43 U.S.C. § 989 : US Code - Section 989: Homestead entries by purchasers from Missouri of lands declared not to be swamp lands

Search 43 U.S.C. § 989 : US Code - Section 989: Homestead entries by purchasers from Missouri of lands declared not to be swamp lands

In all cases in the State of Missouri where lands have, prior to
February 23, 1875, been selected and claimed as swamp and
overflowed lands by said State, and the various counties therein,
by virtue of any Act of Congress, and said lands have been withheld
from market in consequence thereof by the General Government, and
the said State and counties have sold said lands to actual
settlers, and said settlers have improved the same to the value of
$100; said settlers, their heirs, assigns, and legal
representatives, who have continued to reside thereon, shall have
priority of right to homestead all such lands as may be rejected by
the United States as not being in fact swamp and overflowed lands;
and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior to make
such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry into effect
the provisions of this section: Provided, That nothing herein
contained shall prejudice the rights of any person who may have
made actual settlement upon such lands under the preemption or
homestead laws prior to February 23, 1875.