The U. S. Gov. opened lands in Nebraska for homesteading. They also granted lands under the Timber Culture Act. If you think your ancestors got land from the Fed. Gov. under either, check with the county where they settled for the recording of a patent in the deed book. This will give the land description, which is all you need to write to the Nat. Archives for the file. Homestead files tend to be more complete than those for Timber Culture grants, but both are great records. The current NARA charge is $10 per file. If you don't find a patent, but also can't find a deed where your ancestor bought land, but find him selling land at a later date, suspect that the land was granted directly from the gov. Through one of these acts. Send the land description to NARA anyway. They do not charge if no file is found. Leah in Georgia