Back to Montgomery County Home  |   Back to Citizenship Introduction

Montgomery County, Iowa  GenWeb Project

Declarations of Intent

Contributed and Transcribed by Jeanette Lawson, Myra Damewood and Donna Smith
in Cooperation with Montgomery County Historical Society

Be sure to search for different spellings as many of these are spelled in the language of the country they came from; for instance Andersson instead of Anderson.

Surnames that filed Declaration of Intent

A  (Bk 1- Bk 8) B  (Bk 1- Bk 8) C  (Bk 1- Bk 8) D  (Bk 1- Bk 8) E  (Bk 1- Bk 8)
F  (Bk 1- Bk 8) G  (Bk 1- Bk 8) H  (Bk 1- Bk 8)  I  (Bk 1- Bk 8) J  (Bk 1- Bk 8)
K  (Bk 1- Bk 8) L  (Bk 1- Bk 8) M  (Bk 1- Bk 8) N  (Bk 1- Bk 8) O  (Bk 1- Bk 8)
P   (Bk 1- Bk 8) Q (Bk1 - Bk 8) R  (Bk 1- Bk 8) S  (Bk 1- Bk 8) T  (Bk 1- Bk 8)
U   (Bk 1- Bk 8) V (Bk1 - Bk 8) W  (Bk 1- Bk 8) X - Z  (Bk 1- Bk 8)  
  Another Surname Index  
Surnames A - H Surnames I - M Surnames N - R Surnames S - Z

Initially an alien resident filed a declaration of intention, also commonly known as "first papers" with an authorized court, indicating their intention to become a citizen, to renounce all allegiance to any foreign state, and to renounce any foreign title or order of nobility. At least two years after making the declaration (after 1906, no more than seven years later), an alien who had been a resident of the United States for at least five years could petition the court for admission to citizenship.

The names of the applicant and the foreign ruler whose allegiance was renounced and the date are always shown on the declaration. Later declarations also include some or all of the following information: age or birth date; place of birth; date and place of entry into the U.S.; applicant's oath; and affidavits of two witnesses who attested to the applicant's residency and good character.

May 9, 1870

"I, A. M. Anderson, do declare, on oath, that is bona fide my intention to become a citizen of the United States of America, and to renounce and abjure forever, all allegiance and fidelity, to all and any foreign Prince, Potentate, State and Sovereignty whatever,  ........."

Montgomery County (Iowa) Historical Society has the original volume of Naturalization Intentions that this indexed was developed from.  Because the papers are old they are not now offering copies--cannot be done on a copy machine.   They can transcribe the information by mail addressed to Immigration records, Montgomery County Historical Society Box 634, Red Oak, Iowa. (donation plus self addressed envelope). For specific information contact Betty McKenzie at bmckenz@heartland.net.

2004 - 2005