The Staeheli Homestead in Addy – a timeline and photos

Homestead Acts

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Homestead Acts were several United States federal laws that gave an applicant ownership of land, typically called a "homestead", at little or no cost. In the United States, this originally consisted of grants totaling 160 acres (65 hectares, or one-fourth of a section) of unappropriated federal land within the boundaries of the public land states. An extension of the Homestead Principle in law, the United States Homestead Acts were initially proposed as an expression of the "Free Soil" policy of Northerners who wanted individual farmers to own and operate their own farms, as opposed to Southern slave-owners who could use groups of slaves to economic advantage

The intent of the first Homestead Act, passed in 1862, was to liberalize the homesteading requirements of the Preemption Act of 1841. Its leading advocates were Andrew Johnson,[9] George Henry Evans and Horace Greeley.[10][11]

The law (and those following it) required a three step procedure: file an application, improve the land, and file for deed of title. Anyone who had never taken up arms against the U.S. government (including freed slaves) and was at least 21 years old or the head of a household, could file an application to claim a federal land grant. The occupant had to reside on the land for five years, and show evidence of having made improvements.

Homesteading requirements

The Homestead Acts had few qualifying requirements. A homesteader[16] had to be the head of the household or at least twenty-one years old. They had to live on the designated land, build a home, make improvements, and farm it for a minimum of five years.[17] The filing fee was eighteen dollars (or ten to temporarily hold a claim to the land).[18]

Immigrants, farmers without their own land, single women, and former slaves could all qualify.

Settlers found land and staked their claims, usually in individual family units, although others formed closer knit communities. Often, the homestead consisted of several buildings or structures besides the main house.

The Staeheli’s

Albert Staeheli was granted a homestead near Addy on October 22, 1908.  According to requirements to be granted a homestead he had to occupy the land for at least 5 years, build a home, make improvements and farm the land.

That would have required Albert to occupy the land in October 1903 or earlier.  From the family story Albert went from Wisconsin to Sedro Woolley, Washington in October, 1901 to bury Albert, the son, who had died of typhoid fever in a hospital there.  When in Spokane, Albert, the father heard from Swiss friends about homestead land available near Addy.  

The family story continues that Albert built a home of green logs then had the family, still in Wisconsin, join him in Addy.  Based on the description that Louis had been born about 4 years earlier it is likely they made the train trip to Addy in March, 1903 or at the latest, March, 1904.

A time frame starting in late 1901 would have enabled Albert to identify his land, file an application, move onto the property, harvest logs and build a home during 1902.  A March, 1903 arrival by the family was possible. 

If building the home was a two year project then March, 1904 would have been their arrival date. 

Until more specific information is available this is my best estimate.

They remained on the land, clearing and farming, until the home burned and Albert died in June, 1912.  After the fire the sons built a new home which was occupied for a time until the children had grown and Mary, the Mother, decided to move to Coeur d’Alene. 

According to a local realtor the home built by the sons was torn down in 2009.  When I visited the property in 2010 only the foundation was visible.  The realtor has provided photos of the house.

There was a barn on the property which has the look of Old World construction.