This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Garner Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1766 Message Board Post: During her retirement, Mabel Bridges (4/6/1891 - 4/18/1976), using a card file, gathered notes on the earliest of the pioneers in Fremont county. I'm copying the following from Mabel's notes: 1.--1852: Fremont county Census; "Fulton township" Joseph Garner...5 colored males.....6 colored females 2.--1854: Fremont county Census: "Benton township" Joseph Garner....5 m....5f....no voters....no militia....no aliens 3.--1854: August 16, John Garner appeared and produced a certificate from James L. Warner, Clerk of Circuit Court of Johnson county, Missouri, certifying he is a free man as required by Chapter 24, Section 1, of Laws of Iowa, as approved January 21, 1839. It is therefore ordered that he be certified to the rights and privileges of a free black person on his giving bond according to law to be approved by the court.--Fremont County Courthouse Records. 4.--1854: Joseph Garner patented Lot #1 in section 10 township 68 range 44 in 1854, containing 50 acres.--General Land Office, Washington, D.C. N.B.: Where did I pick up the idea that even a FREE black person, at this time, was not entitled to OWN property in Iowa? Why wasn't this transacted in the Council Bluffs Land Office?--W.F. 5.--1856: Iowa State Census, Fremont county, "Benton township" Joseph Garner....70....b. Georgia....Negro....5 years in Iowa Betsy.................16........Georgia....Negro....5 Josiah................18........Georgia....Negro....5 Henry.................17........Georgia....Negro....5 Maria.................13.........Georgia....Negro.....5 Mary..................12.........Georgia....Negro.....5 Emeline.............11.........Georgia....Negro......5 Rachel...............10.........Georgia....Negro......5