Last Public Land Deed
Gets deed to last public lands here
Springfield Republican, November 10, 1909.
The last tract of government land in Greene County yesterday became the property of a private citizen when final proof on the tract was made by William F. Morgan of the south west quarter of the southeast quarter of section 17, township 31, range 23, located near Pearl. Mr. Morgan filed a homestead entry on the land September 22, 1904, and soon after the required five years residence of the tract was completed, he made final proof, the land then becoming his property.
Several entries of this tract have been made, the first on December 16, when the land was homesteaded by Jacob Lippman. Lippman failed to make final proof and the entry was cancelled, April 6, 1875. The land was vacant for the next twenty years, John T. Watkins filing a homestead entry March 25, 1895. Jake Lippman* failed to make final proof and his entry was cancelled December 10, 1902.
The land was again entered on January 15, 1904, by James B. Salsberry, who relinquished it a short time later. Morgan entered the land September 1904, and made final proof yesterday before Register C. N. Van Hosen and Receiver J. H. Duncan.
*The author probably meant John T. Watkins rather than Jake Lippman.
The forty acres of land was still in Morgan's name in the 1930 County plat book available online. It appears to be closer to Walnut Grove than to Pearl.
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