purchased by Richard for $355.77 transferring 3 plots of Section 1 of Township 39, Range 3 east:

- 163 28/100 acres of the southwest 1/4
- 80 50/100 acres of the east 1/2 of the northwest 1/4 
- 40 83/100 acres of the west 1/2 of the northeast 1/4

The southwest corner of the first plot listed above would be carved out for the Browne school.   The legal description of that portion of land would be defined as:

The West 12 rods of the South 10 rods of the Southwest Quarter of Section 1, Township 39 North, Range 3, East of the Third Principal Meridian in DeKalb County, Illinois, also described as follows:  Commencing at the corner stone of the Southwest corner of Section 1, Township 39 North, Range 3 East of the Third Principal Meridian, and running thence East 12 rods; thence North 10 rods; thence West 12 rods; thence South 10 rods; to the place of beginning, situated in the County of DeKalb and State of Illinois.