NEGenWeb Project

1872 PATENT HOLDERS - PLATTE COUNTY, NE

The Homestead Entry Act of May 20, 1862, authorized unrestricted settlement on public lands to all settlers, requiring only residence, cultivation, and some improvement to a tract of 160 acres. Any person was eligible who was head of a family or had reached the age of 21, who was a citizen or intended to become one, and who did not own as much as 160 acres. After living on the land and farming it for six months, he could buy the homestead at $1.25 an acre. But after five continuous years, he could apply for and receive a patent or title to the 60 acres for a filing fee of $15.

Patents are deeds transferring land ownership from the U.S. Government to a buyer. A patent is the first record in a chain of title for a parcel of land.

[The Platte Journal - January 17, 1872]

Patents Ready.

We are indebted to L. Gerrard, Esq., for the following list of persons for whom patents to land are now ready at the Grand Island Land Office:
    John Fitzpatrick, Will B. Dale, Thos. Maher, John Moriarty, Geo. E. Willard, Samuel Smith, Margaret Cloug, Peter Reinhammer, C.B. Stillman, W.T. Callaway, David Lynch, Adolph Ernst, G. Rosenberger, Henry Welsh, D. Audman, Wm. Becker.

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