Citizenship vs love

As the 4th approaches here in the USA, we begin to get ready to party. Many of us however, also contemplate what it means to be a citizen.

Naturalization processes and requirements have changed a number of times, for researchers this means we find ourselves trying to discover the rules that were in affect when our ancestors lived.

Would you give up your citizenship for love?? There was a time when a lady would lose her American citizenship if she married an "Alien".

This is a snippet of the 1920 U.S. Census, happens it is for Black Hawk County, Iowa, but that really does not matter. (Hint, if you click on the graphic it will open to a larger view.)


This is Eula Lashbrook Jensen and her second husband Carl Jensen. Carl came to the US in 1904, as you can see from column 13. He has filed his papers for Naturalization as you can see from column 14. But, look carefully at column 14 again, and you will see Eula is shown to be an "Alien".

Eula became an Alien, when she married Carl, even though she was born in Iowa, and her father was born in Wisconsin. Eula's grandparents were born in England and in New York. So, by my count she was a second generation natural born citizen (via her paternal lines), but she was an alien in 1920.

By paying attention to those small little boxes on the census reports we may discover really interesting historical lessons and a few oddities as well.

The search continues of course, so far this is all I have discovered about Carl's attempt to become an American citizen:

According to "Black Hawk County, Iowa Petition for Naturalization Book 1", compiled by Black Hawk County Genealogical Society, 1988, we find:

Jensen: Carl Christian
Dist. Ct. B.H. Co. Ia Occupation: Farmer & Road Superintendent. b. 3 Apr 1884, Tollose, Den. Emigrated: ca 11 Oct. 1902 from Liverpool Eng. to New York on vessel Locania arr. 18 Oct. 1922 (??) Intention 5 Mar 1910 Waterloo, Ia. Not married. Denied. Dated: 18 Dec. 1915 B.H. Co., Ia. Nat. # 206.

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Ancestor Birthday Celebrations, Arthur Norman Stevens, Jr.

Man's Father, Happy Birthday. Art would have been 90 years old today. He was the son of Arthur Norman Stevens, Sr, AKA, Archibald Norman Lashbrook (a VERY long story that) and wife, Edna May Fenton Stevens. Art was the first born of 3 sons. He was born July 1, 1919 and died April 13, 1979. Art had 4 children, by 2 wives.

Art was known as a man who could fix anything. He was proficient in plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical and car repairs.

Before he started working for the school system, he worked at many different jobs, including: Western Union; W.P.A.; worked on a farm in Canada; bus driver; auto mechanic; worked at Kelsey Hayes; Schwader Brothers (luggage and card table manufacturers); gas station on Fort Street; sold Kirby vacuum cleaners; sold cookware; sold real estate; sold storm windows; sold encyclopedias; sold door mats; painted house numbers on curbs; truck driver; cab driver; fuel oil truck driver; gas station; and drove school bus.

Art loved cameras, flying (we would sit at the kitchen table and fly for hours, he and I), he even built his own television. Have to say tho, the following story, has to be one of our favorites:

About 1955 or so, Art and Wife would baby sit a big ole boxer named Fritz. They even took Fritz camping with them. One day Fritz got lose, as dogs will, and took an excursion, right into a field occupied by a HUGE bull, as in cow. Fritz and the bull had a little disagreement, and it seems the bull lost! Fritz was covered with blood, but Art could not find any serious wounds on that dog. However, Art had to pay the vet bills ($100. 00) for the bull. The owner of the bull held Art's camera hostage until the vet bill was paid. In order to get the money to pay the bill Art had to drive from Harrison Michigan, to Allen Park to get the money. Wife was not real happy with Fritz. Fritz did not come to stay after the bull experience.

Art's memorial at Find A Grave is here.

Art LOVED hand held calculators, Man and I frequently comment how he would have LOVED computers, the internet, the technology he missed. I believe he would have approved of this "techy" form of memorial.

*Photo of Man as a young dude, Fritz and Art, about 1955.