Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-05-23
The Soldiers, Homestead Law. .

As many of our readers will desire to read
the full text of the law passed. by Congress
rtly called the Soldiers Homestead Act, we
give it rs follows:
De 1t enacted hy the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of Ameri-
ca in Congress assembled, That every private
soldier and officer who has served in the Army
of the United States during the recent rebellion
for ninety days, or more, and who was honora-
bly, discharged, and has remained loyal to the
government including the troops mustered In
to the service of the United States by virtue of
the third section of an act entitled IAN act
making appropriations for completing the de-
fenses of Washington and for other purposes"
approved February -, 1862, and every seaman,
marine, and officer who has served in the Navy
of the United States, or in the Marine Corps,
during the rebellion, for ninety days, and who
was onorbly discharged, and has remained
loyal to the Government shall. on compliance
with the provisions of an act entitled IAN act
to secuI C homesteads to actual settlers on the
public domain" and the acts amendatory
thereof as.hereinafter modified, be entitled to
enter upon and receive patents for a quantity
of public land mot mineraD not exceeding one
hundred and sixty acres, or one quarter Sec
tion, to be taken in compact form according to
legal subdivisions. incl uding the.alternate re-
served 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: Provided, That
said homestead settler shall be allowed1 six
months after locating his homestead within
which to commence his settlement and I'M
provement: And provided also. That the time
which. the homeste ad settler shall have served
in the army, navy or marine corps aforesaid
shall be deducted from the time heretofore re-
quired to perfect title, or If discharged on ac-
count of wounds received, or disability incurred
in the line of duty, then the term of enlistment
shall he deducted from the time heretofore re-
quired to perfect title, with reference to the
length of time he may have served Provided,
| however, ThIt no patent shall issue to any
| HON IS tead lsettler who has not resided upon,
improved and cultivated his said, homestead
| for period OF at least one year after he shall
commence hisyimproycment as aforesai
| SEC. 2. That any person entitled under the
provision of the foregoing section to enter a
homestead. who may have heretofore entered
under the homestead laws a quantity of land
less than one hundred and sixty acres, shall be
permitted to enter under the provisions of thi:
act SO much land as, when added. to the guam.
| hundred and sixty acres.
SEC. 8. That in the case OF the death of an
person who would be entitled to a homestead
under the provisions of the first section of thi:
act, his wido W, if unmarried or in case of hel
death or marriage, ,.taen his minor orphan chill
dren, ,byi guardian duly appointed and Off
cially accredited at the Department of the In
terror, shall be entitled to all the benefits emu
merated in this act. subject to all the provisions
as to settlement and Improvements therein con
tanned: Provided That if such persons dieC
during the term of enlistment shall be deducted
from The time heretofore required to perfec
the title.
SEC. 4. That where party at the date of hi
entry of tract of land under the homestead laws
or subsequently thereto, was actually enlisted
and employed in the Army or Navy of tn,
United States, his service therein shall, in tn,
administration of said homestead law, be con
| strued to be equivalent, to all intents and pur
poses, to a residence for the same length o
time upon the tract SO entered: Provided, Tha
if his entry has been by reason of his absenc,
from said tract while in the military and nava
service of the United States, ard such trac
has not been disposed Of his entry shall,be re
| stored and confirmed: And provided further
That if such tract has been disposed of, said par
| ty may enter another tract. subject to enter un
der said laws, anu his right to apatent therefor
shall be determined by theproofs his residene
and cultiv alton of the first tract, and his ab
| sence therefrom in such service.
| SEC. 5. That any soldier, sailor, marine, OIL
| GER, or other person comiug within the provis-
| ions ofthis act may, as well by an agent as in
person, enter upon said homestead: Provided
That said claimant in person shall, within the
| time prescribed commence settlement and i'm
| provements OH the same, and thereafter fuln
all the requirments of this act.
SEC. 6. That the Commissioner of the Genera
Land Office shall have authority to make al
needful rules and regulations to carry Into
| effect the provisions of this act.