1918 Map of Williams

About this map

Lake of the Woods dominates the northern horizon of this 1918 military survey, where the rugged Minnesota landscape is defined by an extensive network of water management projects. The settlement of Williams sits at the southern edge of the map, serving as a hub along the Canadian Northern railroad line. This era was characterized by significant efforts to reclaim land through heavy drainage, evidenced by the prominent Main Judicial Ditch No 24, Main Judicial Ditch No 28, and Judicial Ditch No 16 that cut through the townships of Zippel, Wheeler, and Wabanica. The map detail captures the natural hydrology of Zippel Creek and its branches before they are channeled into these man-made ditches. For genealogists and researchers, the map provides a clear picture of the timbered lands and swamp limits that shaped the early development of Lake Wood and Prosper during this frontier period of northern Beltrami County.