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Homesteaders

 

As the population of America consistently increased in the 1800’s, the availability of land in the eastern part of the country steadily decreased.  This caused the price of what was available to significantly increase.  These factors, among many others, played significant roles in initiating westward expansion in America.

 

Homesteaders came from a variety of backgrounds.  Examples included small farmers in the east who could not afford land of their own, newly arrived immigrants whose main reason for coming to America was to obtain land, families with young kids, single women, and former slaves freed after the Civil War.  They all shared the same expectation of land ownership which fueled the homestead movement as our frontier expanded westward. 

 

The passing of the Homestead Act by Congress in May 1862 was a major boost that attracted many more people to make the journey.  The passage gave citizens or aliens that had filled out Declarations of Intentions to become citizens, 160 acres of land, free of charge, if the specified conditions were successfully completed.  Under normal circumstances, applicants had to build a home on the land, cultivate it, and reside there for five years.

 

Congress would later pass multiple amended versions of the Homestead Act.  One of the most significant was the Homestead Act of 1872 which was directed towards helping Union veterans, or their widows, and their families. Homesteading had a profound effect on America as our country expanded westward.  From the perspective of genealogical research, documents generated as part of proving the claim are the most valuable.  These claim files can supplement what information the genealogist already has or can provide new details and areas to research. The homestead entry papers, when complete, include the homestead application, the certificate of publication of intention to make a claim, the homestead proof, testimony of two witnesses and the claimant, and the final certificate. Also included, if applicable, are naturalization papers and discharge papers from the Union Army.

 

Historians estimate that between 400,000 and 600,000 families were provided with new farms as a result of the original act and amendments.  The states which tend to have the most homesteading  applications were Colorado, the Dakotas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.  However, it should be noted that other states also received applicants as well.

 

BLM 6/12/2010

   

 Genealogy at the Lee County Library System

Genealogy is the field of study that explores the origins and descent of individuals and families.  The focus is identifying individuals and their specific family relationships.  As the body of knowledge expands, researchers are able to place an individual and/or family in their accurate historical setting and fill in the biographical details of the lives of individual family members.  We offer two study guides specifically designed for beginners: 

  1. Beginning Genealogical Research Outline
  2. Family History: A Concise Beginners Overview.


We would be happy to provide electronic copies of these and any other research outlines relevant to genealogical research subjects by contacting Bryan L. Mulcahy at (239) 533-4626 or via e-mail at bmulcahy@leegov.com.  We have a total of 120+ study guides available on a variety of genealogical topics.

Retrieving Data

 Genealogy Resources

collapse Source: LCLS Resource
Ancestry Library (in-library use ONLY)
Genealogy research tool. Sources include United States Census, military records; court, land and probate records, vital and church records/ directories and passenger lists.    This resource is only available from inside the library.
Heritage Quest Online
A collection of 25,000+ family and local history books that are searchable. Every page of each book can be downloaded or copied. Material is included from all 50 states and Canada. The complete U.S. census from 1790-1930 is also available. It can be searched by name, place of birth, age or ethnicity.
ArchiveGridArchiveGrid
Online access to nearly a million descriptions of archival collections owned by thousands of libraries, museums, historical societies and archives worldwide. ArchiveGrid is an important destination for searching for historical documents, personal papers an family histories held in archives.
Genealogy Study GuidesGenealogy Study Guides
A list of study guides available for photocopying at Fort Myers-Lee County Public Library.
Lee County Genealogical SocietyLee County Genealogical Society
The Library and the Lee County Genealogy Society have developed a partnership to provide access to library genealogy resources. The Genealogy Society site contains research resources for Lee County, Florida. The society hosts an online listing of reference material (the  Genealogy Shelf List, see link below) that can be found at the downtown Fort Myers Library. The Society also hosts  Study Guides on a variety of genealogical topics as compiled by the library system genealogy coordinator, Bryan L. Mulcahy, as well as details on the organization's activities and events.
Lee County Library Genealogy Shelf listLee County Library Genealogy Shelf list
Online listing of reference material hosted by the Lee County Genealogical Society.
collapse Source: Other Internet Links
Allen County Library-Fort Wayne , Indiana-Genealogy DivisionAllen County Library-Fort Wayne , Indiana-Genealogy Division
The genealogy collection at Fort Wayne is the second largest collection nationwide.  Only the Family History Library in Salt Lake City is larger and offers more services.
Charlotte County Genealogical SocietyCharlotte County Genealogical Society
Supports and promotes the preservation of genealogical education and research in Charlotte County.
Christine's Genealogy WebsiteChristine's Genealogy Website
A comprehensive site for African American genealogy.  Subject collections devoted to African American, Native American, and Hispanic genealogy resources, genealogy societies, historical societies, state archives, and census information.
Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the InternetCyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
A collection of more than 81,000 links that have been organized and cross-referenced in over 140 categories.
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