Land records are a good source for your ancestor's family history. Many people do not realize how much information is in these files. Homestead case files are rich in genealogical information. The final certificate usually includes: 1. The Homestead Application 2. Certificate of publication of intent to complete claim. 3. Final proof of homesteading which includes witnesses. 4. Final document which authorizes land patent. 5. Certified copy of naturalization papers, if the applicant was not a citizen. The Final Proof documents give: Claimants name; age; postoffice address; describes the tract and the home. Date of establishment of residence. The number and relationship of the members of the family and note citizenship. Crops. Acres under cultivation. Testimony of witnesses. The following states are indexed. Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Utah (before 1908). There are no indexes available for: California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming (before 1908). Name Indexes also DO NOT exist for the following states: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin (before 1908). To order Land Entry Files the following information is required: Name of settler or entryman. State in which land is located. Approximate date of entry Legal Description of land OR the type of file, the name of the land office that issued the file, and the land entry file number. This information can usually be obtained from the county recorder of deeds where the land was located. The more information you can supply, the chances are greater that you will receive the homestead papers of your ancestors. In the Newton County area, the land office was usually Harrison, Arkansas. You MUST ORDER using NATF Form 84. Land Entry Files- NATF Form 84 To order the forms by E-mail the address is: <inquire@nara.gov> or write National Archives and Records Administration Attention: NWCTB 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20408-0001 I ordered my grandparent's Homestead Papers following the rules above and was pleasantly surprised at the information that was in the file. Improvements from the time they started their claim to the final filing of papers were noted. Also ordered other Homestead Papers for relatives who lived in Arkansas. But a legal description of the land is required. If you have anyone who homesteaded in Newton County, Arkansas, I can look them up in my Index Book and give you the legal description of the land. Evelyn Flood Rkinfolks@aol.com