The events of 1862 included the passing of a meaningful piece of legislation – the Homestead Act of 1862. This act was the catalyst for the expansion of not only the West but also of Florida.

In an 1861 speech, President Abraham Lincoln reminded citizens that the true purpose of government was to “elevate the condition of men, to lift artificial burdens from all shoulders, and to give everyone an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.” He kept his promise with the passage of the Homestead Act.

After the Civil War, the South was left destitute. The economy was in ruins, and thousands of soldiers lay in graves. Florida represented a second chance for Southerners. Leaving Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina, these pioneers came to Clay County to start over. The Homestead Act made it all possible. Granting 160 acres of free land to applicants, the act gave them a fair shot at success. By the time it was all said and done with the repeal of the act, in 1976, 270 million acres – 10% of the area of the United States – were claimed and settled under this act. According to the National Park Service, 28,096 homesteaders were “proved up” in Florida. The total acreage of homesteaded land here was 3,326,712.

The requirements to be a homesteader were simple: the applicant had to be at least 21 and be the head of the household to receive 160 acres of free federal land. The applicant had to be a citizen of the United States or someone who legally declared intentions to become a citizen. They must not have fought against the United States or aided an enemy of the United States. One wonders how many Civil War veterans from the South fudged that part of the application.

A small filing fee was the only money needed. The real work began when “proving up” the claim. During five years of continuous residence on the land, the claimant was required to build a home, farm the land and make improvements. Two references were needed from folks who could affirm the applicant had fulfilled all the requirements to receive the land patent. Union soldiers caught a break, as they could use their Civil War service to avoid the five-year residency rule.

One such Clay County homesteader was Hiram Burroughs, a native Floridian. With his wife, Elizabeth Wiggins Raulerson, he had five children. These children worked the land side-by-side with their parents as soon as possible. Hiram’s 164 acres would have been due north of Penney Farms in Section 28, Range 25 East, Township 5 South. Hiram was a farmer by profession. Once his children were adults, several moved to Duval County to pursue “big city jobs.”

After years of hard work and perseverance, Hiram fulfilled the requirements for his homestead and was awarded the land patent in 1914.