President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act on May 20, 1862. This opened up millions of acres of government-owned land in the West to settlers, or “homesteaders.” These settlers had to reside on the land and cultivate it for five years.
Today I thought I would highlight my Great Great Grandfather, William F. Hollingsworth Sr. who was one of the "homesteaders" that utilized this Act to obtain land.
William was born in Indiana in 1837, lost his father at the age of 9 and grew up in the household of Uncles and Siblings until he entered the Civil War in 1861.
The family story is that William and his brother traveled from Ohio to Nebraska looking for a place to call home. Once he located the perfect place, he went back to Ohio and married Emeline Hall.
William and Emeline started their new life in Saunders County, Nebraska on land which obtained from this homestead act.
More detail on their life will be shared at a later time.
The FAMILY TREE is:
Me - daughter of Patricia
Patricia - daughter of Emmeline Claudia (Hollingsworth) Schoenewald
Emmeline - daughter of William F. Hollingsworth Jr.
William Jr - son of William F. Hollingsworth Sr.
DOCUMENTS:
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