I know I said I was done for the evening, but I lie sometimes. As far as I can tell, these particular people didn't get free land. There are records of purchases of property in Gallia county from BLM. I think the going rate at that time was $1.25 per acre, but the records don't state a dollar amount, only a legal description and the acreage. S Edwards wrote: > I think free is relative. While they may have moved west to land that didn't have a cost in dollars....... the act of leaving extended family and settled communities and moving into the unknown.... is a cost in and of itself. They weren't moving to an area that was ready to farm or had living accommodations...... there was a lot of WORK involved in establishing a home and a working farm that would support them. > > While the land may have been free...... the other costs were huge. Yes, they were looking for a better life, but aren't we still doing that today.... just in different ways. > > SueEd > > > --- On Mon, 6/23/08, Charlie Hazlett <charlie@hazlett.net> wrote: > > >> Well, I think if we just stopped and >> looked at >> history in the face, the pioneer wasn't a thing in the >> world but a guy >> that wanted something for nothing." >> >> > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to OHGALLIA-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > >