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Records for Land Obtained from the Federal Government

March 20, 2026

Many of our ancestors obtained land directly from the federal government. The Homestead Act of 1862 was frequently used for this purpose. Under this act, settlers could claim 160 acres of undeveloped land in any federal-land state or territory. Federal-land states were primarily mid-western and western states.

 

Settlers could claim unoccupied land by filing application papers and paying a small filing fee. They then needed to live on the land for five years. A claimant had to improve the property during this time, usually by building a home and starting a farm. At the end of the five years, the applicant filed to receive a patent of ownership for the property.

 

Millions of homestead applications were filed between 1862 and 1986. However, only about 40% of those who applied for land completed the process.

 

In addition, to the 1862 Homestead Act, there were other ways to get land from the federal government. For much of the 19th century, direct cash sales of government land were common. The government charged a small fee per acre which a settler could pay to obtain a  parcel of land.

 

Another way to receive government land was through a Military Bounty Land Warrant. From 1775 to 1855, land warrants were issued to veterans of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American War and various Indian wars. Soldiers could claim these lands or sell the warrants to others. Speculators often bought them to accumulate large land holdings.

 

Applications and related documents for land obtained from the federal government can be obtained from the National Archives. First, you must obtain a legal description of the property.

 

A search the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) General Land Office (GLO) Records website  (https://glorecords.blm.gov/default.aspx ) is the easiest way to obtain a legal description. The website is searchable by the name of the person who received the patent. Unfortunately, non-finalized claims are not listed on the BLM site.

 

The National Archives has records for these uncompleted claims. To obtain a legal description for them, check the BLM Tract Books at  (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States,_Bureau_of_Land_Management_Tract_Books_-_FamilySearch_Historical_Records ). This Family Search site can help you locate files for land claims that were never finalized.

 

Case entry files are full of useful genealogical information. They can include family details, citizenship papers, newspaper articles and more.

 

Carol Stetser

Researcher

Larimer County Genealogical Society

World War II Ancestral Records

March 13, 2026

Over sixteen million American men and women served in the military during World War II. Because of this, most genealogists today will have a parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt or cousin who served during this time. Many of us will have several relatives who served.

 

Because the second world war ended in 1945, many of its veterans were still with us until recently. Finding out about our relatives’ service was as easy as talking to them; however, over eighty years have passed since the war ended, few veterans are still alive.

 

Home sources are still an important source of information about the lives of these ancestors. Check for discharge papers, medals, pictures and other memorabilia to learn more about your ancestors’ service. If older relatives who knew the veteran are still around, talk with them about their memories.

 

Search for wartime journals and diaries an ancestor may have kept. Don’t forget that many local historical societies and universities sponsored oral history projects featuring World War II vets. Check with the state archives in the state of interest to find out what may be available.

 

After WW II, soldiers were asked to file their discharge papers with the local county courthouse. Some of these courthouses still have these papers. Discharge papers can provide you with information for further research since they include rank, unit, service number, date and place of birth as well as discharge date and place.

 

The National Archives (https://www.archives.gov/veterans ) is the repository for military personnel records. You can request copies of a veteran’s military records from them. Unfortunately, due to a major fire in 1973, 80% of World War II era military records for members of the army and army air force were lost. It is still worth requesting these records because many have been reconstructed, at least in part.

 

To find out more about researching World War II ancestors, the Family Search Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Finding_a_World_War_II_(1939-1945)_Veteran%27s_Records ) is a great starting place. The article provides an overview of what types of records are available and where they may be found.

 

Remember that the World War II era was only a brief portion of a veteran’s life, but it probably impacted his or her life in long-lasting ways. For example, my father was drafted into the army at the age of nineteen in 1942. He served until 1945 and lived until 2013. He was never directly involved with the army again after the war, but there are many records detailing the effects of his service.

 

My parents bought their first home using the VA loan program. A few years later, my father returned to college to finish his degree. He paid for much of his education with his VA benefits. When he was elderly, my father needed specialized residential care. He entered a VA nursing home because of his service nearly seventy years earlier. Finally, when Dad passed away, my siblings and I applied for a military headstone for his grave.

 

All these events created records. Check with the nearest office of the U.S. Veteran’s Affairs Office for more information.

 

Carol Stetser

Researcher

Larimer County Genealogical Society

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding an Ancestor’s World War I Records

February 27, 2026

Approximately five million American men served in World War I. By the time the war ended in November of 1918, over two million of them had reached Europe. That means many genealogists today have grandfathers or great-grandfathers who served. In addition, we may have great uncles and cousins who served.

 

Some of us know about our ancestors who served in World War I, but many of us have no idea which, if any, of our ancestors were soldiers in the Great War. Family sources are always a good starting point. Obituaries, cemetery records, and family biographies often mention military service.

 

However, there are other methods to find out if someone served. When war was declared in 1917, all men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five had to register for the draft. This included citizens as well as non-citizens living in the U.S. There were three separate registrations of men of various ages. Draft registration cards for everyone who registered are available online at Ancestry, Family Search, Fold 3, and other websites.

 

Finding that someone registered for the draft does not mean he served. Only a small percentage of those who registered ended up in the military. A draft registration card is a clue that someone was eligible to serve and more research is needed.

 

Cemetery research is a good way to determine if someone served in the military. Checking Find a Grave for a memorial for an ancestor may help determine whether he served. Many veterans’ families applied for military headstones. These military headstones usually give information such as the dates a soldier served, his rank, and the unit and company he served in.

 

If you determine an ancestor served, governmental records can provide more information about his service. The National Archives holds World War I service records at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. To obtain copies, file a Standard Form 180. The form can be downloaded from the National Archives website (https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180 ).

 

Some non-classified, digitized records are available on Ancestry.com, Family Search and Fold 3. These records include various databases such as World War I Service Cards, American Soldiers of World War I – Death Index, and U.S. Army Transport Services, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939.

 

A 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed approximately 80% of personnel records for soldiers discharged between 1912 and 1960. Army and Air Force records were most affected; navy and marine records were generally unaffected. Even though many records were destroyed, researchers should request records for their World War I relatives since some files survive, and some have been reconstructed.

Another place to check for World War I records and other information about the war is the National World War I Museum and Memorial (https://www.theworldwar.org/ ). The museum is in Kansas City, Missouri and is worth a visit. There are also online collections and digitized records available.

 

 

Carol Stetser

Researcher

Larimer County Genealogical Society