Posted on: Palo Alto Co. Ia Deeds Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/PaloAltoDeed/10009 Surname: Joynt, Nestor, Murphy ------------------------- FINAL PROOF REQUIRED UNDER HOMESTEAD ACT OF MAY 20, 1862, AND ACT OF JUNE 18, 1874 We, James Hickey and Patrick Joynt, do solemnly swear that we have known Mary Murphy for 5 years last past; that she is married and has a family consisting of a husband and five children and that she is over 21 years old and a citizen of the United States; that he is an inhabitant in the East half of South East qr of Section No. 28 in Township No. 96, of Range No. 33, and that no other person resided upon the said land entitled to the right of Homestead or Pre-emption. That the said Mary Murphy (formerly Mrs. Nestor) entered upon and made settlement on said land on the 5th day of July, 1869, and has built a house thereon 12 x 16 ft one story high, 1 door 2 windows, shingle roof, all built in a good workman-like manner and has lived in the said house and mide it her exclusive home from the 5th day of July, 1869, to the present time; and that she has since said settlement plowed, fenced and cultivated about 24 acres of said land and has made the following improvements thereon, to wit: Dug a good well, built stables and cattle yard, built about a half mile of wire fence &c. That notice of her intention to make final homestead proof on said land was posted on the land and on the door of the Court-House of Palo Alto county, Iowa, from the 23rd day of January to the 15th day of Feb, 1875 and that in consequence of the ravages of the grasshoppers we are satisfied that he is unable, without serious loss and inconvenience to defray the expense of a personal attendance at the District Land Office. [signed] Jas. Hickey and Patrick Joynt Thos. J. Prouty, do hereby certify that the above affidavit was taken and subscribed before me this 15th day of Feb. 1875; and I further certify that James Hickey and Patrick Joynt whose names are subscribed to the foregoing affidavit, are persons of respectability, and residents in the neighborhood of the above-described land. [signed] T.J. Prouty, Clerk [Note: Mary Murphy was previously the widow of Ned Nestor and her maiden name was Joynt.] Link: Palo Alto County, Iowa USGenWeb Project URL: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapaloal/paloalto.htm>