Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-06-07
The Soldiers Homestead Law.

Be at enacted By the Senate and Hoatse o.
REPRESENTATIVES of the United States Of
America in Congress assembled mat
every private soldier and officer who mas
served in the Army of the United States
during the recent rebellion for ninety days
or more, and who was honorably discharg-
ed. and has remained loyal TO the govern
ment, including the troops mustered INTO
the service of the United States by virtue
Of the third section of an act entltleo.
IAN act making appropriations for com
pleting the defenses of Washington, and
other purposes" approved February
thirteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty
two, and every seaman, marine, and ON
Ger who has served in the navy OF the
United States, or in the marine corps,
during the rebellion for ninety days, and
who was honorabiy discharged, and has
remained loyal to the government, shall,
on compliance with the provisions OF an
act entitled "An act to secure homesteads
to actual settlers on the public domain,
and the acts amendatory thereof, as here
matter modified, be entitled to enter upon
and receive patents for a1quantity of pub
lie lands(not mineral) not exceeding one
hundred and sixty acres, or one quarter
section, to be taken in compact form, ac-
cording to legal subdivisions, including the
alternate reserved sections OF public lands
along the line of any railroad or other
public work, not otherwise reserved or
appropriated, and other lands subject to
entry under the homestead laws Of the
United States Pr0cid6d, That said home
stead settler shall be allowed six months
after locating his homestead within which
to commence his settlement and improve
mcnt : And Provided also, That the
time which the homestead settler shall
have served in the army, navy, or marine
corps aforesaid, shall be deducted FROM
the time heretofore required to perfect
title, or if discharged on account of wounds
received or disability incurred in the line
Of duty, the term of enlistment shall
be ded ucted from the time heretofore re-
qured to perfect title, without reference
to the time he may have served: PF00i-
ded, hOreU0r, That no patent shall ISSUE
to any homestead settierwho has notresided
upon, improved, and cultivated his home
stead tor period Of at least one year
after he shall commence his improvements
as aforesaid
Sec. 2. That any person entitled un
der the provision Of the foregoing sec
ton to enter homestead, who may have
heretofore entered under the homestead
laws quantity land less than one hnn
drcd and sixty acres, shall be permitted 10
enter under the provisions Of this act So
much land as, when added to the quantity
previously entered, shall not exceed one
hundred and sixty acres.
Sec 8. That in case of the death OF
any person who would be entitled to a
homestead under the provisions of the
first section of this act, his widow, If un
married, or in case Of her death or mar
riage, then his minor orphan children, by
guardian duly appointed and officially
accredited at the Department of the In
terror, shall he entitled to all the benefits
enumerated in this act subject to all the
provisions as to settlements and improve
ments therein contained Pr0Uid8d. Tha!
if such persons died during his term OF
enlistment, the whole term If enlistment
shall be deducted from the time hereto
fore required to perfect the title.
Sec. 4. That where party at tho
date Of his entry of tract Of land under
the homestead laws, o. subsequently
thereto was actually enlisted and employ
ed in the army or navy Of the United
States, his services therein Shall, in the
administration Of said homestead law
be construed to he equivalents to all in
tents and purposes, to a residence for the
same length Of time upon the tract 50 en-
tered Ir0Ui14G, That if his entry has been
cancelled by reason Of his absence from
said tract while in the military or nay al ser
vice Of the United States, and such tract
has not been disposed Of, Lis entry shrh
be restored and confirmed : And pr0ci-
ded further, That if such tract has beer
disposed of, said party may enter anothe',
tract subject to entry under said laws !;
and his right TO a patent therefor shall,
be determined by the proofs touching hi>
residence and cultivation of the first tract
and his absence therefrom ia such service
SEC. 5. That any Soldier, sailor ma
rine, oflicer,or other person coming Within
the provisions Of this act may, as we'll by.
an agent as in person, enter upon said
homestead Pr00jded, That said claimant
in person shall, within the time prescribed
commence settlements and improvements
on the same, and thereafter fulfill all the
requirements oS this act. eu
Sec. g. That the Commissioner of
the General Land Office shall have author
ity to make all needful rules and regula
tons to carry into effect the provisions Of
this act.
Approved April 4, 1872.