Homestead Act: Who Were the Settlers?| Homestead Act: Who Were the Settlers? |
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Female Homesteaders:
The Chrisman Sisters
Like single men, single women responded to the call of free land and took claims. Because government regulations defined the head of household as the husband, women — unlike men — were forced to forestall marriage for five years if they wished their land titled to themselves.
The Chrisman sisters lived near the Goheen settlement on Lieban Creek in Custer County. Lizzie Chrisman filed the first homestead claim in 1887. Lutie Chrisman filed her claim the following year. The sisters took turns living with each other so they could fulfill the residence requirements without living alone. The other two sisters, Hattie and Jennie Ruth, had to wait until they came of age to file. And unfortunately all the land was gone before the youngest sister was old enough to file, but all four were well-known members of the community. There are two letters from Chrisman sisters here.
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