2012 Map of Free Soil

About this map

The Big Sable River meanders across this northern Mason County landscape, defining a terrain shaped by glacial hydrology and rural settlement. In the early 21st century, the area remains characterized by its dense network of local schools and cemeteries that anchor the community's history. From the Saint John Cantius' Cem in the north to the Batcheller Christ Cem near the settlement of Batcheller in the south, these sites provide significant touchstones for genealogical research. The map documents a transition from the northern river drainage to the S Br Lincoln River system, punctuated by numerous named water bodies like Gun Lake and Ford Lake. The presence of several historic educational sites, including Howell School and Elm Flats School, suggests a distributed pattern of rural life that persists alongside the county's significant natural water resources.