Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-12-19
The HON estead Bill.
rAsstD TnE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, DEC
8, 1860.


settlers on the public domain.
BE il enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States of
AmGica in Congress assembled, That any
person who is the head of family, or who
has arrived at the age oftwenty one years,
and isa citizen Of the United States, or
who shall have fled his intention to be-
como such, rs required by the naturaiza>
ton laws Of the United States, shall, after
the passage Of this act, be entitled to en-,
ter, free of cost, one hundred and sixty
acres of unappropri Ited public lands, up,
on which said person may have filed
pre.emption claim, or which may, at the
time the application is made, lie sub
ject to pre-emption at one dollar and
twenty-five cents, or less per acre or
eighty acres of such unapproprated lands,
at two dollars and fifty cents rer acre; to
be located in body, in conformity to the
legal subdivisions OF the public lands, and
after the same shall have been surveyed.
Sec. .. And be it further enacted, that
the person applying for the benefit Of this
act shall, upon application to the register
of the land office in which he or she is
about to make such entry, make affidavit
b,iore said register or receiver that he or
sho is the head OF family, or is twenty
one years or more of age, and that such
application is made for his or her exclu,
sivo use and benefit, and those specially
men toned in this act, and not either di-
rectly or indirectly for the use or benefit
of any other person or persons whomso.
ever; and upon filing the affidavit with
the register or receiver, he or she shall
thereupon be permitted to enter the quan
tity of land specified provided, however,
that no certificate shall be given or patent
issued therefor, until the expiration Of five
years from the date OF such entry ;and if,
at the expiration of such time, or Mt any
time within two years thereafter the per-
son making such entry, or if he he dead,
his widow 4 or in case Of her death his
heirs or dcyisee; or in case Of widow
making such entry, her heirs or devi-
sec, in case OF her death, shall prove 10y
two credible witnesses that he, she or
they have resided upon and cultivated
the same for the term of five years imme-
diately succeeding the time OF filing the
affidavit aforesaid then in such case, he,
she or they, if at that time citizen OF the
Unitod States, SHALL on payment Of ten
dollars, be entitled to patent, as in othe
er cases provided by law: And provided,
further, That in case Of the death of both
father and mother, leaving an infant child,
or children, under twenty one years Of age
the right and fee shall cnurc TO the bene-
fit of said infant child or children and
tho executor, administrator or guardian
may, at any time within two years after
the death Of tho surviving parent, and in
accordance with the laws of the State in
which such children for tho time being
have their domicile, sell saidl and for the
benefit OF said infants, but for no other
purpose and the purchaser shall acquire
the absolute title by the purchase, and be
entitled to patent from tine United
States, on payment OF the Office fees and
sum of money herein specified.
Sec. 3. And bo it further enacted. That
the lard office shall note all such appIica-
tons on the tract books and plats of his
Office, and keep register of all such en-
tries, and make return therof to the Gen
eral Land Office, together with the proof
upon which they have been founded.
, See. 4. And be II further enacted, That
all lands acquired under the provisions of
this act shall in no event become liable 10
the satisfaction of any debt or debts con
trsctod prior 10 the issuing of the patent
therefor.
Sec G. And be it further enacted, That
liz at any time after the filing ofthe aflada-
} vi, rs required in the second section Of Iii,
act, and before the expiration Of the five
years aforesaid, it shall be proven after
uue nollCe 10 NHe setIlSl, " VIC s"tIsI"O-
} ton of the register of the land Office, that
the person having fled such affidavit shal
have actually changed his or her resi-
! dence, or abandoned the said entry for
moro than six mon tbs at any time then,
! and in that event, the land 50 entered
| shall revert 20 the government.
Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That
: no individual shall be permitted to make
: more than one entry under the provis-
} ions of this act and That the Commits
sioner of the General Land Office is hore'
by required to prepare and issue such
rules and regulations, consistent with this
act, as shall be necessary and proper to
carry its provisions into effect and that