Chapter CCCXLIX. relative to Homestead Settlers burned out in the States of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
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CHAP. CCCXLIX.— An Act relative to Homestead Settlers burned out in the States of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.June 8, 1872. Whereas fires in extent unparalleled in the history of the countryPreamble. burned through the newly settled parts of the States of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, during the autumn of the year eighteen hundred and seventy-one, whereby many homestead settlers lost their dwellings and all of their personal property, and many were burned to death, and many others were so much burned as to disable them from labor for the present winter, and are unable to rebuild and occupy their lands within a period of six months after said fires had driven them from their homestead:
Therefore, *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* That all such persons occupyingPersons occupying homestead claims on public lands in certain States who were burned out, and the heirs of those burned, to have until Jan. 1, 1873, to rebuild, &c., and such time to be included, &c. homestead claims under the laws of the United States, on lands of the United States, who were burned out, and the heirs of such persons who were burned to death in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-one, in the States of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, shall have until the first day of January, anno Domini eighteen hundred and seventy-three, to rebuild on and re-occupy said homestead lands; and that when said homestead claimants shall prove up their claims, such period of time until the first day of January, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, shall be included in the five years’ time which they are required by law to reside on said lands, in the same manner as if such homestead claimant had actually resided thereon during said period of time.
Sec. 2. That in all cases where the person having a homestead claimThe heirs of those burned, &c., may prove claim before the register, and patent to issue upon proof, &c. under the laws of the United States, in said States of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, shall have been burned to death or perished from the effects of such fires, it shall be lawful for the heirs or the guardian of any children which may have survived said fires, or the administrator of the estate of said deceased homestead claimant, to prove up said claim before the register of the land-office of the proper district, and upon proof of the occupation and residence of such homestead claimant, up to the period of so being burned out, a patent shall be issued to said heir or heirs, or guardian for the use of such heir, or administrator for the use of such estate, in the same manner as if such homestead claimant had resided thereon for five years.
Approved, June 8, 1872.