United States, Homestead Final Certificates - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What Is in This Collection?
Homestead Final Certificates from twenty-five General Land Offices. The certificates are part of Record Group 49 Records of the Bureau of Land Management located in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The certificates are arranged by land office then numerically by certificate number. The National Archives Identification Number (NAID) is included below. At present images have been published for the land offices Arizona.

 Land Offices Published in This Collection **
 * Alaska	Juneau	1902-1908, 1-90 6037952
 * Alaska	Nome	1907, Unarranged 6037958
 * Alaska	Sitka	1899-1902, 1-42	 6037971
 * Arizona	Phoenix	1905-1908, 1-312	6207719**
 * Arizona	Prescott	1871-1905, 1-853	6106282**
 * Arizona	Florence/Tucson	1875-1905, 1-1472	6210139**
 * Illinois	Springfield	1863-1876, 1-76	7551458
 * Indiana	Brookville/Indianapolis	1875-1909, 1-33	5725823
 * Iowa	Kanesville/Council Bluffs	1863-1875, 1-196	5725732
 * Iowa	Fort Dodge	1863-1874, 1-874	5725774
 * Iowa	Sioux City 	1863-1878,1-4966	5725738
 * Iowa	Des Moines	1863-1908, 1-2,802	5725780
 * Ohio	Chillicothe	1863-1876,1-110	5681064
 * Nevada	Elko	1872-1877, 1-30	7551461
 * Nevada	Carson City 	1864-1908, 1-432	7551460
 * Nevada	Austin & Eureka	1868-1893, 1-137	7551462
 * Utah	Beaver City	1876-1877, 1-16	7551463
 * Utah	Salt Lake City 	1868-1946,1-8096	7551465
 * Utah	Vernal	1905-1927, 2-18	7551466
 * Wyoming Cheyenne	1871-1908, 1-2298 	7551468
 * Wyoming	 Evanston	1788-1908, 1-1477	 7551470
 * Wyoming	Lander	1890-1908, 1-926	7551471
 * Wyoming	Buffalo	1888-1908, 1-1611	7551467
 * Wyoming	Sundance	1890-1908, 1-1286 	7551472
 * Wyoming	Douglas	1890-1908, 1-1034	 7551469

Additional states and descriptive information may be added to this collection.

 Related Publications 
 * Roberta King. Homestead Records: Cancelled, Contested, and Relinquished Entries. NGS Magazine 34 #1 (January-March 2008): 46-49.
 * Kenneth Hawkins, comp. Research in the Land Entry Files of the General Land Office. NARA Reference Information Paper 114

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Records may contain any of the following:


 * Name of applicant
 * Date
 * Application and final certificate numbers
 * Description and location of land
 * Names of witnesses, family members or neighbors
 * Birth information
 * Previous residences
 * Occupations
 * Marital status
 * If applicant has filed for multiple homesteads

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The name of the applicant
 * The date of application

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select State
 * 2) Select Land office name
 * 3) Select Record type to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the name, location, and date to find the family in census records
 * Use the description and location of land to find the family in other land records
 * Use the description and location of land to find the family in probate records

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, check for nearby land owners with similar or variant spellings of the surnames
 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies