Crowder, Bluford A. - homestead proof

• Title	Crowder, Bluford A. - homestead proof
  Short Title	Crowder, Bluford A. - homestead proof
  Publisher	Jane E. Crowder, homestead certificate no. 2050, Ironton, Missouri, Land Office, Bureau of Land Management, Record Group 49, National Archives Building, Washington, D.C.; original claim application no. 4388 filed by Bluford A. Crowder, completed by his widow Jane subsequent to his death.
  Source ID	S415
  Text	[Transcription of original filing; underlined portions penned, other portion pre-printed document. Line breaks and spelling original to document] I, «u»B.A. Crowder«/u», of «u»Howell County, Mo «/u»having filed my application, No. «u»4388«/u», for an entry under the provisions of the act of Congress approved May 20, 1862, entitled "An act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," do solemnly swear, that «u»I am a citizin [sic] of the United States and the head of a family and that the distance to the land office is so great that I can not appear in person without much trouble and expense that I reside on the land applied for and have [illegible word] them «/u»that said application, No. «u»4388«/u», is made for the purpose of actual settlement and cultivation; that said entry is made for my own exclusive benefit and not directly or indirectly for the benefit or use of any other person or persons whomsoever; neither have I heretofore perfected or abandoned an entry made under this act. «u»B.A. Crowder «/u»[signature] Sworn to and subscribed this «u»2"«/u» day of «u»November 1872 «/u»before «u»T A Collins «/u» «u»Clerk of [Circuit Court?] [«/u»Following are abstractions of the homestead proof testimonies. These were printed documents in question and answer form. They were filled out by someone in the Circuit Court Judge's office in Howell County, and signed by the individuals offering testimony. The questions can be presumed from the pertinent answers which I have abstracted below] «b»1. Testimony of Claimant [Jane Eveline (Tidwell) Crowder] «/b»"J.E. Crowder widow of B.A. Crowder, deceased" offered testimony regarding the land claim originated by her husband, and being completed by her. The legal description that she gives is "South west quarter Section 31, township 27, Range 7 west." She states her full name as "Jane E. Crowder," and her age as fifty-seven. She says that she is the "head of family and single," and that the family consists of two children. She is a citizen of the United States. She does not know of any coal or minerals on the property, and its use is agricultural in nature. Her address is "Chappell" [sic]. She has never made a previous land entry, has not sold her interest in the land to any other individual, and she is the sole person claiming the land. She first made settlement of the land on 7 November 1872, and has resided on it continuously since that time, as did her family. Improvements made on the land include "one log house 16 x 18 Smoke house Stables, Cistern, one hundred and Twenty- apple trees. same No of Peach trees." She further states that the house was built in January 1869, and the total value of the improvements is $500. That the land is used for agricultural purposes, including thirty acres of oats wheat and corn. [This document is signed by Jane E. Crowder, and certified by Bailey P. Smith, "Judge ex officio Clerk probate court Howell Co MO"; dated 31 Oct 1879] «b»2. Testimony of Witness [Andrew Jackson Smith] «/b»Andrew J. Smith testifies as a witness in support of the homestead entry of Jane E. Crowder. He offers the same legal description as Jane did, and the same address. He states that he is a farmer, that he is well acquainted with the claimant, and has known her for seven years. He believes her to be age 57, and knows her to be the head of a family with two children, single, and a citizen of the United States. He states that she has been an inhabitant of the claim, and that he lives near the land and is familiar with it. Also that there are no minerals or coal on the land, and that its purpose is agricultural. Further states that the claimant first made settlement on the land on 7 November 1872, and has resided on it continuously since that time, along with her family. He indicates that the house on the land was built in January 1869, and that improvements include stables, smokehouse cistern 120 apple trees and the same number of peach trees; that the improvements are worth about $500; and that 30 acres are cultivated in oats, wheat and corn. He does not believe that the claimant has ever filed a homestead entry for any other piece of property, he believes she is acting in good faith and he (the witness) does not have any interest in the claim. [Signed by Andrew J. Smith, and witnessed by the same Bailey P. Smith, on the same date] «b»3. Testimony of Witness [Thomas Newell Walker] «/b»"N. [J?T?] Walker" is called as a witness in support of the homestead entry of Jane E. Crowder, widow of B.A. Crowder. The legal description is given as she stated it in her testimony. He states that her post office address is "Chappell." He is a farmer and is well acquainted with Jane E. Crowder, having known her for Seven years. He knows her to be 57 years old, and the single head of a family of two children. He knows that she has inhabited the land, and he states "I live on the land, am aquainted [sic] with the same." He states that there are no coal, salines, or minerals on the land, and that its value is agricultural. He further states that the claimant has lived on the land since 7 Nov 1872, continuously, and with her family. He indicates that the house was built in Jan 1869, and that other improvements include stables, smoke house, cistern, 100 apple trees and the same number of peach trees. Also that these improvements are worth about $500. That the property is agricultural, and that 30 acres have been cultivated in oats wheat, and corn. He states that, to his knowledge, the claimant has never made a previous claim, and that she has not conveyed her interest to any other individual; that she is acting in good faith and that he is not interested in the claim himself. [Signed "newel j. Walker" and witnessed by the same Bailey P. Smith on the same date]
  Linked to	Bluford Azeri Crowder