In May of 1879, Ostfriesen immigrant William Ehmen was in Nebraska. Desiring to bring fellow Ostfriesens to Nebraska to settle, he wrote a letter of inquiry to A. D. Buckworth with questions regarding homestead settlement. Ehmen inquires about four townships that fell under the jurisdiction of the land office in North Platte, Nebraska.
The letter is one of several in a collection of papers from William Ehmen in the Nebraska State Historical Society’s “Staack-Ehmen Family Collection.”
It was known that Ehmen had encouraged fellow immigrants to settle in Dawson County, Nebraska. This letter documents Ehmen’s settlement efforts–he refers to his desire to establish a “colonie” of settlers in the four townships referenced in his letter. For some reason, Ehmen initially refers to the “colonie” as a settlement, but settles on using the word settlement. Buckworth answers Ehmen’s questions, telling him it will cost him $4 to obtain copies of the plat maps he desires. Those maps would indicate what land had not been settled.
[begin transcription]
Willow Island Nebr.
May 5 79
A. D. Buckworth Esq.
North Platte
Nebr
Dear Sir
Will you be so kind and inform me whether a men can Pre-empty for another men.
I am here to start a settlement colonie in this vicinity, I would be very much oblige to you if you could furnish me with maps of R 24 & 25 T 11 & 12 so that I could see what is taken, or open for emigrants.
Can a citizen claim as a homestead 160 acres now inside of what is called the R R limits?
What does it cost to take a Homestead.
” ” ” ” ” ” ” Pre-emption
” ” ” ” ” ” ” Timberclaim
” ” ” ” ” ” ” contest
I remain under many obligation
Yours very Respectfully
Wm Ehmen
[change in handwriting]
Dear Sir
Copies of Township plats will cost you one dollar each.
A citizen is entitled to 160 acres inside of R R limits cost $14.00
Cost of Timber claim 160 acres $14.00
PreEmption 160 acres $2.00
To commence a contest we require a deposit of $12.00
Yours, A D Buckworth
[end transcription]
Ehmen and several others did obtain homesteads in Dawson County, Nebraska. His brother, Jurgen, and first cousin Focke Goldenstein were among the numerous Ostfriesen families to settle in the area.
I will have to look at the Bureau of Land Management tract books for the four townships Ehmen references to see what others settled in the area. The tract books include completed and incomplete claims. Those incomplete claims may reference settlers who moved on further west or returned home before completing the homestead process. Incomplete claims can contain just as much information as complete ones–in some cases.
And the Railroad Land comment? That’s something I need to figure out.
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