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Homestead Records: Difference between revisions
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== Homestead Requirements and Results | == Homestead Requirements and Results == | ||
In 1862 the United States enacted a homestead law to encourage development of mostly-empty western federal lands and promote the yeoman farmer ideal. The original homestead law gave an applicant up to 160 acres (1/4 of a section) of undeveloped land in any federal-land state or territory. To obtain the land a settler had to: | In 1862 the United States enacted a homestead law to encourage development of mostly-empty western federal lands and promote the yeoman farmer ideal. The original homestead law gave an applicant up to 160 acres (1/4 of a section) of undeveloped land in any federal-land state or territory. To obtain the land a settler had to: | ||
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Only about 40 percent of the applicants who started the process were able to complete it and obtain title to their homestead land.<ref>United States, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “Homesteading by the Numbers” in ''Homestead National Monument of America'' at http://www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/bynumbers.htm (accessed 5 February 2010).</ref> [[Image:Home palmer-epard cabin c.jpg|right|225x200px|<center> Homestead National Monument of America<center></center>]] | Only about 40 percent of the applicants who started the process were able to complete it and obtain title to their homestead land.<ref>United States, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “Homesteading by the Numbers” in ''Homestead National Monument of America'' at http://www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/bynumbers.htm (accessed 5 February 2010).</ref> [[Image:Home palmer-epard cabin c.jpg|right|225x200px|<center> Homestead National Monument of America<center></center>]] | ||
== Value of the Records | == Value of the Records == | ||
Homestead application papers are good sources of genealogical and family history information. Application papers often mention family members or neighbors, and previous residence as shown in dozens of papers which may include land application forms, citizenship applications, family Bible pages, marriage or death certificates, newspaper clippings, and affidavits. A researcher can obtain applications and related papers from the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] if he can provide a legal description of the land for which the homesteader applied (whether the homestead was eventually granted or not).<ref name="NPSGen"> United States, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “Homestead National Monument of America – Genealogy” at http://www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/upload/W,pdf,Genealogy,rvd.pdf (accessed 5 February 2010).</ref> | Homestead application papers are good sources of genealogical and family history information. Application papers often mention family members or neighbors, and previous residence as shown in dozens of papers which may include land application forms, citizenship applications, family Bible pages, marriage or death certificates, newspaper clippings, and affidavits. A researcher can obtain applications and related papers from the [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] if he can provide a legal description of the land for which the homesteader applied (whether the homestead was eventually granted or not).<ref name="NPSGen"> United States, Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “Homestead National Monument of America – Genealogy” at http://www| link.nps.gov/home/historyculture/upload/W,pdf,Genealogy,rvd.pdf (accessed 5 February 2010).</ref> | ||
== Researching the Records == | == Researching the Records == | ||