White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-09-14
The HOMESTEAD LAW
Emporsan. to Resurned Soldiers.

- AVN 6S xJk8O <SsA ~
Important to Returned Soldiers.
We have received number OF letters
from returned soldiers. inqniring npon
what terms they can secure farms upon
the pnilic lands As the most satissac-
tory answer. we publish the homestead
law entire. 1t is as follows:
Be Il enacted by the Sen. te and House
of Representatives of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled. That any
person who is the head of family. or
who has arrived at the age of twenty one
years. and is . citizen of the United
States, or who shsll have filed his decls-
ration of intention to become such, as
required by the naturalization law of the
United States, and who has never borne
arms against the Uuited States Govern
ment or given aid and comfort to its enc
mics, shall, from and sfterthe first Of Janu-
cry. eighteen hundred and sixty three. be
entitled to enter one quarter section. or q
less quantity of unappropriated public land
upon which said person may have filed
pIe-emption claim. or which may. at the
time ths application is made. be subject
to pre- emption at one dollar and twenty
five cents, or less. per acre; or eighty
acres, or less. of such unappropriated
lands, at two dollars and fifty cents per
acre, to be located in body, in conform
ity 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 to bis or her said land.
which shall not, with the land so already
owned and occupied. exceed in the aggre-
gate one hundred and sixty acres.
Sec. 2. And be 1t 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
before the said register or receiver that be
or she is the head of family. or is twsn-
ty-one years or more of age. or shall have
performed service in the army or navy Of
the United states, and that he has never
borne arms against the Government of the
United. States. or given aid and comfort to
its enemies, and that such application is
mi ade for his or her exclusive use or bene-
fit. and that said entry is made for the
purpose OF actual settlement aud cultiva-
tion, and not either directly or indirectly
for the use or benefit of any other person
or persons whomsoever, and upon fling
the said affidavit with the register or re-
ceiver, and on payment Of ten dollars. he
or she shall therefrom be permitted to
enter the quantity of land specified: Pro
vided, however, That no certificate be Civ
en- or patent issued therefor until the ex-
piration 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 person making such
entry; or, If he be dead, his widow; or in
case of her death, bis heirs or devisee; or
in case of widow making such entry,
her heirs or devisee. in case of her death,
shall prove by two credible witnesses,
that he. she or they have resided upon or
cultivated the same for the term Of FIVE
years Immediately succeeding the time OF
filing the affidavit aforesaid. and shall
make affidavit that no part of said land
has been alienated. and that be has borne
true faith and allegiance to the Govern
ment of the United States; then in such
case, he. she, or they. if at the time
citizen of the United States. shall be en-,
titled to q patent, as in other cases provi
ded for by the law: And prosided 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 Zee shall inure to the benefit
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 &C
cordance with the laws Of the State in
which such children for the time being
have their domicil, sell said land for the
benefit OF said infants. but for no other
purpose; end the purchaser shall acquire
10 absolute title by the purchase. and be
entitled to q patent from the United
States. on payment of the fees and sum
of money herein specified.
Sec..3. And be It further enacted. Thst
The Register of the Land Office shall note
all such applications on the tract books
and plsts Of this Office. and keep register
of all such entries. and make return there
Of to the General Land Office, together
with the proof upon which they have been
founded.
Sec. A. And be It further enacted. That
no lands acquired under the provisions Of
this act shall in any event become liable
10 the satisfaction Of any debt Or debts
prior to the issuing of the pa
tent therefor. -.
Sec. 5. And be Il further enacted, That
il. any time after the fling ofthe affidavit,
IS required in the second section of this
vet. and before the expiration Of the Eve
years aforesaid. it shall be proven. after
due notice to the settler. to the sstisfac.
ion of the Register of the Land Office.
hat the person having fled such affidavit
hall have actuelly changed his or her resi-.
lence. or abandoned the said land for more
han six months at any time, then and in
hat event the land 90 rendered shall re-.
1ert to the Government.
Sec. 6. find be It further enacted, That