Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1888-07-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER


Unmarried women, widows. maidens
and deserted wives, who are over the age
Of 81 years, are entitled to all the rights,
privileges and benefits under the homo
stead laws that can be enjoyed by men.
The mother Of q living child or chill
dren, whether widow, deserted wife or
unfortunate single person, may acquire
title to land as the head Of a family,
though under the age Of 21.
Widows of deceased entrymen succeed
to the rights Of their husbands and may
make final proof and take title in their
own nance. It is not absolutely neces-
sary that they should reside upon the
land after the death OF the husband, as
residence or cultivation for the pre-
scribed time is all that is demanded of
widows and minor heirs.
The widow Of a person who served for
ninety days or more during the war Of
the rebellion in the United States army,
navy or marine corps and died without
making an entry, may make an entry
the same as her husband, if living, might
do, and in making final proof receive
credit in lieu of residence upon the land
for the period of the husbands service,
not to exceed four years.
The deserted wife of homestead en-
tryman may make final proof as his
agent and have patent issue in the name
Of her husband or she may contest his
entry on the ground Of abandonment Of
the claim and after cancellation, enter
the land in her own name. The latter is
the wiser course, for many reasons.
An unmarried woman (widow or 9TH
erwise) having initiated an entry, may
marry without affecting her right to the
land, provided she complies with the le-
gal requirements. Should she marry
prior to the time when she might make
her proof and perfect her claim, and
leave her land to reside with her husband
elsewhere, the entry would be liable to
cancellation for abandonment-but not
on account of the marriage.
Where q man and woman each
make a homestead entry and marry be-
fore making final proof, one Of the en-
tries must be relinquished, or committed,
at their choice. If they live together on
one homestead, the entry covering the
other homestead will be liable to contest
for abandonment, even though the land
be cultivated and improved. The home
stead law requires three things to give
final title: first, honest residence; Sec
ond, good cultivation, to crops or other
wise; and third, fair improvements in
the matter Of buildings, fences and the
like. Compliance with only one or two
of these requirements will not satisfy the
law. Full compliance with all three re-
quirements must be satisfactorily shown
for the entire period at the date when
| the final proof is made.
The , a..,-htAr Of o deceased soldier,
sailor or marine, if otherm-. quahneu'
-
may enter land in her o:yn right, no.
withstanding an entry may have been
made by her guardian and perfected for
her benefit, during her minority. She
can thereby secure two homesteads..
A widow, as the legal representative Of
her deceased husband, may continue, to
cultivate his homestead and alb the same
time. make an. entry in her own name.
A woman has this advantage over man.
She can thus secure two homesteads
while lie is allowed only one.
The widow of deceased entryman
may purchase, under the act of june Is,
1880, the land embraced in a homestead
entry in cases where that net is applica-
BILE. g,