The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850

The act promoted homestead settlement and rewarded early emigrants. The law "granted" 320 acres (free) to every unmarried white and “half-breed” Indian male citizen 18 years and older. 640 acres to every married couple arriving in the Oregon Territory before December 1, 1850. Many trappers had taken Indian wives. Indian women marrying white men were eligible for half their husband's land. So the Indian women could own land, whereas full-blooded Indian men could not.

First Wave of  Settlers Arrive

There were miles of meadowland. Vast timber stands grew on the surrounding foothills. Land was there for the taking until the land act expired on December 1, 1855. The first wave of settlers swept in for the prime land.

       

Donation Land Claim Map of Dudley B. Dustin  1852  

(Modern road & town names given for reference. Note the future McKinley School location.)

Ginny Mapes photo