Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1911-06-29
The First Homestead

Following is the article from the
Battle Creek, Mich, Enquirer:
On his recent visit to Florida, Charles
K. Barnes met Mahlon Gore, an old
printer, who served his apprenticeship
in the office of Marshall Statesman, and
who for several years thereafter worked
in the Office of the Battle Creek Journal
end the Jeffersonian. Mr.. Gore now
lives at Orlando, Florida, where he was
formerly engaged in publishing a news
paper. but of late years has been
engaged in orange growing. From
him Mr.. Barnes heard an interesting
story, one of historical Importance. To
Mr.. Gore belongs the honor OF beng
the first homesteader under the United
States homestead act.
Mr.. Gore left Battle Creek accom-
panied by his wife, brother and his
family, in July, 1862, for Dakota Ter
ritory. Mr.. Gore had been in that part
of the west two or three years earlier
and had some knowledge of the region
the adventures had decided upon for
future home. They located in the val
ley of the Big Sioux river. about thirty
miles above Sioux City. The home
stead law had been enacted by the pre-
vious congress, to go into effect on
January /, 1863. The brothers located
claims in July or August, the brother
pre-empting one hundred and sixty
acres which he soon after entered with
a government soldiers land warrant.
Nahlon Gore built a one story, one room
cabin and proceeded to occupy 1t. Such
settlers were then designated as squat
tiers. The only land Office in the terri
tory of Dakota was located at Yer
million, sixteen miles away. AS the
cold winter approached the two brothers
moved to Vermillion for the winter,
where Mahlon engaged in the publica-
ton of little frontier ewspaper-one
OF the two only papers in all the terri
tory. The land Office and the printing
Office were but short distance apart.
Settlers were rapidly moving in and
selecting claims. AS the first of
January approached, there was every
indication that with the going into
effect of the homestead law there
would be rush of business in the land
office.
On the night of the last day OF the
old year-l862- Mr.. Gore worked in the
printing Office until near midnight. AS
he left the office to go home he noticed
a light in the land Office. He went in
and said to the receiver that he would
come in before breakfast in the morn
ing and file his application as he did
not wish to he delayed by taking his
turn in long line as he intended to
spend New Years day hunting prairie
chickens. The receiver replied, wait
sntil the clock strikes twelve and | will
give you your receipt tonight. This
was done and in two minutes after the
law went into effect Mr.. Gore was on
his way home with his homesteader' s
receipt for 160 acres Of land in his
breast pocket.
1t is possible of course that in other
land districts and in some other land
office. the going into effect of the bene-
ficient act may have been anticipated,
and receipts written before the first
minute of the first day of 1868. But as
all public officials are honest and
strictly adhere to the regulations and
rules provided for their government,
this is not probable.
At any rate, the records of the gen.
eral land Office in Washington show
that homestead application No. |, Yer
million Land District, Dakota Territory
was fled by Mahlon Gore.