I forget whether a Homestead was a quarter section—160 acres, or a whole section—640 acres. My late husband and his brother recently sold a 40 acre 1/16th section in southern Illinois. Land had been subdivided among heirs. I cannot imagine migrating to Siberia for 2 1/2 acres unless near a city.
It was 160 acres. This was in the pre-tractor days and 160 was a tremendous amount of labor.
My great grandfather made the Cherokee Outlet run in 1893 in Oklahoma and got the deed after seven years of living on and improving the place. He bought two or three more quarter sections later.
The old boy died in his 90s when I was a toddler. Wish I could have talked to him.