The reason I titled this as the ‘Second Generation’ is because these homesteaders were not the first homesteaders of Dakota Territory. The ‘First Generation’ included Batt Ryan, Eliza Ryan, John Smith, Susan Smith, Philias Turgeon and Merida Turgeon. The ‘Second Generation’ is their children – Frank Ryan, Leo Ryan, Mayme F. Smith and Mary J. Turgeon. Like their parents before them, these four relatives struck out on their own to tame the South Dakota prairie.
Land Patents and the Homestead Act
The Homestead Act of 1862 gave free title to 160 acres of undeveloped land in the West. There were certain rules you had to follow. You were granted this land free and clear if you farmed or made improvements to this land for a period of no less than 5 years. The settler had to build a house on his property no smaller than 12 by 14 feet in size. The land was not completely free. The homesteader had to pay a filing fee to process his or her homestead record. There was also one other main requirement. You had to be a US citizen. That is why you see so many of our ancestors filing naturalization papers in the 19h and early 20th century. This Act ended in 1976.
The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) still maintains these old land patent records. Land patents document the transfer of land ownership from the federal government to individuals. BLM records also show when ownership was actually transferred to the homesteader.
Frank and Leo Ryan – Meade County
Frank and Leo Ryan homesteaded in Meade County, South Dakota. Frank and Leo were neighbors. Both homesteaded in Riverside Township, which is adjacent to Lawrence County, South Dakota. In fact, Frank’s homestead was probably adjacent to Lawrence County. In looking at the map it appears their homesteads were near Sturgis, South Dakota, and both would have only been a short distance from Deadwood.
Frank and Leo’s Homestead paperwork appears elsewhere on our website. (From the main screen click on the ‘Vital Records’ button. In the following screen, scroll down until you see a section titled ‘Land & Homestead Records’.)
Mayme F. Smith and Mary J. Turgeon – Lyman County
For Lyman County, BLM records might appear confusing. For Mary Turgeon we found a land patent record for property in Lyman County. Yet, BLM records show Mary’s land was actually located in Jones County. Family lore suggests Mayme and Mary were neighbors; however, this was not the case.
Lyman County was created in 1873, and in 1890 it saw its first homesteaders. When created, this County was 25 miles wide and 90 miles long. The County Seat moved several times to accommodate the growing population in its western region. In 1917 Lyman County was split in two. The western portion was reorganized as Jones County. The population for Lyman County hits its peak in 1910 at 10,848 people.
Although her land was located in Lyman County when first homesteaded, today this land is wholly enclosed within Scovill Township, Jones County.
There are other Smith homesteaders nearby; however, as best as I can tell none are related to our family. Smith, after all, is a common surname.
Mayme’s land location was found on a 1911 plat map of Lyman County. Of course, no one stayed on their land. Frank and Leo both moved back to Kimball, South Dakota. Leo married Lillian Meis in 1918. Frank married Adelaide McGonigle in Belvidere, Illinois.
Mayme moved back to Kimball where she married James Carroll in 1909. Mary Turgeon married William P. Smith in 1908 and moved to Aurora County.
The following graph shows how Mary Turgeon, Mayme Smith, Frank Ryan and Leo Ryan are related to the Smith siblings.
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December 2007