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Norwegian American women--Middle West--History--19th century; Women farmers--Middle West--History--19th century; Women landowners--Middle West--History--19th century;
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From Saeter To Sod: Single Women Homesteaders Of Norwegian Descent Farming Their Land In Dakota Territory, 1862-1929, Sara Marie Skindelien
From Saeter To Sod: Single Women Homesteaders Of Norwegian Descent Farming Their Land In Dakota Territory, 1862-1929, Sara Marie Skindelien
Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
On May 20, 1862 Congress signed into effect the Homestead Act which provided 160 acres of surveyed government land to any citizen over the age of twenty-one and who was a head of household. One of the most historical aspects of this act was that it allowed single women the opportunity to own land. Not only were native-born women taking advantage of such a lucrative offer, but the women of Norway saw just the opening they needed to venture out on their own. They joined thousands of their countrymen across the Atlantic to find a bit of land where they …