Who owned the property when it was given to the settlers to homestead on ?
Maybe a better question would be, who is supposed to own the property when a state has been admitted to the Union?
yeah what I have seen is deeds with the County giving the land
it was never ‘given’. Under the Homestead Act of 1862 the land was sold for up to $1.25 an acre, with a quarter-section minimum, with the condition it be lived on for five years and ‘improved’ after which time title could be applied for. If the person paid full price of $1.25 an acre, they could apply after six months. Union soldiers were given preferential treatment. Confederate soldiers need not apply, but family members “who had never borne arms against the US Government” could apply.
http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/homestead-act/