Jack Gatlin homestead testimony
In the testimony of the homestead claimant, there are a
series of questions. These records often have interviews of the homesteader and
neighbors providing written oral history and
on a timeline.
Jack Gatlin at the
time of his homestead testimony was 34 years old in July 16, 1887. His post office address was Walker's Bridge. As a native born citizen, he never filed a prior homestead. He describes the land as ordinary pine land with pine trees and farming.
He made the homestead entry July 1, 1880 and he
built a house in March, 1879. He made
improvements with about $100 which is the equivalent of $2,353.57 in 2017. He states that he has lived nowhere else.
Question #19 Where have you voted since establishing
residence on this land, and where did you last vote and how long have you voted
there? Ans. I voted in Holmesville &
have always voted there. He states that he was only absent from the land to
attend church, visit neighbors and the town on business. His family at that time was a wife and six
children.
Jack was asked did he and his family live in the house during the winter after filing with a reply of they did.
In questions # 28 to 30 he provided an account of all his material
assets which included the house, furniture, farm implements and livestock. He had a box house was 20 x 27 (540 square
feet) with another box house, several
out houses, smoke house, corn crib for a total value of $610.00 which is the
equivalent of $15,185.04 in 2017.
Questions #33-35 Jack
planted crops for seven seasons consisting of corn, cotton and peas. During the first
season, he cultivated 8 acres, 9 acres the second season and continued to
increase until he had planted 40 acres. I suspect that this detailed inventory
was made by the county clerk so they could levy taxes.
In questions 38- 44 Jack states he pays his taxes in Magnolia,
Mississippi and there are no other improvements for tax assessments and he
alone made the homestead entry not to benefit
anyone else.
--- The Tree Gardener
