1867 Ohio Railroad Land Agreement Document Cincinnati & Zanesville Co. Edward For Sale

This is a fascinating original handwritten legal document from May 24, 1867, detailing a land agreement between the Cincinnati and Zanesville Railroad Company and Edward Smith of Pickaway County, Ohio. The document grants the railroad company rights and privileges related to land use, specifically for conducting water from Smith\'s lands into the Scioto River, constructing and maintaining a plank bog-sewer (drain) along the north side of the railroad from the prairie to the Scioto River near the railroad bridge. It outlines the terms, conditions, and considerations, including Smith\'s right to maintain the drain. The document is signed by Erasmus Braamus, President of the Cincinnati and Zanesville Railroad Company, and notarized by James McClellan, Notary Public for Hamilton County, Ohio. This piece offers a unique glimpse into 19th-century railroad expansion and land acquisition in Ohio, highlighting the complexities of infrastructure development and private land rights. It shows age-appropriate wear, including a small hole likely from a seal or fastener, and some discoloration consistent with its age, but the handwriting remains clear and legible.