Homestead Cabin
The Homesteading Act gave settlers 160 acres of public land if they:
∙ Were the head of a household or 21 years old, regardless of race or gender
∙ Had never fought against the United States.
∙ File an application.
∙ Improve the land and build a home.
∙ Live there continuously for 5 years.
∙ Pay the $10 fee, $2 to the agent and $6 final payment.
∙ File for a deed or title.
This small cabin would provide a place for the family to live until other rooms could be added or until a larger cabin could be built. Later homes could also have been made of stones from the area or adobe bricks. If a larger cabin was built, the small cabin could be used as a granary or summer kitchen. Log cabins were often simple, but families tried to make them as comfortable and attractive with whatever materials they had available.