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#OTD 27 March 1873 Joseph McFarlane was naturalized in the Circuit Court at Monroe County, Wisconsin. It had been 24 long years since he arrived in the United States. He had declared his intention to become a citizen in 1850. Did immigrants then (and now) understand the process? Was it procrastination? Joseph had acquired a homestead in the 1860's, but could not finalize the claim without becoming a citizen. That was certainly a pressing reason for my great-great-grandfather to complete the naturalization process.
#genealogy
@bethroots How much did it cost? I would expect there to be a fee, at least for the document that says you're a citizen. He may also have needed to pay for professional services, e.g. a lawyer or notary public.
@mjausson True, there certainly were costs. I had not even thought about that aspect. Farmers didn't always have ready cash. Distance from the courthouse was also a factor in rural areas, so there could also be costs to stay overnight. They did not live close to the county seat. That's good input. Thank you.