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John,
I recently obtained the homestead land application of Delila J. Screws and have transcribed some of it here, which is interesting. She says that her husband's name was
Houston Joshua Screws, which was new information to me, as I had previously found him listed as just Joshua Screws in all the census's. Delila also gives a date and place of his death. She mentions that she lived in Marshall County, Alabama prior to going to Cullman County, Alabama so she must have gone there from Cleburne County, AL then
to Marshall County, AL sometime between 1880 census and 1882 when she moved to Cullman County, AL and purchased the land there with a house already built on it. I don't recognize any of her witnesses she gives, do you? The witnesses also make an affadavit to essentially say the same thing she already said about how long she has been on the land and what improvements she has made or crops she has grown, etc.
November 25, 1887
Homestead Land Application of Delila J. Screws of Cullman County, Alabama
I, Delila J. Screws of Cullman County, Ala who made Homestead Application No. 13, 409 for the NW 1/4 Sec 8 T9 R1 West do hereby give notice of my intention to make final proof to establish my claim to the land above described and that I expect to prove my residence and cultivation before A.B. Hays, Judge of Probate Court at Cullman, Ala. on Jan 13th 1888, by two of the following witnesses:
James C. Watts of Etha P.O. Cullman Co. Ala
Laban T. Rasco of Etha P.O. Cullman Co. Ala
John B. Morrison of Etha P.O. Cullman Co. Ala
Jack Rasco of Etha P.O. Cullman Co. Ala
Delila J. Screws, X, her mark
Notice of the above application will be published in the "Tribune" a newspaper printed at Cullman, Ala. where I hereby designate as the newspaper published nearest the land described in said application.
Frank Coleman, Register, Land Office at Montgomery, Ala.
January 28, 1888
State of Alabama, Cullman County
Before me A.B. Hays, Judge of the Probate Court in and for said County, personally came Delilah J. Screws, who being duly sworn deposes and says that she is the identical person who made Homestead Entry No. 13, 409 for the NW 1/4 of Sec. 8 T9S of R 1 West; that at the time of making said entry she was a single person, her husband Houston Joshua Screws having died on or about the 19th day of February 1870 near LaGrange in Troup Co. Georgia. Delila J. Screws, X, her mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me on this the 28th day of January 1888. H.B. Hayes, Judge of Probate Court.
January 13, 1888
Homestead Pre-Emption and Commutation
Testimony of Claimant
Delila J. Screws, claimant, being first duly sworn, testifies as follows:
1. What is your correct name, age and occupation? Delila J. Screws, 63 years old, farming. I am not employed by anyone.
2. What is your post office address? Etha P.O. Cullman County, Alabama
3. Are you the identical person who made pre-emption or homestead entry No. 13, 409 at the Huntsville, Ala land office on the 20th day of December 1882 and what is the true description of the land now claimed by you?
I am the identical person who made said Homestead entry. It is the NW 1/4 of Sec. 8 T. 9 R Q W.
4. Where did you live before settling upon this land and what was your occupation? I lived in Marshall County, Alabama on a farm.
5. Are you a citizen of the United States or have you declared your intention to become such? I am a native born citizen of the United States.
6. Are you interested in any other entry or filing than the one upon which you now seek to make proof?
No.
7. Have you ever made a filing for any other tract of land or made any other homestead entry or filing or entry of any other kind? I have never made a pre-emption filing nor any other homestead entry or filing or entry of any other kind.
8. Is your present claim within the limits of an incorporated town or selected site of a city or town or used in any way for trade and business? No.
9. What is the character of the land? Is it timber, mountainous, prairie, grazing or ordinary agricultural land? It is poor mountain timbered agriculultural land most valuable for farming purposes.
10. Is the land valuable for coal, iron, stone or minerals of any kind? Has any coal or other minerals been discovered thereon or is any coal or mineral known to be contained therein? Are there any indications of coal, salines or minerals of any kind on the land? No.
11. If the land is timber land, state the kind, quality and amount of timber thereon at date of in initiating your claim, the amount still standing, how much has been cut and removed and by whom, and whether the same has been disposed of and to whom; also whether any other person than yourself has an interest in the timber and if so, what kind of interest. When I settled on said land and I had bought the improvements from John Raso and there were 13 acres land cleared . I have cleared since about 20 acres, the timber from which I used for buildings, fencing and firewood, the balance is still in timber, oak, hickory, pine. None besides myself has any interest in the timber on said land.
12. If the land is used for grazing purposes, state how and by whom it is so used and whether it is within any stock range or fence or income enclosure and wh owns or controls the range or enclosure? It is not used for grazing purposes.
13. When did you first make actual personal settlement on this land? State what you did to make such settlement and the character and value of the improvements you then placed upon the land.
December 15, 1882. I moved into the dwelling house on said land which I had bought and went to farming.
14. Was the land occupied by any other person when you made such settlement? It was not.
15. When did you actually move on this land and commence living permanently thereon? December 15, 1882.
16. Where have your actual personal residence and home been during the whole time since the date of filing this entry? On the said land.
17. Has your residence on the land now claimed been actual or continuous or at intervals? It has been actual and continuous. I have never been off of the land for a longer time than four weeks at any one time.
18. Have you resided or boarded elsewhere than on this land since commencing your residence thereon? I have not.
19. Were have you voted since establishing residence on this land and where did you last vote and how long have you voted there? I have never voted, being a woman.
20. How many times have you been absent from said tract since you commenced residence thereon? I have been absent several times on visits not to exceed four weeks at any time but don't recollect the dates.
21. Have you a family and of whom does your family consist? I have no husband and no single children.
22 & 23. Not answered
24. When and by whom was your house built? Is it habitable at all seasons of the year? I bought the house and other improvements on said claim from John Rasco. Don't know when the house was built. Said house is habitable at all seasons of the year.
25. Did you and your family live in said house during all of each or any winter since the date of your filing or entry? I lived in said house during all of each winter since first moving into the same.
26. Not answered
27. Do you own any other residence house than the one now on your claim? If so, state where and who occupies the same. There is another dwelling house on said land, unoccupied.
28. Describe fully the house on the claim, giving value thereof; also describe fully all other improvements thereon of whatever kind, giving the value of each and total value of all improvements. Log dwelling 18 x 18 feet, 1 1/2 stories high, clapboard roof, floors and ceiling, 4 doors and 4 windows, cellar, 1 stone chimney from ground, value $30. Log dwelling house 16 x 16 feet 1 story, clapboard roof, 2 doors, floor of common boards 1 chimney, $30. Log kitchen 15 x 15 feet, $20. Log barn 16 x 16 feet, $15. Log stable 8 x 10 feet, $5. Log smokehouse 8 x 10 feet, $5. Blacksmith Shop 15 x 15 feet, $8. Well 22 feet, $22. 40 fruit trees, $15, and 30 acres clearned and fenced, $150. total value $300.
29. What farm implements do you own and use on this claim? I have no farm implements.
30. What domestic animals and live stock do you own and keep on this claim? I have no animals or live stock.
31. State what articles of furniture of every kind you keep and use in your residence on this claim and how long you have had them. 1 bedstead used on said claim over 5 years and some boxes.
32. Have you any personal property or live stock of any kind on this claim? No.
33. How many seasons have you raised crops on this land and what kind of crops have you raised each season? For five seasons, I raised cotton only.
34. How many acres have you put in crops each year and how much did you raise? About 1 1/2 acres. I raised about $25. worth every year.
35. Have you the land in crop this year or is it prepared for cropping the season coming? It was in crops last year.
36. Do you carry on any trade, profession or business elsewhere than on this land? No.
37. If you have been employed in working for others away from this claim since you established residence thereon, state when, where and for whom, in what occupation or capacity, how long you have so worked and where you staid and lived during that time. I have not been employed by anyone since i moved upon the land.
38. Were you assessed for taxes, personal, real estate and when and where have you paid taxes since claiming this land? I have not been assessed.
39. Are the improvements on this land assessed for taxes, if so, at what valuation? No.
40. What use is made of this land and who besides yourself and family use it or caused it to be used? I use part of it and have rented the balance to other parties every year since I first moved upon said land.
41. Have you sold, transferred or mortgaged this land or offered or agreed to sell or dispose of it? No.
42. Do you make this entry in the interest or for the benefit of any one else or has any person other than yourself and family have any interest, immediate or prospective in this entry? I make this entry in the interest and for the benefit of myself, no other person has any immediate or prospective interest.
Signature of Claimant: Delilah Screws, X, her mark
********
I have not learned anything more about Delilah Gay Screws' parents James Gay and Susannah Cates, however, two of their sons moved to Texas by 1870 census and I have wondered if they also moved to Texas and perhaps died there? I am still researching this possiblity.
Candace
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