APRIL 2021 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter M o n t a n a ’ s F e m a l e H o m e s t e a d e r s The River Press April 27, 1898 www.montananewspapers.org The Homestead Act of 1862 offered 160 acre plots of public land to those who were at least twenty-one years old and served as head of household, with the conditions that they live on the land, cultivate it and improve it. This made land ownership possible to citizens from all walks of life including former slaves, immigrants and women; often including those who were single, divorced or widowed. The Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909 expanded the acreage to 320 and brought the largest influx of homesteaders to the state. By 1918 over 10,000 claims had been filed on over 3 million acres of land. Historians estimate that around 18% of Montana’s homesteaders were unmarried women. Let’s take a look at just a few of the stand-outs from that sturdy group… Gwenllian Evans is known as Montana's first female homesteader. Gwenllian was born April 15, 1802 in Wales. She came to Montana in 1869 with her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Evans. Shortly after her arrival, Gwenllian filed an entry on 160 acres of land that would later be known as Opportunity and, an opportunity it was. She lived on her land the required length of time and received a government patent. This place would also become one of the state's earliest post offices known by the name of Gwendale (later changed to Morristown as not to be confused with Glendale). Gwenllian acted as one of the territory's first post mistresses. Her son, Morgan Evans served as Marcus Daly's land agent. Gwenllian passed away in 1892 and is buried in a local Anaconda cemetery. Current Day Opportunity by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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