Homestead Witnesses
Calvin Caston had to have two witnesses for final proof to complete his homestead application. His two witnesses Tom Brumfield 35 years old and Joe McEwin 40 years old gave testimony in Magnolia March 16, 1889. They both lived at Walkers Bridge, Mississippi .
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| Calvin Caston documentation of homestead witnesses Tom Brumfield & Joe McEwen |
Tom Brumfield testimony solidified his connection to Calvin Caston. He gives brief information about himself in question 2 stating his present occupation is farmer not employed by anyone since January, 1872. Question 4 asks how far from the residence of claimant on same tract do you reside and how long have you lived there? "1/2 mile have lived there 3 years. before that lived have lived in the same neighborhood." Question 6 he states he has known Calvin Caston "all his life .(Calvin Caston) has lived on his claim 17 years ...."
Question 19 asks the claimant's actual residence and how often he was seen him upon the land. Tom states " I live in sight of claimants house, see his family on the land nearly every day know he has lived there .... "
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Joe McEwin and Andrew Johnson lived near the claimant was testimony also given by Tom Brumfield.
Joe McEwin in his testimony states he is a farmer. Question 4 How far from the said claimant on said tract do you reside, do you reside and how long have you lived there? " 1/4 mile have lived there 9 years." In question 6 he says that he has know Calvin Caston for 17 years.
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| First page of testimony of Joe McEwen for Calvin Caston's homestead |
Question 28 Does claimant , with his family, reside an said land as the present time? You will explain how you know he has resided there, as you heretofore stated. "They do. I live in sight of claimant house see him his family on the land nearly every day, know he has lived on the land ...."
Calvin Caston witnesses testimony verified his residence from 1872 to 1889. There are additional rules that must be satisfied prior to the homesteader receiving title to the land which include a thirty day published notice of intention of final proof and an officer authorized to take final proof.
The published notice of final proof was made in the Magnolia Gazette newspaper. In the notice, the name of the homesteader Calvin Caston, a description of the land (Sec. 22 T 2. N R. 9 E) and the name of the witnesses Henry S. Brummels, David Walker, Joe McEwin and Tom Brumfield all of Walkers Bridge, P. O. Pike Co. Miss. are given. I do not have the witness testimony of Henry S. Brummels and David Walker.
