An Accidental Page Turn: Discovering My Great-Grandmother Jane’s Homestead Story

Homestead records can hold surprises that bring family stories to life in unexpected ways.

In the video below, I walk through my great grandmother's Nebraska homestead records.

Jane C. Hubbard set out for Nebraska in 1886, leaving Vermont with her children to join family who had already established roots in Venus, Nebraska. As I combed through her homestead papers, her story began to take shape — a single mother navigating life on the plains. She applied for a homestead and built a modest home.

She starts her application by talking about her late husband's civil war service.

From Jane C. Hubbard’s Land Entry Case Files Application Number 14364

Each line in the record reveals a new layer of her life—the 12x14 house, the sod barn, the hog pen, and the neighbors who witnessed her commitment to the land. These records are more than government documents. They're a window into her determination to build a life. And then there's her signature, a lingering trace of her presence.

I was admiring that signature, when an accidental page turn revealed a connection I never expected.

Jane C. Hubbard’s signature on Land Entry Case File paperwork.

While paging through her Land Entry Case Files on Fold3.com, I mistakenly clicked past her last page, to the homestead record of Charles E. Sholes, a name that stopped me in my tracks. Charles was my grandmother’s first husband, and until that moment, I had no idea how they met. But here was a potential answer, hidden in plain sight—Charles and Jane were neighbors. Grandma was basically the girl next door!

Charles’ records echoed Jane’s, mentioning the land improvements, furniture, and farming tools.

These defined his life in Nebraska. He had a 12 x 14 house, a stove, a bedstead, a table, a trunk, a mare, a colt, and a cow. He also listed his tools — 1 wagon, 2 plows, a harvester. Suddenly, I could picture the shared moments of their lives, from crossing paths to exchanging neighborly greetings, maybe even sharing a meal?

From Charles E Sholes Land Entry Case Files Application Number 12913

This simple page turn unlocked a new chapter in my family’s story.

Charles and Jane's neighboring homesteads tell a quiet story of how my family's roots were intertwined. As I dug through these records, it felt like I was connecting with more than just their lives on paper—I was tapping into the legacy they built. Charles’ record, listing plows and simple household items, spoke volumes about their daily struggles and dreams on the plains.

Stumbling upon his name in her records was a reminder that family stories often hide in unexpected places. You just have to snoop around! Get deep into those government forms. Read that bad cursive handwriting. Close your eyes, and imagine the scene.

Sometimes, it’s the accidental finds that reveal the richest stories of all.

What I'm learning from this is to spend a lot of time in these records looking at the witnesses and at the neighbors. (And often the witnesses are the neighbors.) Some of these homestead records are available on Fold3.com. It is hard to determine exactly which ones. Generally, it seems like it’s the older ones, but maybe not all of them. Others must be ordered from the National Archives. And if the homesteads were returned or relinquished, they can be a little harder to find than those that were completed.

This web page is a good starting point for finding Nebraska homesteads. It also has information on other states as well, but the focus is Nebraska, which was also my focus for this exercise. https://historyhub.history.gov/land-records/f/discussions/29545/how-would-i-go-about-searching-homestead-act-records

Attention Family Members: Please contact me directly for copies of these homestead records or copies of family photos from the video.