Helping Mother's Claim

This individual is making a statement in his mother's Civil War pension claim in Hancock County, Illinois. He was born in the 1870s/1880s.

Signing my genealogy

I erased part of this so that it was easier to read the actual name. This author signed the genealogy he compiled in the late 1890s or early 1900s.

A great discovery at the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne. The scan on Google books was from a copy not signed by the author.

1885 Iowa Enumeration

This is an 1885 census enumeration from Union County, Iowa. I will tell readers that the last name is first. Any ideas?

Getting Hitched in Iowa

This name comes from a 1884 marriage in Lee County, Iowa.

Signing a Nebraska Letter

This German native was born in the 1840s and is signing a 1880 era letter to relatives in Nebraska in this signature.

Getting Married

This 1893 signature comes from a woman born in the midwest in 1874. I've erased the other signature so as not to confuse anyone with extra handwriting that had nothing to do with the signature.

Join Michael in Salt Lake City at the Family History Library

I till have spots on my 2011 research trip to the Salt Lake City Family History Library. Jump start your research by spending a week at the library with a group--getting help as needed. Reserve your spot now by only making the deposit. Visit the website for more information.

Signing my Draft Card

This Chicago native signed his World War I Draft card in Chicago. This is the best image I could get from the card, both Ancestry's images and the actual microfilm. Casefile Clues readers have seen this individual before. This is the last known record on this individual.

Signing my Pre-Emption Claim

This Kentucky native signed a pre-emption claim in Missouri in the 1850s. He was hung in his barn by bushwackers during the Civil War, but that's another story.

A Neighbor Signs

Another 1880 era signature from the Riley Rampley Civil War pension file in Hancock County, Illinois.

Making My Statement

This Indiana native was born in 1846 and was signing a 1902 deposition in this image.

Helping a Neighbor with the Pension

This woman signed an affidavit in 1893 in Hancock County, Illinois, in the Civil War pension file for Nancy Rampley. Age and nativity unknown.

Witnessed my Nephew's Birth

This Ohio native, born in the 1830s, signed in her sister-in-law's pension application that she was present at the birth of one of the sister-in-law's children. Signature dates from the late nineteenth century.

Claiming My Pension

This Ohio native was born in the 1830s and was signing a pension application in the 1880s.

I won't provide any details as I don't want anyone doing google searches and cheating (grin!).

I Wrote My Congressman

This signature is from a letter written by a US Congressman in the 1920s. He was contacting the pension department to inquire about a constituent's pension payment.

This one is more of a challenge than some are. Politicians present challenges in many ways (grin!).

I Was There When They Were Born

This individual was present at the birth of several of Riley Rampley's children--which is what he is testifying to in his affidavit in the Civil War pension file of Riley Rampley. This is another late 19th century signature.

A Little Tricky

This one is a little tricky, but I'm not giving out any clues. This one comes from the original copy of a deed that I'm analyzing for the next issue of Casefile Clues.  The deed was drawn up in 1863. I'm not certain when or where this individual was born, but the deed was recorded in Carthage, Illinois.

Helping my Comrade

This signature comes from an 1889 affidavit filed in the Civil War pension file of Riley Rampley. This person's nativity is unknown, but he probably was a Civil War veteran himself.

Witnessing the Widow's Affidavit

This individual witnessed an 1897 widow's pension application for Nancy Rampley in Hancock County, Illinois.

Helping the Widow

The local banker signed as a witness to an affidavit in the widow's Civil War pension file of Nancy Rampley in 1897 in Hancock County, Illinois.

Going To Mexico

This 1921 passport application was signed by a Chicago area resident who was heading on a business trip to Mexico.

Helping Son Get a Passport

This mother is signing her son's passport application in 1919. Her son was born in Pennsylvania in 1877. Not certain about her.

Guardian for a Customer's Child

This 1926 era signature is from the guardian for a relative whose parents died with a minor child. The financial guardian was a banker and the physical guardian was the child's aunt.

Godparent for the Grandchild

This is the name of the man who was listed as the godparent for his grandchild born in Wiesens, Ostfriesland, Germany, in the 1850s.

Auctioneer at 1918 Sale

This is the name of the auctioneer at the 1918 sale of personal property for the estate of John Michael Trautvetter.

Clerking at the Sale

This signature comes from the sale bill from a 1918 auction. This is the signature of one of the clerks.

Brother Can Settle Dad's Things.

This individual is signing the petition for her brother to be the administrator to her father's estate in 1918.

Signing the Appraisal

This individual is signing an inventory appraisal in 1918 in Hancock County, Illinois.

The estate was used partially in writing a Casefile Clues article on the real estate of the decedent, John Michael Trautvetter. An earlier article discussed the estate sale of the personal property. 



Signing off on Father's Estate

This Illinois native signed off on an estate settlement in Hancock County, Illinois, in 1918.

Appraising an Estate

This individual signed the estate appraisal of John Michael Trautvetter in Hancock County, Illinois in 1918.

Signing for My Share

This signature comes from a 1918 probate document in Illinois. The signee was born in the 1880s.