Steve’s Genealogy Blog

By the end of June 1883, Antoni Tarnowski had applied for a land claim in Minnesota under the Homestead Act, had filed an affidavit that he was qualified to do so, had paid the initial fees, had lived on the land for six years and submitted proof thereof, had become an American citizen, and had provided the testimony of himself and two witnesses that he had acted in good faith.  Only a few more details remained.

Antoni had to file a Notice of Proof, pay additional fees, and obtain a Final Certificate.

The Notice of Proof was published for five weeks from May 31 to June 28, 1883 in the Lake Superior News and stated that Antoni Tarnowski was proving his homestead claim.

Antoni paid fees totaling $6 to process the claim.

Antoni received a Final Certificate verifying the details of the claim.

Antoni now owned the land specified in his claim.  The final document that established the validity of the claim and included the name of the President of the United States was issued on January 15, 1884.

On January 15, 1884, Antoni Tarnowski received his Land Patent under the Homestead Act.  Seven years earlier, he had prepared an Application for homesteading a specific piece of land.  He also completed an Affidavit that he was over 21 years old and had submitted his Declaration of Intention to become a Citizen of the United States.  In return for an application fee of $14, he received a Receipt.

After applying for land under the Homestead Act, Antoni had to live on the land, improve it, build a home on it, and farm the land for five years.  In April of 1883, Antoni filed his Second Papers - his Petition for Naturalization.

The Second Papers, filed on April 4, 1883, show that two witnesses named S. J. Thompson and M. Sepak vouched that Antoni Tarnowski was a man of good character, had lived in the United States for at least five years, and had lived in the State of Minnesota for at least one year.  The Second Papers further show that Antoni, himself, stated that he had lived in the United States for at least five years and in the State of Minnesota for at least one year, and that he renounced allegiance to any foreign power, especially the Emperor of Germany.  Finally the Second Papers show that Antoni had filed a Declaration of Intention on November 4, 1876.

That task completed, Antoni filed his Proof of Claim, including his own testimony and that of two witnesses on June 30, 1883.

 The Homestead Proof shows that on June 30, 1883, Antoni Tarnowski swore that he lived on his Homestead Claim of the South Half of the Southeast Quarter and Lots 3 & 4 of Section 17 in Township 52N of Range 14W 4th PM since February 15, 1877.

The Claimant’s Testimony shows that Antoni Tarnowski, in support of homestead entry No. 1396, declared that he was 52 years old with a PO Address in Duluth, St. Louis Co., Minnesota.  Antoni stated that he was a naturalized citizen of the United States, that he established residence on the land on February 15, 1877, and he built a good log home and barn, and had cleared and cultivated about 8 acres of land.  His family consisted of himself, his wife, and five children.  He mentioned that he lived continuously on the land and raised crops for six seasons, leaving only to obtain provisions and to earn extra money working on the docks in Duluth.  The longest period of time he was away from the claim was three months.

The testimonies of the two witnesses state virtually the same details as the testimony of the claimant.  However, the witnesses also add that Antoni settled on January 15, 1877 and established residence on February 15, 1877.

Furthermore, Antoni and Stanslaw Koslakowicz didn’t mention the name of the town, but the witness Martin Lipak mentioned that the town was named Gnesen.  Both witnesses stated that they had no interest in Antoni’s claim and they thought that he had acted in good faith.

Tomorrow:  Antoni publishes a notice in the newspaper that he intends to file Final Proof in support of his homestead claim and is granted a final certificate.

A while ago, a friend asked me if I would look for the immigration records of his ancestor, Antoni Tarnowski.  He knew a few details about Antoni, including the fact that he homesteaded in Minnesota.

The Homestead Act was signed into law by Abraham Lincoln in 1862.  Under this Act, 10% of the land of the United States was conveyed to private citizens and settled.  Any head of household who was at least 21 years old could claim a 160 acre parcel.  Homesteaders had to live on the land for five years, build a home, make improvements, and farm the land.  After this period of time, the homesteader could Prove Up and receive a Land Patent.

One source of Land Patents is the Bureau of Land Management - General Land Office Records.  There, I found the Land Patent for Antoni Tarnowski in Minnesota.

This Land Patent shows that according to Homestead Certificate 1131, Application 1396, Antoni Tarnowski was granted the south half of the south-east quarter and the lots numbered three and four of section seventeen, in township fifty-two north, of range fourteen west of the Fourth Principal Meridian in Minnesota, containing one hundred sixty-five acres and forty-five hundredths of an acre.  The Land Patent was dated 15 January 1884 and includes the names Chester A. Arthur, Wm. H. Crook, and S. W. Clark.

Additionally, the Bureau of Land Management - General Land Office Records website summarizes the Land Patent as follows:

• Patentee: Antoni Tarnowski
• State: Minnesota
• Acres: 165.45
• Metes/Bounds: No
• Title Transfer Issue Date: 1/15/1884
• Land Office: Duluth
• Cancelled: No
• U. S. Reservations: No
• Mineral Reservations: No
• Authority: May 20, 1862: Homestead Entry Original (12 Stat. 392)
• Document Nr.: 1131
• Misc. Doc. Nr.: 1396
• Accession/Serial Nr.: MN0870__.097
• BLM Serial Nr.: MN NO S/N

Aliquot  Sec./                           Fract.
Parts     Block Township Range Section     Meridian         State Counties
S1/2SE 17/    52-N       14-W   No  4th PM - 1831 MN/WI MN St Louis
3           17/    52-N       14-W   No  4th PM - 1831 MN/WI MN St Louis
4           17/    52-N       14-W   No  4th PM - 1831 MN/WI MN St Louis

After finding this information, I ordered the entire Land Entry File from the National Archives.  I had to first order the form to request the Land Entry File, and when the form arrived a few days later, I filled out the form and sent it in with the appropriate fee.  The Land Entry File arrived a few weeks later. The file contained thirteen documents, the first three of which were issued in 1877: the Application, Affidavit, and Receipt.

The Application (Number 1896) was filed on June 12, 1877 at the Land Office in Duluth, Minnesota, showing that the location of Antoni’s 165.45 acres was the S1/2 of the SE 1/4 and Lots 3 & 4 of Section 17 in Township 52N of Range 14W.

The Affidavit was made on June 12, 1877 at the Land Office in Duluth, Minnesota, and in it Antoni states that he had declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, that he was married, and that he was over the age of 21 years.

The Receipt shows that Antoni paid $14.00 to file the Application and the Affidavit under the Homestead Act, which included a filing fee to claim the land temporarily and a commission for the land agent.

Tomorrow: Antoni proves his claim.