| The Naturalization Process
In the United States, before 1952, the naturalization process began with a Declaration of Intent to become a citizen. This declaration is also referred to as "First Papers." Three years after this declaration was filed, and five years after arriving in the country, a Petition for Naturalization ("Second Papers") could be filed in the same or a different court. A Certificate of Citizenship could then be issued.
Until 1922, a foreign-born woman married to a naturalized citizen was automatically made a citizen. Until 1940, a child under the age of 21 was granted citizenship based on the status of his father. After 22 Sept 1922 an alien woman who married a US citizen could skip the Declaration of Intention and file for a Naturalization Petition. But if an alien woman married an alien man she would have to start her naturalization proceedings at the beginning with a Declaration of Intention.
Jill Cruse provided the images of indexes to original Declarations of Intent from 20 Dec 1855 to 2 Mar 1880. They were transcribed by Don Kelly (A-K) and
Stacy Bliesener (L) edited and formatted by Richard Harrison and Stacy Bliesener. Original images are included when available. Volunteers are needed to transcribe the remaining documents. Contact
DMC CC
Copies of Naturalization papers or Declaration of Intent can be obtained from the Des Moines County Genealogical Society, PO Box 493, Burlington, Iowa, 52601, for a modest fee, or from the Des Moines County Courthouse. |
| SURNAME |
GIVEN NAME |
BIRTHPLACE |
FILE DATE |
NOTES |
| Salburg |
John |
Sweden |
17 Aug 1872 |
|
| Salden |
Charles |
Sweden |
23 Sep 1876 |
|
| Salden |
Nels |
Sweden |
23 Sep 1876 |
|
| Saling |
Jacob |
Prussia |
28 Sep 1857 |
|
| Salter |
Wm. |
Germany |
21 Mar 1861 |
|
| Samuelson |
C. J. |
Sweden |
5 Mar 1877 |
|
| Samuelson |
Frns. J. |
Sweden |
30 Jan 1875 |
|
| Sandberg |
A. |
Sweden |
10 Mar 1874 |
|
| Sandberg |
Alfred |
Sweden |
29 Sep 1874 |
|
| Sandberg |
Henry |
Mecklenberg, Germany |
26 Nov 1872 |
|
| Sandberg |
Joachim |
Mecklenberg, Germany |
6 Mar 1871 |
|
| Sandburg |
John Christian |
Sweden |
26 Oct 1876 |
|
| Sandell |
Ephraim |
Sweden |
2 Feb 1874 |
|
| Sander |
Oscar |
Saxony, Prussia |
23 Nov 1869 |
|
| Sanderson |
Robert |
England |
14 Oct 1873 |
|
| Sanderson |
Thomas |
England |
10 Oct 1868 |
|
| Sandheiser |
Puis |
Baden |
30 Jan 1858 |
|
| Sandquist |
A. F. |
Sweden |
28 Apr 1873 |
|
| Sapple |
John (Johan Lapple?) |
Wertemburg |
2 Nov 1860 |
|
| Sargent |
Robert |
Ireland |
14 Oct 1859 |
|
| Sattler |
Louis |
Germany |
2 Feb 1857 |
|
| Sauer |
Anton |
Prussia |
2 Dec 1856 |
|
| Sauer |
Charles |
Prussia |
2 Dec 1856 |
|
| Sauer |
John |
Prussia |
1 Dec 1856 |
|
| Sauermann |
Albert |
Prussia |
7 Aug 1871 |
|
| Sauffer |
John |
Wurtemberg |
10 Nov 1856 |
|
| Saul |
Herman |
Prussia |
11 Apr 1873 |
|
| Sauter |
Johan |
Wurtemberg |
14 Oct 1878 |
|
| Scanlan |
Mathew |
Canada |
27 Oct 1868 |
|
| Scentzier |
John |
Prussia |
28 Jan 1864 |
|
| Schade |
William |
Prussia |
1 Dec 1879 |
|
| Schaehel |
Christian |
Prussia |
3 Nov 1870 |
|
| Schafer |
Daniel |
Hesse Darmstadt |
10 Oct 1863 |
|
| Schaffnar |
William |
Sachsen Meininger |
1 May 1856 |
|
| Schalz |
Friederich (see Schulz, Fried.) |
Prussia |
5 Jun 1869 |
|
| Schafer |
Christoph |
Prussia |
2 Aug 1856 |
|
| Schafer |
William |
Prussia |
30 Dec 1856 |
|
| Schaverm |
Jacob |
Bavaria |
31 Jan 1863 |
|
| Scheiling |
Gottlieb |
Wurtemberg, Germany |
18 Jun 1873 |
|
| Scheller |
Puis |
Hanover |
16 Jan 1877 |
|
| Scherer |
Christian |
Prussia |
No Date |
|
| Scherer |
William |
Bavaria |
13 Nov 1856 |
|
| Scherrer |
Mathias |
Switzerland |
2 Nov 1868 |
|
| Schwerin |
T. C. |
Prussia |
10 Mar 1858 |
|
| Schick |
Charles |
Baden |
26 Mar 1860 |
|
| Scheslmerish |
George |
Hesse Darmstadt |
17 Feb 1865 |
|
| Schilling |
Daniel |
Prussia |
26 Dec 1856 |
|
| Schilling |
Johann (John) Franrich |
Prussia |
5 Dec 1857 |
|
| Schilling |
Ludwig |
Prussia |
5 Jan 1857 |
|
| Schindler |
Anton |
Prussia |
31 May 1870 |
|
| Schippert |
Simon |
Prussia |
10 Sep 1870 |
|
| Schlader |
Adolf |
Prussia |
18 Apr 1857 |
|
| Schlung |
John |
Mecklenberg Scherwin |
23 Feb 1858 |
|
| Schmaeker |
Henrie |
Hessen |
29 Dec 1856 |
|
| Schmeiser |
Jacob |
Baden |
2 Mar 1857 |
|
| Schmid |
George |
Bavaria |
3 Nov 1868 |
|
| Schmides (or r) |
George |
Wurtemburg |
10 Nov 1856 |
|
| Schmidt |
Charles |
Prussia |
6 Mar 1874 |
|
| Schmidt |
Henry |
Hassen |
9 Oct 1875 |
|
| Schmidt |
H Gerhard |
Prussia |
18 Nov 1872 |
|
| Schmidt |
Herman |
Prussia |
12 Mar 1877 |
|
| Schmidt |
John |
Baden |
10 Oct 1857 |
|
| Schmidt |
John |
Prussia |
29 Jan 1868 |
|
| Schmidt |
Michael |
Wittenberg |
6 Jul 1858 |
|
| Schmidt |
Peter Christian Heinr |
Prussia |
2 Jun 1870 |
|
| Schmidt |
Samuel |
Switzerland |
26 Mar 1869 |
|
| Schmitt |
Adam |
Germany |
2 Aug 1856 |
|
| Schmitt |
Jacob |
Prussia |
26 Jan 1870 |
|
| Schmitt |
John |
Prussia |
5 Aug 1856 |
|
| Schmitt |
Richard |
Prussia |
29 Apr 1862 |
|
| Schmitt |
Simon |
Germany |
4 Feb 1860 |
|
| Schmittger |
Simon |
Prussia |
14 Dec 1857 |
|
| Schneck |
Johann David |
Wurtemburg |
5 Mar 1878 |
|
| Schneeder |
John |
Prussia |
12 Oct 1870 |
|
| Schneider |
Henrich |
Prussia |
23 Aug 1870 |
|
| Schneider |
John |
Germany |
18 May 1877 |
|
| Schnieder |
George |
Bavaria |
7 Jul 1858 |
|
| Schnieder |
Remakik |
Baden, Germany |
2 Jul 1856 |
|
| Schnieter |
Henry |
Baden |
3 Nov 1856 |
|
| Schoenfeld |
Gotfried |
Prussia |
12 Oct 1863 |
|
| Schofield |
John |
England |
30 Oct 1856 |
|
| Scholer |
Jacob |
Switzerland |
23 Jan 1869 |
|
| Scholl |
Anton |
Bavaria |
11 Jan 1869 |
|
| Scholl |
Friedrick |
Wurtemburg |
7 Oct 1876 |
|
| Scholl |
Lorenz |
Prussia |
14 Jun 1869 |
|
| Schottmiller |
Franz |
Baden |
16 Dec 1856 |
|
| Schramm |
F. |
Prussia |
9 Aug 1856 |
|
| Schroder |
B. |
Prussia |
1 Sep 1875 |
|
| Schroder |
F. G. |
Oldenburg |
14 Jan 1879 |
|
| Schroder |
John A. |
Oldenburg |
28 Feb 1878 |
|
| Schroeder |
Casper H. |
Prussia |
24 Jan 1870 |
|
| Schroeder |
Herman |
Prussia |
31 Oct 1868 |
|
| Schrumpf |
Ernst Ludwig |
Prussia |
28 Dec 1877 |
|
| Schuen |
Robert |
Wurtemburg |
24 Dec 1860 |
|
| Schultz |
Albert |
Prussia |
8 Sep 1873 |
|
| Schultz |
Frederick |
Prussia |
9 Feb 1857 |
|
| Schultz |
Henry |
Prussia |
14 Feb 1872 |
|
| Schultz |
Johan |
Prussia |
15 Nov 1876 |
|
| Schultcke |
Wilheim August |
Prussia |
5 Feb 1877 |
|
| Schulz |
August |
Prussia |
8 Aug 1877 |
|
| Schulz |
Frederick |
Prussia |
19 Nov 1866 |
|
| Schulz |
Frederick |
Prussia |
14 Mar 1872 |
|
| Schulz |
Frederick |
Prussia |
28 Jun 1873 |
|
| Schulz |
Frederick |
Prussia |
4 Nov 1876 |
|
| Schulz |
Friedrich - see: Schalz |
Prussia |
5 Jun 1869 |
|
| Schulz |
Henrich |
Prussia |
12 May 1869 |
|
| Schulz |
Henry |
Prussia |
28 Nov 1871 |
|
| Schulz |
Paul |
Prussia |
5 Aug 1875 |
|
| Schulze |
Johann Christoph |
Prussia |
26 Mar 1875 |
|
| Schulze |
Wm |
Prussia |
2 Mar 1880 |
|
| Schumacher |
John |
Prussia |
3 Jul 1877 |
|
| Schutz |
Andrew |
Sweden |
1 Aug 1856 |
|
| Schutz |
John |
Sweden |
4 Aug 1856 |
|
| Schwaller |
U. Joseph |
Switzerland |
28 Oct 1858 |
|
| Schwarz |
David |
Wurtemberg |
20 Nov 1856 |
|
| Schwarz |
Henry (Henrich) |
Prussia |
7 Sep 1857 |
|
| Schwarz |
Nicholas |
Hesse Darmstadt |
12 Nov 1865 |
|
| Schwarz |
Peter |
Hassan, Germany |
24 Sep 1873 |
|
| Schwenker |
Henry |
Prussia |
5 Feb 1872 |
|
| Schwieger |
Otto |
Prussia |
14 Oct 1873 |
|
| Schworn |
J. Adam |
Bavaria |
30 May 1857 |
|
| Scott |
Bernard J. S. |
Ireland |
5 Feb 1866 |
|
| Scott |
George |
England |
25 May 1860 |
|
| Sebastian |
Albert |
Bavaria, Germany |
2 Feb 1874 |
|
| Seemes |
John |
Prussia |
17 Dec 1857 |
|
| Seetge |
Fr. |
Prussia |
12 Mar 1878 |
|
| Seibel |
Herman |
Nassau |
20 Oct 1858 |
|
| Seiber |
John Christopher |
Prussia |
7 Feb 1859 |
|
| Seiberlich |
Leopold |
Germany |
16 Feb 1878 |
|
| Seiller |
John |
France |
5 Aug 1856 |
|
| Seims |
Charles |
Sweden |
8 Nov 1856 |
|
| Seis |
Joseph |
Austria |
4 Aug 1869 |
|
| Seitz |
Frederick |
Bavaria |
9 Nov 1858 |
|
| Seitz |
Konrad |
Germany |
14 Oct 1873 |
|
| Senbeth |
Barthel |
Bavaria |
10 Sep 1870 |
|
| Senn |
John |
Switzerland |
26 Oct 1860 |
|
| Sente |
Samuel |
Switzerland |
6 Apr 1866 |
|
| Serersten |
E.A.H. |
Sweden |
19 Oct 1874 |
|
| Sexton |
Patrick |
Ireland |
1 Mar 1867 |
|
| Sexton |
Thomas |
Ireland |
1 Mar 1867 |
|
| Shafer |
George |
Hesse Cassel |
28 Jan 1858 |
|
| Shafer |
Martin |
Hessen Kassel |
7 Feb 1859 |
|
| Shahan |
Dennis |
Ireland |
18 Dec 1872 |
|
| Shank |
Adam |
Wertemberg |
26 Sep 1867 |
|
| Shields |
Isaac |
Ireland |
24 Jan 1871 |
|
| Shoquist |
A. P. |
Sweden |
11 Oct 1875 |
|
| Short |
Patrick |
Ireland |
8 Oct 1863 |
|
| Sieburger |
H. |
Prussia |
10 Sep 1870 |
|
| Sieckman |
Henry |
Prussia |
7 Nov 1856 |
|
| Siedback |
Herman |
Prussia |
9 Jun 1858 |
|
| Siefken |
Johan Diedrick |
Oldenburg, Germany |
10 Apr 1875 |
|
| Sielerman |
Frederick |
|
10 Oct 1863 |
|
| Siems |
Frederick |
Germany |
6 Nov1877 |
|
| Simmons |
John |
Ireland |
20 Oct 1856 |
|
| Simms |
Hugh |
Ireland |
14 Dec 1873 |
|
| Simonsen |
Christian Peter |
Denmark |
23 Jan 1878 |
|
| Simonson |
Hans M |
Denmark |
10 Dec 1877 |
|
| Simpson |
John |
Ireland |
5 Sep 1857 |
|
| Simpson |
William |
Ireland |
1 Sep 1868 |
|
| Sinnigen |
Conrad J. |
Hanover |
15 Jun 1872 |
|
| Sjogren |
Gust |
Sweden |
10 Oct 1870 |
|
| Skinner |
Charles G. |
England |
10 Oct 1871 |
|
| Skogh |
P. P. |
Sweden |
23 Jan 1874 |
|
| Sleter |
Charles |
Prussia |
26 Sep 1857 |
|
| Smidt |
Peter C. |
Denmark |
6 Sep 1872 |
|
| Smith |
Andrew |
Sweden |
3 Nov 1856 |
|
| Smith |
Frederick |
Lavania |
11 Feb 1856 |
|
| Smith |
Henry |
Ireland |
2 Aug 1856 |
|
| Smith |
Michael |
Ireland |
2 Aug 1856 |
|
| Smith |
Nicholas |
Prussia |
6 Jun 1867 |
|
| Smith |
Peter |
Denmark |
29 Jun 1878 |
|
| Smith |
Reuben |
England |
19 Apr 1856 |
|
| Smith |
Samuel |
England |
19 Apr 1856 |
|
| Smith |
Thomas (Hutchcroft signed) |
England |
20 Apr 1858 |
|
| Smith |
Thomas |
Ireland |
8 Oct 1859 |
|
| Smith |
William |
Ireland |
5 Mar 1870 |
|
| Smithwick |
John |
Ireland |
14 Oct 1856 |
|
| Snyder |
Florian |
Prussia |
20 Apr 1859 |
|
| Soderquist |
A.F. |
Sweden |
3 Feb 1871 |
|
| Soderquist |
A.P. |
Sweden |
3 Feb 1871 |
|
| Soderquist |
John |
Sweden |
12 Mar 1873 |
|
| Soking |
Frederick |
Prussia |
19 May 1856 |
|
| Sonderburg |
A.S. |
Sweden |
20 Sep 1872 |
|
| Sundin |
A. F. |
Sweden |
20 Feb 1867 |
|
| Sonnemann |
John |
Hanover, Germany |
15 Sep 1876 |
|
| Sorensen |
Theodore |
Denmark |
12 Mar 1869 |
|
| Sowden |
Charles |
England |
13 Oct 1873 |
|
| Sowden |
James |
England |
10 Oct 1870 |
|
| Spaar |
Frank |
Switzerland |
14 Dec 1876 |
|
| Spaar |
Joseph |
Switzerland |
22 Nov 1859 |
|
| Speidel |
George |
Prussia |
6 Nov 1876 |
|
| Speietel |
Jacob |
Prussia |
19 Feb 1870 |
|
| Spiegel |
Friedrich |
Principality of Russia |
5 Nov 1860 |
|
| Spinner |
Peter |
Baden |
8 Nov 1856 |
|
| Spitzmuller |
Joseph |
Baden |
10 Oct 1871 |
|
| Spitzmuller |
Ludwig |
Baden |
12 Oct 1875 |
|
| Stadtlander |
W. |
Germany |
29 Sep 1859 |
|
| Staelling |
Frederick |
Prussia |
9 Jun 1873 |
|
| Stamm |
Henry |
Switzerland |
3 Jun 1872 |
|
| Stark |
A. F. |
Sweden |
13 Jun 1876 |
|
| Steinbrocker |
Gustav |
Prussia |
19 Mar 1863 |
|
| Stempel |
Max |
Prussia |
6 Apr 1874 |
|
| Stenstrum |
August |
Sweden |
4 Nov 1868 |
|
| Sterzing |
B. F. |
Saxon Coburg Gotha, Ger. |
11 Mar 1878 |
|
| Stewart |
Dugold |
Scotland |
28 Jan 1860 |
|
| Steyh |
Wm. |
Hesse Darmstadt |
13 Mar 1871 |
|
| Stigge |
Herman |
oldenburg |
28 May 1868 |
|
| Stjerna |
Jonas |
Sweden |
9 Oct 1865 |
|
| Stodtmeister |
Fredreck |
Prussia |
11 Nov 1872 |
|
| Stoffer |
John F. |
Mecklenburg Schwaine |
5 Jun 1856 |
|
| Stopper |
Peter |
Wurtemburg |
23 Feb 1857 |
|
| Storz |
Martin |
Baden |
21 Sep 1857 |
|
| Strack |
Ludwig |
Prussia |
22 Jul 1872 |
|
| Straessler |
Leopold |
Prussia |
7 Jun 1869 |
|
| Stran |
Christoph |
Prussia |
2 Oct 1872 |
|
| Strand |
G. A. |
Sweden |
18 Mar 1874 |
|
| Strans |
Len |
Darmstadt |
9 Oct 1866 |
|
| Straus |
Alois |
Wurtemberg |
7 Feb 1870 |
|
| Straus |
Fr. Haver |
Wurtemberg |
7 Feb 1870 |
|
| Streed |
Avon |
Sweden |
31 Mar 1868 |
|
| Streed |
John |
Sweden |
10 Oct 1865 |
|
| More to come.... |
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