Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-12-19
The HON estead Bill.
rlssrD rnE HOUSE or RrrnETNrArNrs, DEC
3, 1860.

Of Representatives Of tho United States of
Am~ica 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-
come such, as required by the naturaliaa>
| ton laws Of the United States, shall, after
the passage Of this act, be entitled to en-,
ter free Of cost, Que hundred and sixty
acres of unqpproprilted public lands, up,
on which said person may have filed q
Pro,emption claim, or which may, at the
time the application is made, lie sub
ject to pre-emption st ono dollar and
twenty-five cents, or less, per acre; or
eighty acres Of such unappropriated lands,
at two dollars and fifty cents per acre to
be located in a body, in conformity to the
legal subdivisions OF the public lands, aud
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
= sf5ro said register OF receiver that lie or
sho is the head Of n family, or is twenty
one years or moro Of age, and that such
application is made for his or her exclu.
siyo use and benefit, and those specially
mentioned 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
thercupon be permitted TO enter the quan
tity ofland 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 at any
time within two years thereafter, the per-
son making such entry, or ifhe be dead,
his widow 4 or in case of her death his
heirs or devisee; or in case Of a widow
making such entry, her heirs or devi-
sec, in case Of her death, shall prove by
two credible witnesses that he, sba or
they have resided upon and cultivated
the same for the term of five years immo-
diately succeeding the time Of filing the
affidavit aforesaid then in such case, he,
she or they, if at that time a citizen Of the
United States, shall, on payment Of ten
dollars, be cntitled to patent, as in 9th,
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 enurc TO the bene-
fit Of said infant child or children: and
the executor, administrator or guardian
may, at any time within two years after
the death Of the surviving parent, and in
accordance with the laws OF the State in
which such children for the 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 the United
States, on payment Of the office fees and
sum of money herein specified.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That
the lard Office shall note all such applica-
tons on the tract books and plats of his
Office, and keep register of all such en-
tries, and make return Thereof to the Gen
eral Land Office together with the proof
upon which they have been founded.
Sec. /. And be it further enacted, That
all lands acquired under the provisions Of
this act shall in no event become liable TO
the satisfaction Of any debt or debts con
trscted prior to the issuing Of the patent
therefor.
Sec. G. And be it further enacted, That
if at any time after the filing Of the ahada-
vi, as required in the second section of tli,l
act, and before the expiration Of the five
years aforesaid, it shall be proven after
due notice to the settler, to the satsrac.
ton of the register of the Ian ofico, that
the person having fled such affidavit shall
have actually changed his or her resi-,
dence, or abandoned the said entry for
moro than six mon ths at any time then,
and in that event, the land 50 entered
shall revert TO 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 heres
by required to prepare and issue such
rules and regulations, consistent with this
act, as shall be necessary and proper 10
carry its provisions into effect and that
the registers and receivers Of the severl
land offices shall be entitled 10 receive
the same compensation for any lands en-