A homesteader had only to be the head of a household or at least 21 years of age to claim a 160-acre parcel of land. Settlers from all walks of life
including newly arrived immigrants, farmers without land of their own from
the East, single women and former slaves came to meet the challenge of
"proving up" and keeping this "free land." Each homesteader had to live on
the land, build a home, make improvements and farm for 5 years before
they were eligible to "prove up." A total filing fee of $18 was the only
money required
24.
- National Park Service, www. nps. gov (accessed November 14, 2013)
The process described above led to -