Homestead Welcome

Officer homestead, circa 1900

Quick Facts

Location:

Cant Ranch Historic District

Significance:

The 1862 Homestead Act made it possible for Floyd Officer to establish a homestead.

The basic structure of the ranch complex that you see today was established by Floyd Officer. The 1862 Homestead Act enabled people to obtain 160 acres by living on the land in a habitable dwelling for five years and cultivating the land. Floyd worked the land for seven years and successfully filed on the homestead in 1898. That same year, Floyd married Sylvia Fitzgerald. Together they raised eight children on this remote homestead. The isolated ranch was almost completely self-sufficient. Floyd traveled to The Dalles or Heppner twice a year for supplies such as flour, sugar, salt, and construction materials. These trips were made by wagon and often lasted up to six weeks.