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.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Surname Given Name Birthplace File Date Notes
Maack Erwin Prussia 7 Nov 1868
Mabies Johann August Prufia (Prussia) 27 Sep 1856
Macinniry Patrick Ireland 2 Sep 1862
Mack Michl Ireland 19 Jan 1867
Mackholf Conrad Wurtemberg 1 Feb 1871
Macwith H Otto Prussia 13 Jan 1871
Madden Daniel Ireland 29 Jan 1868
Maddock Michael Ireland 2 Aug 1856
Madson Peter Denmark 6 Nov 1876
Magnison C M Sweden 30 Nov 1874
Magnison Otto W Sweden 17 Feb 1876
Magnison O W Sweden 30 Nov 1874
Mahany John Ireland 3 Nov 1856
Mahoney Tim Ireland 24 Nov 1856
Mohoney Mathew Ireland 4 Sep 1867
Maier Carl Baden 25 Oct 1875
Maier Joseph Baden 4 Oct 1870
Mainor John Scotland 28 Aug 1858
Maley J O Ireland 13 Oct 1870
Malkam C P Sweden 8 Sep 1856
Mallin John Sweden 13 Sep 1876
Malm A P Sweden 15 Jul 1874
Malone James Ireland 1 Feb 1858
Manguison Louis Peter Sweden 20 Oct 1859
Mannfried T D Bavaria, Germany 10 Feb 1874
Markwand Michael Prussia 10 Mar 1877
Marquardt Aug Prussia 15 May 1872
Marsh William England 19 Jun 1872
Marte Henry Switzerland 16 Sep 1859
Martin Remigirs Baden 3 May 1872
Martin William W Scotland 7 Sep 1858
Mason Benjamin England 23 Sep 1876
Masterson Patrick Ireland 12 Oct 1858
Matson Mater (Mate) Sweden 8 Oct 1877
Mattes Alois Wittenberg 23 Nov 1858
Mauer Andre France 27 Feb 1860
Maul Edward Saxony 30 Aug 1856
Maurer Fred Switzerland 15 Dec 1874
Maurer John Bavaria 1 Nov 1862
Maurer Louis Baern 8 Apr 1856
Maurice Layes France 11 Mar 1878
May Gehard Prussia 11 Oct 1856
Mayer Henry Prussia 3 Oct 1871
Mayer Michael Bavaria 13 Aug 1856
Mayer Moses Wurtemberg 27 Mar 1867
Mayer Solomon Wurtemberg 10 Oct 1866
Mayson John England 13 Nov 1876
McAnally Michael Ireland 30 Jul 1856
McCabe James Ireland 8 Jan 1872
McCane John England 5 Aug 1870
McCollam William Ireland 24 Jan 1871
McConn Alexander Ireland 18 Sep 1866
McCue Peter Ireland 13 Feb 1856
McDaniel John Ireland 7 Feb 1859
McDavitt Patrick Ireland 9 Oct 1856
McDermott Thomas Ireland 4 Oct 1856
McDonald Hugh Ireland 3 Nov 1859
McDonald Thomas Ireland 29 Jan 1869
McFaden John Scotland 21 Sep 1872
McGloughlin Cornelius Ireland 7 Aug 1868
McGrah John Ireland 30 Dec 1856
McGrath John Ireland 15 Aug 1868
McGraw Simon Ireland 15 Aug 1856
McGrecry Hugh Ireland 8 Dec 1856
McHugh Patrick M Ireland 30 Jul 1856
McInerney Michael Ireland 30 Nov 1868
McInerny John Ireland 27 Aug 1870
McInerny Michael Ireland 15 Jan 1872
McInnerny John Ireland 3 Nov 1856
McKay William Canada 30 Aug 1873
McLaughlin Francis Ireland 11 Oct 1875
McLaughlin John Ireland 6 Jan 1858
McLaughlin Wm Ireland 28 Nov 1858
McMahan Patrick Ireland 12 Oct 1858
McMahon John Ireland 26 Oct 1876
McMahon Timothy Ireland 2 Aug 1856
McNellis Hugh Ireland 1 Nov 1872
McNerney Timothy Ireland 1 Feb 1858
McParttan John Ireland 28 Jan 1865
Mecklenburg August Prussia 11 Feb 1872
Mecklenburg Wm Prussia 11 Apt 1873
Medin John W Sweden 16 Sep 1868
Meier C F Prussia 30 Oct 1859
Meier Wilheim Prussia 6 Nov 1876
Meilahan Johann Gerb Oldenburg 20 Sep 1875
Meilahn John Prussia 9 Apr 1873
Melander John Sweden 7 Nov 1879
Melcher August W Baden 8 Oct 1869
Melin James J Sweden 17 Jul 1877
Melzian Frederick Prussia 14 Feb 1875
Melzian Frederick Prussia 17 Feb 1871
Mertens Frederick Prussia 6 Oct 1870
Mertt Joseph Baden 3 Aug 1857
Mesmer Herbert Prussia 20 Sep 1859
Mesmer Michael Baden 13 Oct 1857
Mesmer Philip Prussia 13 Apr 1867
Mespelt Wilhelm Prussia 5 Jan 1877
Mespett Frederick Prussia 8 Nov 1856
Messmer Dominick Russia 1 Nov 1856
Messmer Jacob Prussia 10 Nov 1856
Messmer Sebastian Germany 10 May 1878
Metz Adam Bavaria 19 Nov 1868
Metz John Bavaria 11 Aug 1871
Metzler Phillipp Hesse Darmstadt 17 Dec 1859
Mewes John Prussia 26 Jul 1877
Meyer Frederick Hanover, Germany 4 Nov 1876
Meyer G F Wilhelm Prussia 11 Nov 1872
Meyer Henry Prussia 20 May 1867
Meyer John Frederick Prussia 29 Mar 1859
Meyer Iaver Switzerland 5 May 1879
Meyers George France 22 Jan 1879
Michel Gottfried Saxony 2 Aug 1861
Michelsen Frederick Peter Denmark 3 Feb 1870
Mikkelssen Laurizz Denmark 9 Mar 1872
Milcher Christ Baden 2 Jan 1856
Millenger Michael Baden 10 Jan 1860
Miller Adam Joseph Bavaria 13 Dec 1873
Miller Baldwin Hessian Darmstadt 17 Nov 1856
Miller Charles J France 4 Oct 1870
Miller Conrad Wurtenburg 6 Aug 1857
Miller Erhard Bavaria 23 Sep 1858
Miller Frederick Prussia 4 Nov 1876
Miller Henry Bzren(?) 1 Nov 1856
Miller Henry Ireland 17 Jan 1871
Miller John Sax Keinugen, Germany 9 Oct 1858
Miller Nels Sweden 16 Oct 1878
Miller Wm Hesse Darmstadt 16 Oct 1858
Mellinger Bartholomew Baden 29 Jul 1857
Missinger Gottlob Wurtemberg 19 Apr 1870
Modoff Peter Luxemburg 10 Oct 1871
Mohen Adam Byren 3 Nov 1856
Mohen Henry Byren 3 Nov 1856
Mohnke Henry Prussia 8 Oct 1859
Mohr Christian Prussia 28 Aug 1876
Mollanden William Prussia 16 Jan 1871
Monson P A Sweden 5 Jul 1879
Monsson Andrew Sweden 29 Nov 1871
Montgomery A Ireland 28 Jul 1858
Montgomery John Ireland 9 Oct 1866
Montmoremcy A Gibraltar 25 May 1872
Moody Henry England 12 Oct 1874
Mooney John Ireland 12 Oct 1858
Mooney Thomas Ireland 12 Oct 1858
Moore Thomas C Isle of Man 22 Jun 1870
Mooser Franz Switzerland 17 Apr 1858
Moran John Ireland 27 Sep 1866
Morlock Jacob Wurtemberg 9 Feb 1858
Moroney Cornelius Ireland 25 Feb 1858
Morris John R Wales 4 Jan 1873
Morton James England 25 Oct 1856
Moser Jacob Switzerland 25 Jan 1870
Mucci Zaccaria Italy 8 Apr 1867
Mueller F R Saxe Weimer, Germany 21 Sep 1875
Mueller Henry Prussia 6 Jun 1870
Muenzenmeyer Eugene Wurtemberg 14 Apr 1879
Muenzenmeyer T Fred Wurtemberg 24 Apr 1879
Mulaney Edmund Ireland 15 Aug 1870
Muller (Moller) Frantz Denmark 6 Oct 1869
Muller Heinrich Hesse Darmstadt 10 Sep 1860
Muller Heinrick Bramsweig, Germany 22 Oct 1875
Muller Herman Henrich Prussia 27 Mar 1856
Muller Joseph Wertemburg 4 Oct 1870
Muller Wilhelm Prussia 31 Jan 1878
Mumme J Andreas Prussia 31 Dec 1870
Mumme Joachim T C Prussia 14 Aug 1865
Munk Gottleib Wurtemberg 7 Feb 1870
Menzenmeier Gottlieb Wurtemberg 19 Oct 1877
Menzenmeier E Otto Wurtemberg 28 Oct 1876
Murphy Denise Ireland 3 Nov 1856
Murphy William Ireland 7 Oct 1859
Murphy William Ireland 13 Jan 1874
Murrmann Ernst Bavaria 13 Oct 1879
Mussack Joseph Bavaria 17 Aug 1865
Mylett Andrew Ireland 24 Oct 1856

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