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Alaska Pioneer Claims Final Homestead Title
14 Aug
Summary
- Kenneth Deardorff was the last person to receive a homestead title.
- He settled on remote land along the Stony River in Alaska.
- His patent arrived May 5, 1988, after the program ended.
Kenneth Deardorff's life took a unique turn after his service in the Vietnam War. Arriving in Alaska in 1974 with a geography degree, he was drawn to the idea of homesteading. He claimed land along the Stony River in remote southwestern Alaska, opting for a life far from conventional careers.
Deardorff established a self-sufficient existence, hunting and trapping for income while operating a small general store. His property lacked nearby roads, necessitating travel by boat, aircraft, or foot to reach other communities. He completed the homestead requirements by 1979, after arduous work, including transporting a tractor by aircraft and dog sled.
Remarkably, Deardorff received his government patent on May 5, 1988. This date is significant as the Homestead Act had already ended for new claims in Alaska by 1986. His patent officially made him the final recipient of a homestead title under this historic legislation.
His story now represents the closing chapter of the Homestead Act, a program that began in 1862. Deardorff's patent and his meticulously transported tractor are preserved as testaments to this final homesteading saga.
