Moses Kinkaid

Moses Kinkaid
Moses Kinkaid in 1911
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNebraska's6thdistrict
In office March 4, 1903 – July 6, 1922
Preceded by	William Neville
Succeeded by	Augustin Reed Humphrey
Personal details
Born	(1856-01-24)January 24, 1856 Morgantown,Virginia
Died	July 6, 1922(1922-07-06)(aged 66) Washington, D.C.
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	University of Michigan

Moses Pierce Kinkaid(January 24, 1856 – July 6, 1922) was an American politician who was a member of theUnited States House of Representativesfrom the state ofNebraska.He was the sponsor of the 1904Kinkaid Land Act,which allowed homesteaders to claim up to 640 acres (260 ha) of government land in western Nebraska.

Early life and career

Kinkaid was born nearMorgantown, Virginia,which is now inWest Virginia.As a boy, he piloted Canada-boundfugitive slavesto his grandparents' home in Pennsylvania, where food, shelter, and aid were given to them.He attended the public schools and graduated from the law department of theUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arborin 1876.He was admitted to the bar and practiced inHenry County, Illinois,from 1876 until 1880 and inPierre,Dakota Territoryin 1880 and 1881.In 1881, he moved toO'Neill, Nebraska,where he maintained his residence until his death.

In O'Neill, Kinkaid continued to practice law. He also served as an officer of the Holt County Bank from its foundation in 1884 until 1886.He served in the state Senate in 1883,and as a district judge from 1887 to 1900.

In 1900, Kinkaid unsuccessfully sought election to the U.S. House of Representatives fromNebraska's Sixth District.In 1902, he ran for the same position, this time successfully.

Kinkaid Act

The Sixth District contained most of theNebraska Sandhills.This is a region of grass-stabilized sand dunes.Rainfall percolates readily into the sandy soil, recharging the aquifer and giving rise to hundreds of permanent lakes; but the sandy soil is poorly suited for cultivation, and the area is chiefly used for cattle ranching.

At the time that Kinkaid entered Congress, the 1862Homestead Actallowed settlers to obtain a quarter-section (160 acres, or 65 ha) of government land for a nominal fee; the 1873Timber Culture Actallowed them to claim an additional quarter-section. However, in much of the Sandhills, a half-section was not enough land to sustain a family. Instead, the pattern of development was one of large cattle ranches on federal land,with the ranchers using the homestead laws to secure lakes and streams for their operations.

In an effort to increase settlement in the northwestern portion of his state, Kinkaid sponsored and obtained passage of theKinkaid Act,which amended the Homestead Act to enlarge the size of a homestead claim in certain arid regions of western Nebraska. Settlers on non-irrigable lands west of the98th Meridiancould claim up to 640 acres (260 ha).The measure was signed by PresidentTheodore Rooseveltin 1904.

The Act had its intended effect: immigration into the Sandhills increased, with nearly nine million new acres (3,600,000 ha) claimed in Nebraska.By 1912, most of the land available had been claimed by "Kinkaiders".Attempts to farm the land thus obtained generally failed; but Kinkaid claims, together with regulations prohibiting fencing of federal land, led to the replacement of a few large ranches in the Sandhills with many smaller ones.The outcome of the Nebraska law led to the passage of the 1916Stock-Raising Homestead Act,which extended many of the provisions of the Kinkaid act to other Western states.

Holt County Historical Museum, formerly Nebraska State Bank, in O'Neill, Nebraska. Kinkaid's law office occupied the second floor.

Later life and legacy

Kinkaid held his Congressional seat as aRepublicanuntil his death.In the 66th and 67th Congresses (1919–1922), he was Chairman of the Committee on Irrigation of Arid Lands. He died inWashington, D.C.,on July 6, 1922,shortly before the end of his tenth term in office. He was buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in O'Neill, Nebraska.

TheOld Nebraska State Bank Buildingin O'Neill, in which Kinkaid had his law office from 1884 until his death, is now the Holt County Historical Museum.It is listed in theNational Register of Historic Places. Kinkaid's office has been restored and is on display.

TheKinkaider Brewing CompanyinBroken Bow, Nebraska,was named in honor of the congressman and the "Kinkaiders" who settled this area of the state.

In 1963, he was inducted into theHall of Great Westernersof theNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

External links

• United States Congress."Moses Kinkaid (id: K000221)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Moses P. Kinkaid Law Office Museum (O'Neill, Nebraska)
• Moses KinkaidatFind a Grave
• Moses P. Kinkaid, late a representative from Nebraska, Memorial addresses delivered in the House of Representatives frontispiece 1924