Kevin Klaus from the Texas General Land Office (https://www.glo.texas.gov/) will present “Pre-emption and Homestead Grants in Texas”. Preemption grants were used by the Republic, and later the State of Texas in various ways from 1845 to 1856, and again from 1866 to 1898. Preemption grants allowed settlers to claim land on the vacant public domain of Texas and provided a process by which they could title the land once established criteria were met. Many times, these types of grants are an overlooked treasure trove full of great genealogical information! In many instances, they will tell you when a person settled upon the land, names of the original grantees and possibly their wives or what structures were on the land. You may find unique stories or history in these files such as murders, Indian troubles, or even an old marriage certificate. Kevin will cover all the aspects of these early grants, how to search for them and what you may find.
Kevin Klaus is the team leader of the Archives and Records Program Area Research Room. A native Texan, born on the Texas coast and growing up in the Hill Country, early on he had an interest in Texas history. Beginning in 1990, he served eight years in the United States Army. In 1998 honorably discharged from the Army in New Mexico and returned home to Central Texas where he grew up. Kevin has a background in Anthropology, Archaeology, and Public History from the University of New Mexico. Over the last 24 years he has served as one of the lead researchers in the Texas General Land Office Archives and Records Program Area. During his time at the Land Office, he has searched the early Court of Claims files, German Collection, and archival collection to learn more about the history of Texas and discover the amazing collection of personal letters of early soldiers and pioneers who helped settle our great state.