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Archiver > GENMSC > 2002-05 > 1021054254


From: Charles Sullivan <>
Subject: Re: Naturalization Laws 1880's
Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 18:10:54 GMT
References: <3CDAF160.8C49D100@pobox.com>


On Thu, 09 May 2002 17:59:21 -0400, PC Sprague wrote:

> I have a question about Naturalization Laws in the 1880's. Which court
> did the people have to go to? Did they have to go to the court in their
> state of residence or could they go to one closer if it was in another
> state? My ggrandfather was in northeastern Nebraska and homesteaded in
> 1885 or so. As I understand the homestead act, he would have had
> declare his intent to become a citizen, right? I have been unable to
> find any papers in Omaha records, any suggestions. I know census
> records can be full of errors, but in the 1900 census it says he became
> a citizen around 1885.
>
> Pat

Naturalization required a minimum of 5 years residence in the USA
including 1 year residence in the State, so he couldn't legally
cross the border to a court in another state to be naturalized.

The DOI could have been filed in a state other than the state of
residence at the time of naturalization.

I've found DOIs that were filed as soon as the immigrant got off
the boat and DOIs that were filed the day before the naturalization.

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