For some time I have been on a quest in search of the naturalization file relating to William Metsa. First I wrote to the county clerk, whose response was that they could not find that name. Late I tried an e-mail query to MTU, but was referred right back to Houghton. After that was a mail request to the INS in D.C. Nearly one year later the response was that his William is not in their files either. My latest attempt was an e-mail to the Michigan State Library reference librarian. I was informed that neither the State Archives, State Library, nor Houghton County possess naturalization files for residents of Houghton Co. The State Library did suggest that I look into the nearest branch of the National Archives, as well as the Federal District Court (Marquette). I have to say that I was very pleased by the quick and informative response of the State Library staff. I wanted to pass this along in case others might be thinking of trying to locate naturalization files of an immigrant who was living in Houghton Co. At least you could narrow your search a little bit. Has anyone here looked for naturalization documents in a Federal District Court? My work schedule prevents me making a phone call to Marquette to inquire whether or not they hold naturalization files, and if so how copies might be obtained. Tom Osborn Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Hi Tom, Your message reminded me of something my grand uncle used to say. "Believe only half of what you see and none of what you hear." I have three times received different naturalization records from the court house in Houghton County, Michigan. If I remember well, the last time there was an $8.00 fee. I do not recall if they have an index, but the available census records gave me an approximate year. If they do not have the record you are seeking, consider the possibility that your ancestor was naturalized in another location - even just the next county over. Joseph Martin Romeoville, IL ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom" <rsmtom@cox.net> To: <MIHOUGHT-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 12:24 PM Subject: [MIHOUGHT] Naturalization Info. > For some time I have been on a quest in search of the naturalization file > relating to William Metsa. First I wrote to the county clerk, whose response > was that they could not find that name. Late I tried an e-mail query to MTU, > but was referred right back to Houghton. After that was a mail request to > the INS in D.C. Nearly one year later the response was that his William is > not in their files either. My latest attempt was an e-mail to the Michigan > State Library reference librarian. I was informed that neither the State > Archives, State Library, nor Houghton County possess naturalization files > for residents of Houghton Co. The State Library did suggest that I look into > the nearest branch of the National Archives, as well as the Federal District > Court (Marquette). I have to say that I was very pleased by the quick and > informative response of the State Library staff. > > I wanted to pass this along in case others might be thinking of trying to > locate naturalization files of an immigrant who was living in Houghton Co. > At least you could narrow your search a little bit. > > Has anyone here looked for naturalization documents in a Federal District > Court? My work schedule prevents me making a phone call to Marquette to > inquire whether or not they hold naturalization files, and if so how copies > might be obtained. > > Tom Osborn > Rancho Santa Margarita, CA > > > > ==== MIHOUGHT Mailing List ==== > MIGenWeb Houghton Co. Archived Files > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/mi/houghton/dxhought.htm > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 >

To piggy back on Joseph's info.... The Archives of Michigan has started to put an index of MI Naturalizations online. http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17449_18635_20684---,00.html Good luck! Ceil ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joseph Martin" <martinjo@lewisu.edu> To: <MIHOUGHT-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 2:19 PM Subject: Re: [MIHOUGHT] Naturalization Info. > Hi Tom, > > Your message reminded me of something my grand uncle used to say. > > "Believe only half of what you see and none of what you hear." > > I have three times received different naturalization records from the court > house in Houghton County, Michigan. If I remember well, the last time there > was an $8.00 fee. I do not recall if they have an index, but the available > census records gave me an approximate year. > > If they do not have the record you are seeking, consider the possibility > that your ancestor was naturalized in another location - even just the next > county over. > > Joseph Martin > Romeoville, IL > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tom" <rsmtom@cox.net> > To: <MIHOUGHT-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 12:24 PM > Subject: [MIHOUGHT] Naturalization Info. > > > > For some time I have been on a quest in search of the naturalization file > > relating to William Metsa. First I wrote to the county clerk, whose > response > > was that they could not find that name. Late I tried an e-mail query to > MTU, > > but was referred right back to Houghton. After that was a mail request to > > the INS in D.C. Nearly one year later the response was that his William is > > not in their files either. My latest attempt was an e-mail to the Michigan > > State Library reference librarian. I was informed that neither the State > > Archives, State Library, nor Houghton County possess naturalization files > > for residents of Houghton Co. The State Library did suggest that I look > into > > the nearest branch of the National Archives, as well as the Federal > District > > Court (Marquette). I have to say that I was very pleased by the quick and > > informative response of the State Library staff. > > > > I wanted to pass this along in case others might be thinking of trying to > > locate naturalization files of an immigrant who was living in Houghton Co. > > At least you could narrow your search a little bit. > > > > Has anyone here looked for naturalization documents in a Federal District > > Court? My work schedule prevents me making a phone call to Marquette to > > inquire whether or not they hold naturalization files, and if so how > copies > > might be obtained. > > > > Tom Osborn > > Rancho Santa Margarita, CA > > > > > > > > ==== MIHOUGHT Mailing List ==== > > MIGenWeb Houghton Co. Archived Files > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/mi/houghton/dxhought.htm > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > ==== MIHOUGHT Mailing List ==== > Mining Accident Reports for Houghton Co. > http://www.mfhn.com/mining/default.htm > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > >