Veterans who Homesteaded

Many homesteaders also served in the miltary from Daniel Freeman in the Civil War to Kenneth Deardorff in Vietnam.

From the beginning, the Homestead Act of 1862 gave special privileges to veterans—allowing soldiers to claim homesteads even if they did not meet the homesteading requirement of being 21 years of age or older. The granting of veterans’ benefits under the Homestead Act of 1862 was used to replace the older system by which veterans were granted land via documents called “military bounty land warrants.” These transferrable documents had often been sold to non-veterans for quick cash.

 

Storymap about Veteran Homesteaders

In honor of Memorial Day, the General Land Office teamed up with Homestead National Historical Park to remember those homesteaders whose family members sacrificed their lives for their country.

Learn more about homestead laws passed specifically for veterans on this StoryMap.