Chapter 62. To provide for the entry of lands in Greer County, Oklahoma, to give preference rights to settlers, and for other purposes
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CHAP. 62.— An Act To provide for the entry of lands in Greer County, Oklahoma, to give preference rights to settlers, and for other purposes. January 18, 1897. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That every person qualified Greer County, Okla. Vol. 26. p. 92. Occupants allowed preference for homestead entries.under the homestead laws of the United States, who, on March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, was a bona fide, occupant of land within the territory established its Greer County, Oklahoma, shall be entitled to continue his occupation of such land with improvements thereon, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, and shall be allowed six months preference right from the passage of this Act within which to initiate his claim thereto, and shall be entitled to perfect title thereto under the provisions of the homestead law, upon payment of land office fees only, at the expiration of five years from the date of entry, except that such person shall receive credit for all time during which he or those under whom he claims shall have continuously occupied the same prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and Purchases of additional land.ninety-six.
Every such person shall also have the right, for six months prior to all other persons, to purchase at one dollar an acre, in five equal annual payments, any additional land of which he was in actual possession on March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, which, prior to said date, shall Allowance to members of settler’s family.have been cultivated, purchased, or improved by him. When any person entitled to a homestead or additional land, as above provided, is the head of a family, and though still living, shall not take such home stead or additional land, within six months from the passage of this Act, any member of such family over the age of twenty-one years, other than husband or wife, shall succeed to the right to take such homestead or additional land for three months longer, and any such member of the family shall also have the right to take, as before provided, any excess of additional land actually cultivated or improved prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six above the amount to which such head of the family is entitled, not to exceed one hundred and sixty acres to any one person thus taking as a member of such family.
Entries in case of settler’s death. R. S., secs. 2291, 2292, p. 420. In case of the death of any settler who actually established residence and made improvement on laud in said Greer County prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, the entry shall be treated as having accrued at the time the residence was established, and sections twenty-two hundred and ninety-one and twenty-two hundred and ninety-two of the Revised Statutes shall be applicable thereto. Removal of crops and improvements.
Any person entitled to such homestead or additional land shall have the right prior to January first, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, from the passage of this Act to remove all crops and improvements he may have on land not taken by him. Unoccupied lands open to homestead entry. Sec. 2. That all land in said county not occupied, cultivated, or improved, as provided in the first section hereof, or not included within the limits of any town site or reserve, shall be. subject to entry to actual settlers only, under the provisions of the homestead law.
Town-site entries. R. S., secs. 2387-2389, p. 437. Sec. 3. That the inhabitants of any town located in said county shall be entitled to enter the same as a town site under the provisions of sections twenty-three hundred and eighty-seven, twenty-three hundred and eighty-eight, and twenty-three hundred and eighty-nine of the *Proviso.* Preference to settlers.Revised Statutes of the United States: *Provided,* That all persons who have made or own improvements on any town lots in said county made prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, shall have the preference right to enter said lots under the provisions of this Act and of the general town-site laws.
Reservations for public uses. Sec. 4. Sections numbered sixteen and thirty-six are reserved for school purposes as provided in laws relating to Oklahoma, and sections thirteen and thirty-three in each township are reserved for such purpose as the legislature of the future State of Oklahoma may prescribe. That whenever any of the lands reserved for school or other purposes FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Chs. 62, 66, 67. 1897.491under this Act, or under the laws of Congress relating to Oklahoma, shall be found to have been occupied by actual settlers or for town-site purposes or homesteads prior to March sixteenth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six, an equal quantity of indemnity lauds may be selected as provided by law.
Sec. 5. That all lands which on March sixteenth, eighteen hundred Lands occupied for religious, etc., uses.and ninety-six, are occupied for church, cemetery, school, or other charitable or voluntary purposes, not for profit, not exceeding two acres in each case, shall be patented to the proper authorities in charge thereof, under such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior shall establish, upon payment of the Government price therefor, excepting for school purposes.
” Sec. 6. That there shall be a land office established at Mangum, in Land office at Mangum.said county, upon the passage of this Act. Sec. 7. That the provisions of this Act shall apply only to Greer Inconsistent laws repealed.County, Oklahoma, and that all laws inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, applying to said territory in said county, are hereby repealed; and all laws authorizing commutations of homesteads in Commutations.Oklahoma shall apply to Greer County. Sec. 8.
That this Act shall take effect from its passage and approval. Effect. Approved, January 18, 1897.