The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-06-07
The Homestead Bill.

The following 10 correct copy ol
the Homestead Bill as passed BY both
Houses Of Congress. signed by the
President.
AN ACT TO secure homesteads to ae.
tusl settlers ON the public domain.
and to provide bounty Tor soldiers
in lieu Of grants Of the public lands.
Be Il enacted by tie Senate and House
Of Representatives. Of the United States
% America in Congress- assembled !:
rha, any person who is the head Of a
family, or who is citizen Of the Unit.
ed Safes. or who shall have fled his
declaration Of intention To become such.
as required BY the naturalization laws
Of the United States. and WHO has never
borne arms against the United States
Government. or given aid and comfort
to its enemies. shall. from and after the
lss Of January, 1868. be entitled to en-
ter one quarter section, or a less guam
,ily. Of unappropriated Pubic Lands.
upon which said person may have fled
a pre- .emp,ion claim. or which NAV. At
the tune the application is made, he
subject to prc-emp'i"n at 81 .95 per
acre. or eighty acres or less Of such un.
appropriated lands. a, 92, 50 per acre.
to be lors,ed in body. in conformity
to the legal subdivisions Of the public
lands. and after the same shall have
been surveyed: Provided. That any
person owning and residing on land
may. under the provisions Of this act.
enter other land lying contiguous 10 his
or her said land. which shall not. will,
the land so already osned and occupied.
exceed in the aggregate l60 acres.
SEC 2. And be Il further enacted.
That the person applying fr the b-ns-
it Of this act shalt. upon application 10
the Register OF tbs Land Office IN which
lie or she is about 10 make such entry,
make affidavit before The said Register
or Receiver. that he or she is the head
Of family. or is twenty -one years or
more OF age. or shall have performed
service in The army Of the United States.
or giving aid or comfort To its enemies.
and that said entry is made for the pur.
pose Of actual settlement and culliva.
ton. and not. either directly or indi-
rectly. for the use OF benefit Of any
other person or persons whomsoever (:
and upon fling the said affidavit with
the Register or Rec .iver. and on pay
men, OF $40. he or she shall thereupon
be permitted to enter the quantity 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 il. at the expiration Of such time.
or al any time within Two years iherc.
after. the person making such entry
or il he be dead. his widow: or in case
OF her death his heirs OF de, isee; or in
case Of a widow making such entry.
her heirs or devisee. in case Of her
deaih-shall prove BY two credible
Witnesses that he. she or they may have
resided upon or cultivated the same for
the term Of Eve years immed diatsly sue
ceeding the time OF filing the afiid vii
aforesaid, and shall make affidavit tina,
no part Vi said land has been alienaied.
and that he has borne true allegiance
To the Governmen, OF the United States;
then. in such case. he, she or they. If
at that time a citizen of the United
States. shall be entitled to \ patent. xs
in other cases provided by law: And
provided. further. That in case of the
death Of brother. father and mother.
leaving an infant child. or children un-
der twenty lone years Of age. the right
and fee shall inufe to tie benefit Of said
infant child or children; and the execu-
tor. administrator. or guardian. may.
ut 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 be-
ing have their Gomicile. sell said land
for the benefit Of said infants. but for
no other purpose. and the purchaser
shall acquire the absolute title by pur-
chase and be entitled TO patent from
tho United States. on payment Of the
Office fees and sum Of money herein
specified.
SEC. 3. And be Il further enacted
That the Register Of the Land Office
shall note all such application on the
tract books and plats Of his Office, and
keep . register Of all such entries. and
make return thereof 10 the General
Land Office. together with the proof
upon which they are founded.
SEC. 4. And Be i further enacted.
That no lands acquired under The pro-
visions Of this act shall in any event
become liable to the satisfaction Of any
debt or debts contracted prior to the
issuing Of the patrn, therefor.
SEC. s. And be Il further enacted
That il. at any time after the filing Of
the affidavit. as required in the second
section Of this act. and before the ex.
piration Of the five years aforesaid. it
shall 10 proven. after due notice 70 the
settler, to the satisfaction Of the Regis
ter Of the Land Office. that the person
having fled such affidavit shall have