The Homestead Act, 1862

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The Homestead Act of 1862 was the culmination of decades of work to organize and distribute government lands. Every 160-acre parcel largely went to new settlers, but fraudulent schemes placed much of the land in corporate hands. Homesteaders struggled to settle their land grants and many abandoned the land before receiving ownership. But overall, the Homestead Act was instrumental in settling the frontier, providing land for family farms and creating the legacy of the American West.

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Laura Ingalls Wilder

Laura Ingalls Wilder grew up on a homestead farm.

added by Clio 16 Sep 2008

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  • Original author: Clio
  • Created Date: 15 Sep 2008
  • Page views: 34,095 total (581 this week)

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Daniel Freeman becomes first Homesteader

January 1, 1863 | Brownville, Nebraska

The Homestead Act became active on January 1, 1863. The story goes that Daniel Freeman submitted his land application at 12:10 am on January 1st at the Land Office in Brownville, Nebraska. Freeman thus became the first person in history to apply for and receive land under the Homestead Act. Freeman succeeded in settling his land grant and lived there until his death in 1908. Today, the Homestead National Monument of America sits on the site of the old farm where many come to honor their pioneer ancestors who started out as homesteaders.[1]

 

[1] Information taken from http://www.nps.gov/home/historyculture/firsthomesteader.htm; accessed Sept 15, 2008.

Created by Clio 15 Sep 2008

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Clio

I think it worthy of consideration, and that the wild lands of the country should be distributed so that every man should have the means and opportunity of benefiting his condition.—Abraham Lincoln, February 12, 1861

10 Dec 2008