Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-07-13
COpp's Land Review.
wOMANS RIGHTS UNDER THE HOME
STEAD LAWS.

woMAN'S RIGHTS UNDER THE HOME
STEAD LAWS.
Unmarried women, widows, maid
ems and deserted wives, who are over
the age of twenty-one years, are en-
titled to all the rights, privileges and
benefits under the homestead laws
that could be enjoyed by men.
The mother of living child or
children, whether widow, deserted
wife or unfortunate single person,
may acquire title 70 land, a. tha. head
of family, though under the age of
twenty-one.
Widows of deceased entrymen sue
coed to the rights Of their husbands
and may make final proof and take
title in their own names. 1t is not
absolutely necessary that they should
reside upon the land after the death
of the husband, as residence or cultiva-
ton for the prescribed time is all that
is demanded of widows and minor
heirs.
The widow of 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 on the land for the
period of the husbands service, not
to exceed four years.
The deserted wife of homestead
entrymen 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
otherwise) having initiated an entry
may marry without affecting her
right to the land, provided she COM
plies with the legal requirements.
Should she marry prior to the time
when she might make her proof
and perfect her claim, and leave the
land to reside with her husband else
where, the entry would be liable to
cancellation for abandonment-but
not on account of the marriage.
Where a man and y woman each
make a homestead entry and marry
before making final proof, one of the
entries must be relinquished, or COM
muted at their choice. If they live
together on one homestead, the en-
try covering the other homestead will
be liable to contest for abandonment,
even though the land be cultivated
and improved. The homestead law
requires three. things to give final
title, first, honest residence, second,
coed 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 these requirements must be
satisfactorily shown for the entire
period Mt the date when the final
proof is made.
The daughter of deceased soldier,
sailor or marine, ii otherwise qualified,
may enter land in her own right, not
withstanding an entry may have been
made by her guardian and perfected
for her benefit, during her minority.
She can thereby secure two home
steads.
A widow, as the legal repre-
sentative Of her diseased husband
may continue to cultivate his home
stead and at the same time make an
entry in her own name. A woman
has this advantage over man. She
can thus SECURE two homesteads while
he is allowed only one.
The widow Of deceased entryman
may purchase, under the act Of June
Is, 1880, the land embraced in q
homestead entry in cases where that
act Is applicable. HENRY N. Corr.