Hi - Does anyone know if naturalization records for Des Moines County exist? My 2 greats grandfather, Mathew Bronson, came from Norway sometime around 1860 according to family legend. I first find him in census records in 1860 in Danville Twp. Des Moines County, Iowa living with the John Long family as a farmhand. I've been unable to locate information about his coming to America. Family legend also says that he was a crew member on a ship from Norway and jumped ship in New York Harbor in order to stay in America. He died before the 1900 census so I don't have any idea if he was naturalized or not. If he was it would have been in either Des Moines County or Decatur County, Iowa. Also, I'm looking for information on my Prettyman family who lived in Des Moines County, Iowa from 1852 to around 1878. There were a few family members who died in Des Moines County that I haven't been able to find in the cemeteries. John Prettyman died in 1861 and Charles Monrow died in 1867. Also there were several family marriages in the 1860's and 70's. Is there anyone who can help me with some lookups on these marriages? I'd appreciate any help I can get as I'm at a standstill on this family at the moment. They lived in Flint River Twp. in the 1860 and 1870 census records. William Prettyman and wife Elizabeth - children: Rachel Ann b. 1835 m. Peter Blayor 1854; John b. 1839 d. 1861 and possibly was married; Robert b. 1841 m. Mary Albertson 1877; Sarah b. 1844 m. Mathew Bronson 1866; Abby Jane b. 1847 m. Charles Monrow 1866 and had a child Francis b. 1867 - Charles Monrow died Dec 26, 1867; Arie b. 1850 m. John Watts 1866; William S. Prettyman b. March 10, 1859 and died July 17, 1881; also Mary Frances who was born about 1861 and was the grandchild of William and Elizabeth - she is listed with the Prettyman family in 1870 at age 9 and then with William as a grandchild in 1880 in Decatur Co. as Mary Collins so there was a marriage for her also, probably in Des Moines Co. I live near a large genealogy library and am willing to do lookups in return for help with my Des Moines County family if anyone is interested. I have all federal census records available as well as many, many books from all over the states and many other resources. Give me an area and I'll let you know what I can do. All help is greatly appreciated! Stacey Dietiker momdit@aol.com