Cleburne County AlArchives Deed.....Andrew J Skinner - Alabama State January 1 1883 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Candace Gravelle tealtree@comcast.net December 27, 2003, 7:32 pm Cleburne Written: January 1 1883 Homestead / Land application of Andrew J. Skinner for land in Cleburne County, Alabama May 26, 1883 Homestead Affidavit Office of the Judge of the Court of Probate for Cleburne County, Ala I, Andrew J. Skinner of Cleburne County, Ala having filed by homestead application No. 14348 do solemnly swear that I am the head of a family and a citizen of the United States; that said application No. 14348 is made the purpose of actual settlement and cultivation; that said entry is made for my exclusive use and benefit and not directly or indirectly for the use or benefit of any other person or persons whomsoever. That I am my family are now residing on the land I desire to enter and that I have made a bona fide improvement and settlement thereon; that said settlement was commenced in March 1875; that my improvements consist of a one room dwelling, smoke house, one tenant house (about 20 acres in cultivation) and that the value of same is $150.; that owing to the great distance, I am unable to appear at the District Land Office to make this affidavit and that I have never before made a homestead entry. Andrew J. Skinner (signature). Sworn to and subscribed before me this 26 day of May 1883. T.J. Burton, Judge of Probate & Ex Officio, Judge and Clerk of the County Court for Cleburne County Alabama. Stamped at bottom of the above affadavit: Registry Return Receipt sent June 21, 1890 addressed to A.J. Skinner, Bells Mills, Alabama Post Office A.J. Skinner received the above described registered letter (signature). May 26, 1883 Homestead Application No. 14348 Post Office at Lecta, Alabama I, Andrew J. Skinner of Cleburne County, Alabama do hereby apply to enter under Section 2289 Revised Statutes of the United States the NW 1/4 SW 1/4 Sec 4 & N 1/2 of SE 1/4 and SE 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Section 5 in township 17S of Range 12 E containing 159.98 acres. Andrew J. Skinner (signature). Dec 22, 1889 Homestead, Pre-Emption and Commutation Proof Testimony of Claimant Andrew J. Skinner, claimant, being first duly sworn, testifies as follows: 1. What is your correct name, age and occupation: Andrew J. Skinner, 37 years old and a farmer. 2. What is your post office address: Hopewell, Cleburne County, Alabama 3. Are you the identical person who made Homestead filing No. 14348 at the District Land office on 30 day of May? I am the identical person who made homestead entry. 4. Where did you live before you entered upon this land? Cleburne County, Alabama 5. Are you a native born citizen of the United States or have you declared your intention to become such? I am a native citizen of the United States. 6. You you interested in any other entry or filing other than the one upon which you now seek to make proof? No 7. Have you made a pre-emption filing for any other tract of land or made any other homestead entry or filing of any kind? No. 8. Is your present claim within the limits of an incorporated town or selected site of a city or town or used in any way for trade or business? No. 9. What is the character of the land? Is it timber, mountainous, prairie, grazing or ordinary agricultural land? Ordinary agricultural land, hilly and fairly timbered. 10. Is the land valuable for coal, iron, stone or minerals of any kind? Has any coal or other minerals been discovered thereon or is any coal or mineral known to be contained therein? Not to my knowledge. 11. If the land is timber land, state the kind, quality and amount of timber thereon at date of initiating your claim, the amount still standing, now much has been cut or removed and by whom and whether the same has been disposed of and to whom, also whether any other person than yourself has an interest in the timber and if so what kind of interest? The land was pretty well timbered when I made my entry and I have not cut and removed any timber from the land. 12. If the land is used for grazing purposes state how and by whom it is so used and whether it is within any stock range or fence or other inclusre and who owns or controls the range or inclosure. It is not used for grazing purposes nor in any stock range or other inclosure. 13. When did you first make an actual personal settlement on this land? State what you did to make such settlement and the character and value of the improvements you then placed upon the land. In the year 1883 by building my house and moving in it. 14. Was the land occupied by any other person when you made settlement on this land? No. 15 and 16. When did you actually move on tis land and commence living permanently thereon? In the month of January 1883. 17. Has your residence on this land been continuous or at intervals? It has been actual and continuous. 18. Have you resided or boarded elsewhere than on this land since commencing your residence thereon? No. 19. Have you voted since establishing residence on this land and where did you last vote and haw long have you voted there? At Prec. 9 Cleburne County, Ala. 20. How many times have you been absent from said tract since you commenced actual residence thereon? I have not been absent from this land since established my residence upon it in 1883. 21. Have you a family and of whom does your family consist? Of my wife, five children and myself. 22. Has your family resided with you on this claim? Yes, all the time. 23. If you have has been absent any part of the time since moving on this land, state the causes for and the dates when each absence was commenced and terminated. They have not been absent. 24. When and by whom was your house built? Is it habitable at all seasons of the year? By myself in 1882, Yes. 25. Did you and your family live in said house all of each or any winter wince the date of your filing or entry? Yes, each and every winter since 1883. 26. If your family has not lived with you on this claim, state where they did reside and where they are now living. They have lived with me on this land. 27. Do you own any other residence house than the one now on your claim? No. 28. Describe fully the house on this claim, giving value thereof; also describe fully all other improvements thereon of whatever kind, giving the value of each and total value of all improvements. A two room house with rock chimney. A kitchen, a smoke house, a corn crib, a stable, a fruit orchard, a dug well. About 34 acres of land in cultivation, all worth about four hundred dollars. 29. What farm implements do you own and use on this claim? State kind and number and how long you have owned the same. Plows and other farming tools to run a one horse crop. 30. What domestic animals and live stock do you own and keep on this claim? 1 ox, 4 cows, 3 yearlings, 4 head of hogs. 31. State what articles of furniture of every kind you keep and use in your residence on this claim and how long you have had them there. 4 beds, bed clothing and bed steads and household and kitchen furniture, suitable for people in our station of life. 32. Have you any personal property or live stock of any kind elsewhere than on this claim? No. 33. How many seasons have you raised crops on this land and what kind of crops have you raised each season? For 14 seasons, cotton, corn, wheat, oats, & c & c ? 34. How many acres have you put in crops each year and how much did you raise? About 18 acres and I made a fair crop each year. 35. Have you the land in crop this year or is it prepared for cropping this coming season? It is prepared for crop the coming season. 36. Do you carry on any trade, profession or business elsewhere than on this land? No. 37. If you have been employed in working for others away from this claim since you established your residence thereon, state when, where and for whom, in what occupation or capacity, how long have you so worked and where you staid and lived during that time. I have not been employed by others. 38. When are you assessed for taxes, personal, real estate or licens and when and where have you paid taxes since claiming this land? At Prec. No. 9 Cleburne County, Alabama. 39. Are the improvements on this land assessed for taxes, if so what valuation? No. 40. What use is made of this land and who besides yourself and family uses it or causes it to be used? I use it as a home for myself and family. 41. Have you sold, transferred or mortgaged this land or offered or agreed to sell or dispose of it and at what price? No. 42. Do you make this entry in the interest or benefit of any one else or has any person other han yourself and family any interest, immediate or prospective in this entry? I made it my own exclusive benefit. 43., 44, 45. No. Signature of Claimant: Andrew J. Skinner Witnessed by James P. Yarbrough, Clerk, Circuit Court Dec 30, 1889 Homestead, Pre-Emption and Commutation Proof Testimony of Witness (John M. Harris) 1. What is your true name given in full, your age, residence and prseent post office address: John M. Harris, 31 years old and reside near Hopewell, Ala. P.O. Cleburne County, Alabama. 2. What is your present occupation and where and by whom have you been employed since 30 May 1883 the date of claimant's alleged settlement on said tract? Farming. I work for myself. 3. Are you related to claimant or in any way interested in this claim or are you connected with him in business of any kind? No. 4. How far from the residence of the claimant on said tract, do you reside and how long have you lived there? About 1 mile, for 7 years. 5. Give the name and residences of two or more persons living nearer to the claimant of this tract than yourself. M.N. Pitts about 1/4 mile. Jesse Williama about 1/2 mile. 6. How long have you known Andrew J. Skinner the claimant, for whom you appear as a witness, where has he been livng since you first knew him up to the present time and is he the identical person he represents himself to be? For 14 years and he has lived in Cleburne Co. Ala. 7. Are you well acquainted with the land embraced in this claim? Give correct description thereof, also state the extent of your knowlwedge and how you know what you affirm. I am well acquainted with the NW 1/4 of SW 1/4 of Sec. 4 N 1/2 of SE 1/4 & SE 1/4 of SE 1/4 Sec. 5 T. 17 S R. 12 E. 8. How often have you been on this tract of land since claimant's alleged settlement thereon, at what time or times and when did you last see him on this land? Many times each year since 1883. 9. Is said tract within the limits of an incorporated town or selected site of a city or town or used in any way for trade or business? No. 10. State specifically the character of the land, whether it is timber, prairie, grazing, farming, coal or mineral land. Ordinary agricultural land, hilly and fairly timbered. 11. Are there any indications of coal, minerals or salines on this land? None to my knowledge. 12. Is it within any stock range or other inclosure? No. 13. If the land is timber land, state whether the timber or any portion thereof and what portion if any has been cut or removed and by whom? None of the timber has been cut and removed from the land. 14. What is this land used for and who besides the claimant in any manner is interested in or uses or controls the land or claims the timber thereon? Claimant uses it as a home for himself and his family. 15. What has been the claimant's occupation since you first knew him and where has he been employed and by whom? Farming. He works on his own farm. 16. Has he had any other living or boarding place than on this land during the existance of his present claim? No. 17. Does claimant's family reside on said land? When did they move thereon? Yes, all the time since 1883. 18. Has claimant's family been absent from the land? No. 19. State in full and in detail all the facts within your knowledge as to claimant's actual residence upon this claim, when and how often you have seen him upon the land; what were the evidences that he actually lived on the tract, how long he lived there and whether he lives there now. I have often seen the claimant and his family on this land using it as a home, cultivating crops and gathering the same. 20. If claimant has been absent from said land since his alleged settlement, state fully how often, when, how long each time and for what purpose. He has not been absent from this land since 1883. 21.. State in detail the character of the improvements, what they consist of and when they were made, the value of each distinct improvement, fully describing the same, also whether they were made by the claimant or someone else. A 2 room house with chimney, a kitchen, a smoke house, stables, corn crib, a dug well, a fruit orchard, a garden, about 24 acres of land in cultivation, all worth about four hundred dollars. 22. Give the size, construction and material of claimant's house on said tract and also state whether the same is habitable during all seasons of the year. 16 x 16 x 18 x 22 log house and it is habitable at all seasons of the year. 23. What is this land worth and was it ever offered for sale? About 81.25 dollars per acre and it has never been offered for sale to my knowledge. 24. When did claimant commence living upon this land? In the month of Jan 1882. 25. How much of said land has been broken, how much plowed since being broken and how much put iinto crop each season? State kinds of crops raised, their value and number of seasons crops were raised. About 24 acres, ?? seasons and he has raised crops of corn, cotton, wheat, oats and C & C, making only a fair crop per acre. 26. Is said land in crops this season or has it been prepared for cropping the coming season? It is prepared for crop the coming season. 27. Is claimant the owner of 320 acres in this or any other State or Territory? No. 28. Do you believe that claimant intends to continue his residence on this land after making final proof or does he intend to remove therefrom? I believe claimant intends to continue to reside upon this land. 29. Does claimant with his family reside on said land at the present time? Yes, they reside upon it at this time. John M. Harris. (signature of witness) Testimony of Witness (William Z. Brown) residing near Hopewell, P.O. Cleburne County, Alabama gave identical responses to his witness affidavit, indicating that he has resided about 1 1/4 miles from Andrew J. Skinner for the prior eight years. Signed and dated Dec 30, 1889. August 10, 1891 State of Alabama, Cleburne County Before me James P. Yarbrough Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for Cleburne County, Alabama, came C.F. Dodson who was publisher of the "Standard News", a newspaper published at Edwardsville, Alabama, during the months of July and August 1890 and the notice as corrected of intention to make a final proof of homestead entry No. 14348 was published by him as the law directs and that he, by oversight and ommission filed to foward a verified copy of said corrected notice to the District Land Office as he had promised Andrew J. Skinner to do. He further certifies that said ommission was not intentional on his part and the following is a copy of the notice as corrected which notice appeared in said paper for six consequtive weeks during the months of July and August 1890. C.F. Dodson, Ex-Publisher Standard News Sworn to and subscribed before me this 10th day of August 1891. James P. Yarbrough, Clerk Circuit Court, Cleburne Co. Alabama Newspaper Notice Notice No. 9415 Land Office at Montgomery Alabama Nov 1, 1889 Notice is hereby given that the following named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his claim and that said proof will be made before the judge or in his absence the clerk of the circuit court at Edwardsville, Ala. on Dec 30, 1889, viz: Andrew J. Skinner, homestead 14348 for the NW 1/4 SW 1/4 Sec. 4 N 1/2 SE 1/4 SE 1/4 Sec 5 Twp 17 S R 12 East. He names the following witnesses to prove his continuous rsidence upon and cultivation of said land, viz: William Z. Brown, John M. Harris, George W. Batchelor and Thos. J. Johns, all of Hopewell, Ala. J. H. Bingham, Register. Sept 7, 1891 Homestead Final Certificate Final Certificate No. 10588, Application No. 14348 It is hereby certified that pursuant to the provisions of Section No. 2291, Revised Statutes of the United States, Andrew J. Skinner has made payment in full for the North West quarter of the South West Quarter of Section 4, the North half of the South East quarter and the South East of the South East quarter of Section No. 5 in Township 17 South of Range 12 East of the Huntsville Principal Meridian Alabama containing 159.98 acres. Now therefore be it known that on presentation of this certificate to the Commissioner of the General Land Office the said Andrew J. Skinner shall be entitled to a Patent for the Tract of Land above described. J. H. Bingham, Register ********************************************************************* This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 17.6 Kb