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Archiver > APG > 2003-11 > 1068589120


From: "Richard A. Pence" <>
Subject: [APG] Military Lands in Kansas and Nebraska
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 17:18:43 -0500
References: <000201c3a814$6d00d810$7259590c@its-temp1.worldnet.att.net> <20031111153159.38931.qmail@web21205.mail.yahoo.com> <6.0.0.22.2.20031111094907.03a0e758@mail.oz.net>


ITEM 1:

Last night I watched the PBS Ken Burns series on the American West and this
statement was made about a Civil War soldier: "He went west to Nebraska to
claim the land his military service entitled him to." (Not an exact quote.)

Question 1: I hadn't previously encountered instances where Civil War
soldiers received land for their service - and with the Homestead Act it
seems not much of a reward. Was land given to certain soldiers and, if so,
can someone direct me to a reference?

ITEM 2:

A few weeks back someone in another venue wrote that her ancestor had
received land in Kansas for his service in the Civil War. This was the reply
to my inquiry about this:

==== begin copied material ===
The top reads
Patent from United States to James Jackson Mason. It says it is pursant
to the Act of Congress approved March 3, 1855 entitiled An Act in
addition to certain Acts Granting Bounty Land to certain Officers and
Soldiers who have been engaged in Military Service of the United States.
In reading, the land was "deposited" as a General Land Office Warrant for
a James Johnston of Pennsylvania Militia War of 1812. If I am reading
this correctly, part (or all?) of the land was returned to the General
Land Office and the warrant assigned by James Johnston to James Jackson
Mason and that the land was granted by the United States as aforesaid to JJM
and his heirs forever In Testimony Whereof James Buchanan Preident of
theUnited States of America have caused these Lettters to be made patent and
the seal of General Land office to be hereunto affixed..........
=== end quoted material ===

Question 2: Doesn't this indicate that Mason simply purchased the warrant
from from Johnson??

Regards,
Richard P.


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