Wish He Had Filled Out the Form

This German native applied for a passport in Nebraska in 1909. His handwriting is much better than the person who actually filled out the form.

Returning to Visit my Swiss Relatives

This Swiss native was born in 1862 and obtained his passport in 1922 in Davenport, Iowa. Indicating he was going to Switzerland to visit relations, it was too bad he wasn't specific about where he was born or the villages to where he was going.

From Denver--to Tioka

This undated postcard signature is most likely from the 1870s or 1880s and was sent from Denver, Illinois, to Tioka (Tioga), Illinois.

Blowout Sale on Year 1 Issues of Casefile Clues

If you've not ordered year 1 of my weekly Casefile Clues, consider doing it while the blowout back issue sale is going on. The Casefile Clues blog has more information.

Now, back to the handwriting...

Pennsylvania Native Gets Passport in Chicago

This Pennsylvania native was living in Chicago and working as an executive when he applied for a passport in 1919.

Helping my Wife's Step-Son Become An American

This German native signed his wife's step-son's naturalization in Illinois in 1888.

Helping my Half-Brother Become an American

This German native signed his half-brother's naturalization in Illinois in 1888.

My Minor Naturalization

This German native signed his minor naturalization in 1888 in Hancock County, Illinois.

Signing My Employment Card

This English native signed his employment record for the Pullman Car Company in Chicago in about 1909. He was born in County Cumberland in the 1840s.

Vermont Native Gets a Passport

This Vermont native applied for a passport in 1911, when he lived in Sibley, Iowa.

Witnessing an Alberta Homestead

This individual witnessed a homestead application in Alberta, Canada, in the early 1900s.

Requesting My Age

This individual wrote a letter in1951 requesting to know what age he had used when he applied for a homestead in Alberta, Canada forty-some years earlier.

Yeah She Marked XXX

This German native witnessed his neighbor's will in 1903 and this signature is testifying to that in court recods. The testator was only able to write her name as "XXX"

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My Kin Paid Me Back

This signature comes from the release of a mortgage in 1897. This German native signed the release which was written right on the courthouse copy of the mortgage. Regular readers of Casefile Clues will recognize this name.

A Warsaw Appraisal in the 1850s

The signature of one of the appraisers from an estate in Warsaw, Illinois, in the 1850s. Sometimes that "smooth and flowing" handwriting is difficult to read.

Farming Outside Basco

This 45-year-old farmer was living in Basco, Hancock County, Illinois, when he registered for the World War II draft.

Emden Native Registers

This 55 year old native of Emden, Germany, registered for the World War 2 draft in Illinois in 1942.

No Widow for the Award

This is one of the appraisers from a 1918 estate appraisal in Illinois--there was no widow's award in this case as there was no widow.

A Confederate Claim in San Antonio

This individual signed a receipt in a "Confederate Citizens File" in Texas in 1862.

Approving the Estate in 1856

This handwriting comes from an estate settlement in June of 1856.

Justice of the Peace on the Estate Appraisal

This is Justice of the Peace in front of whom the estate appraisers from the past two days made out their appraisal.

Another Estate Appraiser from 1850s

This signature was for an estate appraisal in 1856--the same estate as yesterday.And again, this one was in German.

Appraising an Estate in 1856

This individual was an estate appraiser in Illinois in 1856.

Settling My Husband's Estate

This signature comes from an 1856 estate settlement. The widow, a Geman native, is signing one of the documents in the estate settlement of her husband.

Appraising My Neighbor's Estate

This individual signed off on the appraisal of an estate in Hancock County, Illinois, in the 1850s.

1869 Sponsor

This is the name of one of the sponsors on an 1869 christening from Wiesens, Germany.

Registering for World War I in Wyoming

This New York native registered for the draft for World War I in Wyoming.

Helping My Neighbor Get a Pension

This individual was living in Ohio in the 1840s when he provided information to assist his neighbor in receiving her widow's pension for her husband's Revolutionary War service.

This one is easier than some we have had recently.

Helping My Mother-in-law Get a Pension

This signature dates from the 1840s and this individual, approximately in his fifties, is signing an affidavit to assist his mother-in-law in receiving her widow's Revolutionary War pension.

Helping Pa Get a Pension

This signature comes from an 1818 affidavit in a Revolutionary War pension. This Pennsylvania native signed papers in his father's pension application.

Bringing Mother's Will to Probate

This a 1900 era signature of a man petitioning the court to probate his mother's 1889 will.

Witnessing a Will in 1889

This gentleman witnessed a will in 1889. This is his signature from his statement in 1900 in Illinois that he remembers witnessing the will.