John B. Nealey , Allen, LA submitted by: Dianne Duncan ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ HOMESTEAD PROOF TESTIMONY OF CLAIMANT Mary E Delasalle, being called as a witness in his own behalf support of the Homestead entry No 7926, for, N.W. ¼ of NE ¼, E ¼, E ½ NW ¼ & SW ¼ of NW ¼ Sec 4-4-5 testifies as follows: Ques. 1 What is your name, age, and post-office address? Ans. Mary E Delasalle, 53 years,, Sugartown, La Ques. 2 Are you a native born citizen of the United States, and if so, in what State or Territory were you born? Ans. I am - Mississippi Ques 3 Are you the identical person who made homestead entry No 7926, at the New Orleans land office on the Eleventh day of March 1884, and what is the true description of the land now claimed by you? Ans. I am not. N.W. ¼ of NE ¼, E ¼, E ½ NW ¼ & SW ¼ of NW ¼ Sec 4-4-5 Ques. 4 When was your house build on the land and when did you establish actual residence therein? (Describe said house and other improvements which you have placed on the land, giving total value thereof.) Ans. The house that my son built on this land was burned after his death. I immediately had another built and moved into it and have been living there for 3 years improvements worth $300.00 Ques. 5 Of whom does your family consist; and have you and your family resided continuously on the land since first establishing residence thereon? (If unmarried, state the fact.) Ans. My husband and an orphan child we have. Ques. 6 - For what period or periods have you been absent from the homestead since making settlement, and for what purpose; and if temporarily absent, did your family reside upon and cultivate the land during such absence? Ans. I have never been absent except on a visit for a day or so. Ques. 7 How much of the land have you cultivated and for how many seasons have you raise crops thereon? Ans. About 13 acres made 3 crops Ques. 8 - Is your present claim within the limits of an incorportated town or selected site of a city or town, or used in any way for trade or business? Ans. No. No.No Ques. 9 What is the character of this land? Is it timber, mountainous, prairie, grazing, or ordinary agricultural land? State its kind and quality, and for what purpose it is most valuable. Ans. Ordinary Pine timbered land for farming & grazing Ques. 10 - Are there any indications of coal, salines, or minerals, of any kind, on the land? (If so, describe what they are, and state whether the land is more valuable for agricultural than for mineral purposes.) Ans. No for agricultural Ques. 11 Have you ever made any other homestead entry? (If so, describe the same) Ans. No. Ques. 12 Ques 11 Have you sold, or contracted to sell any portion of said homestead? Ans. No. Ques. 13 Have you any personal property of any kind elsewehere than on this claim? (If so, describe the same, and state where the same is kept.) Ans. No Mary E Delasalle (her mark) I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing testimony was read to the claimant before being subscribed, and was sworn to before me this 17th day of January, 1891. Thad Mayo Clerk Dist Court HOMESTEAD PROOF TESTIMONY OF WITNESS D.W. Gibson, being called as a witness in support of the Homestead entry of Mary E Delasalle for N.W. ¼ of NE ¼, E ¼, E ½ NW ¼ & SW ¼ of NW ¼ Sec 4-4-5 testifies as follows: Ques. 1 What is your name, age, and post-office address? Ans. D.W. Gibson, 41 years,, Sugartown, La Ques. 2 Are you a native born citizen of the United States, and if so, in what State or Territory were you born? Ans. I am Ques 3 Is said tract within the limits of an incorportated town or selected site of a city or town, or used in any way for trade or business? Ans. No. No. Ques. 4 State specifically the character of this land whether it is timber, prairie, grazing, farming, coal or mineral land. Ans. Ordinary Pine timbered land Ques. 5 When did claimant settle upon the homestead and at what date did he establish actual residence thereon? Ans. About 3 years ago Her son died and she immediately moved onto this claim, and has been living there ever since. Ques. 6 Have claimant and family resided continuously on the homestead since first establishing residence thereon? (If settler is unmarried, state the fact.) Ans. They have. Her husband and an orphan child. Ques. 7 For what period or periods has the settler been absent from the land since making settlement, and for what purpose; and if temporarily absent, did claimant?s family reside upon and cultivate the land during such absence? Ans. She has never been absend, except on visit for a few days. Ques. 8 How much of the homestead has the settler cultivated and for how many seasons did he raise crops thereon? Ans. About 13 acres 3 seasons Ques 9 What improvements are on the land and what is their value? Ans. A House, corn crib & stable, smoke house, chicken house, a well & 15 acres fencing worth $300.00 Ques 10 Are there any indications of coal, salines, or minerals, of any kind, on the homestead? (If so, describe what they are, and state whether the land is more valuable for agricultural than for mineral purposes.) Ans. No for agricultural Ques 11 Has the claimant mortgaged, sold, or contracted to sell any portion of said homestead? Ans. Not to my knowledge. Ques 13 Are you interested in this claim; and do you think the settle has acted in entire good faith in perfecting this entry? Ans. I am not I do D.W. Gibson I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing testimony was read to the claimant before being subscribed, and was sworn to before me this 17th day of January, 1891. Thad Mayo Clerk Dist Court (Transcription) State of Louisiana Parish of Calcasieu Before me the undersigned authority personally appeared Mrs Mary E Delasalle, to me known to be the person she represents herself to be who bring duly sworn deposes and says That she was the mother of John B Nealy who made homestead entry No 7926 March 11, 1884. That her son was a single man and after his death she was informed that she had the right to go on the land and perfect it for her own benefit. She went to the place and found that the improvements made by her son, had been destroyed by fire. Her husband, James Delasalle immediately built a home on the land and they moved onto it about 3 years ago; and have continued to reside on and cultivate The land to the present time. During the month of April, 1889, (which was within the statutory period) she instigated improvements but on account of the ??? notice reading ?mother and sole heir of John B Nealy? whereas she has another son Jackson Nealy and a daughter Magnolia and as she did not furnish evidence of heirship, the proof was rejected: July 15, 1890. She was advertised to appear here on Tuesday 13th Jany, 1891, but owing to a heavy rain on Thursday previous, the whole county was overflowed and all the creeks swimming. As soon as she could get here she started, getting here today. Mary E Delasalle Her mark Sworn subscribed before me at Lake Charles, La, Jany 17th, 1891. I further certify that the facts set forth in the forgoing affidavit are to me known to be true. Thad Mayo Clerk Dist Court (Transcription) State of Louisiana Parish of Calcasieu Before me the undersigned authority personally appeared D.W. Gibson and C. Belvin, to me known to be competent and credible witnesses, who bring duly sworn deposes and say. That they are personally acquainted with Mrs Mary E. Delasalle and know that she was the mother of John B Nealey and that she had no other children except Jackson Nealey and Magnolia Yarborough. Further that it was impossible for her and her witnesses to get here last Tuesday 13th (?) to make her final proof. D.W. Gibson C Belvin Sworn & subscribed before me at Lake Charles, La Jany 17th 1891 Thad Mayo Clerk Dist Court (Transcription) State of Louisiana Parish of Calcasieu Before me the undersigned authority personally appeared Mrs Mary E Delasalle mother and one of the heirs of John B Nealy who made Homestead Entry No 7926 at the New Orleans Land Office on the 11th March, 1884. Known to me to be the person she represents herself to be who being duly sworn deposes and days that her said son John B Nealy, made settlement on the land embraced in said Entry some time previous to March, 1884. She cannot fix the exact date because she was then living at Lake Charles, La but she knows that her said son was up in that vicinity from during the winter of 1883 & 1884 until he was killed in October, 1884. She further avers that not long after her son was killed she went to the place and found a substantial improvement on the land and being informed that in as much as her son was a single man, she as his mother had the right to go on the place, live on it and cultivate it for the remainder of the time he had to live on it in order to comply with the Homestead laws and acquire patent to the land; she did so and has conscientiously complied with the Homestead law wherefore she prays that patent issue to her and the other heirs of said John B Nealy Mary E Delasalle Her mark Sworn, subscribed before4 me at Lake Charles, La Hon SD Read, Dist Judge being absent this April 22, 1891 Thad Mayo Clerk Dist Court State of Louisiana Parish of Calcasieu Before me the undersigned authority personally DW Gibson and C Belvin, known to me who being duly sworn deposes and say That they were well acquainted with John B Nealy who made Homestead Entry No 7926 in Sec 4 5.5 R4W. That he settled upon said Homestead sometime during the winter of 1883 and 1884. That he built a house thereon and had a field cleared and some land in cultivation at the time he was killed October, 1884. That he had lived upon the land embraced in his Entry from the time he first settled on it until he was killed. That sometime afterward his mother Mrs Delasalle moved on the farm had more land cleared, made other improvements and has continued to live on the place up to the present time. DW Gibson C Belvin Sworn & subscribed before me at Lake Charles, La April 22,1891 Thad Mayo Clerk Dist Court