Affidavit form
I, Robert B. GORDON, of Conway County ARK having filed my application, No.8257, for an entry under Section No. 2289, Revised Statutes of the United States, do solemnly swear that I am a citizen of the State of Arkansas and United States, the head of a family and reside on the land I apply to enter and that I have a bona fide improvement thereon and that owing to distance and the expense attending I am unable to go to Little Rock to make it is sworn statement before the Ref & Rec that said application, No. 8257, is made for the purpose of actual settlement and cultivation; that said entry is made for my own exclusive benefit, and not directly or indirectly for the benefit or use of any other person or persons whomsoever; and that I have not heretofore had the benefit of the homestead laws.
Robert B. GORDON
Sworn to and subscribed this 11th day of March 1878, before
N.A. NATIONS, Clerk
By N.G. CONLEE, D.C.


Non-Mineral Affidavit form
County of Conway, State of Arkansas
Robert B. GORDON being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is the identical person who is an applicant for Government title to the NorthWest 1/4 Section Eighteen Township 9N, Range Fourteen (14) West that he is well acquainted with the character of said described land, and with each and every legal sub-division thereof, having frequently passed over the same; that his knowledge of said land is such as to enable him to testify understandingly with regard thereto; that there is not, to his knowledge, within the limits thereof, any vein or lode of quartz or other rock in place, bearing gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, or copper, or any deposit of coal; that there is not within the limits of said Land, to his knowledge, any placer, cement, gravel, or other valuable mineral deposit; that no portion of said land is claimed for mining purposes under the local customs or rules of miners or otherwise; that no portion of said land is worked for mineral during any part of the year by any person or person; that said land is essentially non-mineral land, and that his application therefore is not made for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining title to mineral land, but with the object of securing said land for agricultural purposes.
Robert B. GORDON (signed)
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 11th day of March, A.D. 1878 and I hereby certify that the foregoing affidavit was read to the said Robert B. GORDON previous to his name being subscribed thereto; and that deponent is a respectable person to whose affidavit full faith and credit should be given. N.A. NATIONS, Clerk


Homestead Application No. 8257 form
I, Robert B. GORDON, of Conway County Arkansas, do hereby apply to enter, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved May 20, 1862, entitled "An Act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," the North West 1/4 of Section 18 in Township 9N of Range 14N, containing 159.46 acres. Robert B. GORDON (signed)
Land Office at Little Rock ARK March 13, 1878
I, W.W. GIBBS, Register of the Land Office, do hereby certify that the above application is for Surveyed Lands of the class which the applicant is legally entitled to enter under the Homestead act of May 20, 1862, and that there is no prior, valid, adverse right to the same. W.W. GIBBS, Register.


Homestead Proof - Testimony of Witness form
Isaac G. BRADLEY being called as witness in support of the Homestead entry of Robert B. GORDON for NW 1/4 Sec 18 Township 9N Range 14N, testifies as follows:
Ques. 1 - What is your occupation and where is your residence?
Ans. Farmer near Centre Ridge Conway Co ARK
Ques. 2 - Have you been well acquainted with Robert B. GORDON the claimant, in this case ever since he made his homestead entry No. 8257?
Ans. I have.
Ques. 3 - Was claimant qualified to make said entry? (State whether the settler was a citizen of the United States, over the age of twenty-one years, or the head of a family, and whether he ever made a former homestead entry.)
Ans. He was. He is a citizen of the United States and the head of a family. He never made a former entry.
Ques. 4 - When did claimant settle upon the homestead and at what date did he establish actual residence thereon? (Describe the dwelling and other improvements, giving total value thereof.)
Ans. In the year 1877. One log dwelling house, smokehouse, crib & stable, well, garden and about 25 acres in cultivation value $500.00
Ques. 5 - Have claimant and family resided continuously on the homestead since first establishing residence thereon?
Ans. He has.
Ques. 6 - For what period or periods has the settler been absent from the land since making settlement, and for what purpose; and if temporarily absent, did claimant's family reside upon and cultivate the land during such absence?
Ans. They have not been absent.
Ques. 7 - How much of the homestead has the settler cultivated and for how many seasons did he raise crops thereon?
Ans. About 15 acres for seven seasons.
Ques. 8 - Are there any indications of coal, salines, or minerals of any kinds on the homestead? (If so, describe what they are, and state whether the land is more valuable for agricultural than for mineral purposes.)
Ans. There is not to my knowing.
Ques. 9 - Has the claimant mortgaged, sold, or contracted to sell, any portion of said homestead?
Ans. He has not.
Ques. 10 - Are you interested in this claim; and do you think the settler has acted in entire good faith in perfecting this entry?
Ans. I am not. I think he has.
Isaac G. BRADLEY (his mark)
I hereby certify that the witness is a person of respectability; that the foregoing testimony was read to him before being subscribed, and was sworn to before me this 31 day of January 1884. M.L. ALSBURY Clerk of the Court for Conway Co ARK.



Homestead Proof - Testimony of Witness form
John H. RAINEY being called as witness in support of the Homestead entry of Robert B. GORDON for NW 1/4 Sec 18 Township 9N Range 14 West, testifies as follows:
Ques. 1 - What is your occupation and where is your residence?
Ans. Farmer near Centre Ridge Conway Co ARK
Ques. 2 - Have you been well acquainted with Robert B. GORDON, the claimant, in this case ever since he made his homestead entry No. 8257?
Ans. I have.
Ques. 3 - Was claimant qualified to make said entry? (State whether the settler was a citizen of the United States, over the age of twenty-one years, or the head of a family, and whether he ever made a former homestead entry.)
Ans. He was a citizen of the United States and the head of a family. He never made a former entry.
Ques. 4 - When did claimant settle upon the homestead and at what date did he establish actual residence thereon? (Describe the dwelling and other improvements, giving total value thereof.)
Ans. In the year 1877. One log dwelling house, smokehouse, crib, stable, well, orchard and some 25 or more acres in cultivation $500.00
Ques. 5 - Have claimant and family resided continuously on the homestead since first establishing residence thereon? (If settler is unmarried, state the fact.)
Ans. They have.
Ques. 6 - For what period or periods has the settler been absent from the land since making settlement, and for what purpose; and if temporarily absent, did claimant's family reside upon and cultivate the land during such absence?
Ans. he has not been absent.
Ques. 7 - How much of the homestead has the settler cultivated and for how many seasons did he raise crops thereon?
Ans. About 15 acres for seven seasons.
Ques. 8 - Are there any indications of coal, salines, or minerals of any kinds on the homestead? (If so, describe what they are, and state whether the land is more valuable for agricultural than for mineral purposes.)
Ans. Not to my knowing.
Ques. 9 - Has the claimant mortgaged, sold, or contracted to sell, any portion of said homestead?
Ans. Not to my knowing.
Ques. 10 - Are you interested in this claim; and do you think the settler has acted in entire good faith in perfecting this entry?
Ans. I am not. I think he has.
J.H. RAINEY (signed)
I hereby certify that the witness is a person of respectability; that the foregoing testimony was read to him before being subscribed, and was sworn to before me this 31 day of January 1884. M.L. ALSBURY Clerk of the Court for Conway Co ARK.



Homestead Proof - Testimony of Claimant
Robert B. GORDON being called as a witness in his own behalf in support of homestead entry No. 8257 for NW 1/4 Section 18 Township 9 N Range 14 W testifies as follows:
Ques. 1 - What is your name - written in full and correctly spelled - your age, and post-office address?
Ans. Robert B. GORDON, thirty four years old, Centre Ridge P.O.
Ques. 2 - Are you a native of the United States, or have you been naturalzied?
Ans. A native.
Ques. 3 - When was your house built on the land and when did you establish actual residence therein? (Describe said house and other improvements which you have placed on the land, giving total value thereof.)
Ans. January 10th 1877 - one log dwelling house, smokehouse, crib & stable, well, orchard and about thirty acres in cultivation value $400.00
Ques. 4 - Of whom does your family consist; and have you and your family resided continuously on the land since first establishing residence thereon? (If unmarried, state the fact.)
Ans. Wife and five children. We have resided on the land all the while.
Ques. 5 - For what period or periods have you been absent from the homestead since making settlement, and for what purpose; and if temporarily absent, did you family reside upon and cultivate the land during such absence?
Ans. We have not been absent.
Ques. 6 - How much of the land have you cultivated and for how many seasons have you raised crops thereon?
Ans. About an average of 20 acres, seven seasons.
Ques. 7 - Are there any indications of coal, salines, or minerals of any kind on the land? (If so, describe what they are, and state whether the land is more valuable for agricultural than for mineral purposes.)
Ans. There is none to my knowing.
Ques. 8 - Have you ever made any other homestead entry? (If so, describe the same.)
Ans. I have not.
Ques. 9 - Have you sold, conveyed, or mortgaged any portion of the land; and if so, to whom and for what purpose?
Ans. I have not.
Robert B. GORDON (signed)
I hereby certify that the foregoing testimony was read to the claimant before being subscribed, and was sworn to before me this 31 day of January 1884. M.L. ALSBURY Clerk of the Court for Conway County ARK.



Office of Circuit Clerk and Ex-Officio County & Probate Clerk form
I, M.L. ALSBURY Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex Officio Recorder of Conway Court Arkansas do hereby certify that J.W. TODD County Judge of Conway County was not present during the making of the final proof of R.B. GORDON to the within described lands. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of Office at Morrilton the 31 day of January 1884. M.L. ALSBURY, Clerk (signed)


Homestead Proof - Final Affidavit Required of Homestead Claimants form
I, Robert B. GORDON, having made a Homestead entry of the NW 1/4 Section No. 18 in Township No. 9N of Range No. 14W, subject to entry at Little Rock ARK under section No. 2289 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, do now apply to perfect my claim thereto by virtue of section No. 2291 of the Revised Statutes of the United States; and for that purpose do solumnly swear that I am a citizen of the United States; that I have made actual settlement upon and have cultivated said land, having resided thereon since the 13th day of March 1878 to the present time; that no part of said land has been alienated, except as proveded in section 2288 of the Revised Statutes, but that I am the sole bona fide owner as an actual settler; that I will bear true allegiance to the Government of the United States; and further, that I have not heretofore perfected or abandoned an entry made under the homestead laws of the United States. Robert B. GORDON (signed)
I, M.L. ALSBURY, of the Land Office at ___ do hereby certify that the above affidavit was subscribed and sworn to before me this 31 day of January 1884. M.L. ALSBURY Clerk of the Court for Conway County ARK


Receiver's Receipt, No. 8257 form
Receiver's Office, Little Rock, Arkansas March 13, 1878
Received of Robert B. GORDON the sum of thirteen dollars ninety nine cents; being the amount of fee and compensation of Register and Receiver for the entry of NW 1/4 of Section 18 in Township 9N of Range 14W, under Section No. 2290 Revised Statutes of the United States. 159.46 acres, $13.99 J.F. FAGAN, Receiver


Final Receiver's Receipt No. 3761 form
Receiver's Office, Little Rock ARK Febry 6, 1884
Received of Robert B. GORDON the sum of five (5) dollars 50 cents, being the balance of payment required by law for the entry of NW 1/4 of Section 18 in Township 9N of Range 14W containing 159.46 acres, under Section 2291 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. $5.50 C.E. KELSEY, Receiver


Final Receiver's Receipt No. 3761 form
Receiver's Office, Little Rock ARK Febry 6, 1884
Received of Robert B. GORDON the sum of three - 3 - dollars 99 cents, being the balance of payment required by law for the entry of NW 1/4 of Section 18 in Township 9N of Range 14W containing 159.46 acres, under Section 2291 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. $3.99 C.E. KELSEY, Receiver


Certificate as to Posting of Notice
Land Office at Little Rock ARK Febry 6, 1884
I, M.W. GIBBS, Register, do hereby certify that a notice, a printed copy of which is hereto attached, was by me posted in a conspicuous place in my office for a period of thirty days, I having first posted said notice on the 15th day of Dec, 1883. M.W. GIBBS, Register


Proof of Publication form
State of Arkansas County of Conway. I robert W. LEIGH, make affidavit that I am publisher of the Headlight, a newspaper published weekly, at Morrilton, County of Conway, State of Arkansas, and that the annexed F.P. Notice was published in the Headlight five consecutive times. The first insertion was 21 day of Dec 1883 and the last 18 day of Jan 1884. Robt W. LEIGH, Subscribed and sworn to before me on the 20th day of January 1884. F.C. GROHMAN, Notary Public (copy of newspaper notice attached)


Final Certificate No. 3761, Application No. 8257
Land Office at Little Rock ARK Febry 6, 1884. It is hereby certified that, pursuant to the provisions of Section No. 2291, Revised Statutes of the United States, Robert B. GORDON has made payment in full for NW 1/4 of Section No. 18, in township No. 9N, of Range No. 14W, of the 5th Principal Meridian in ARK, containing 159.46 acres. Now, therefore, be it known, that on presentation of this Certificate to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, the said Robert B. GORDON shall be entitled to a patent for the tract of land above described. M.W. GIBBS, Register.


State of Arkansas, County of Conway. I M.L. ALSBURY Clerk of the Circuit Court and Ex-Officio Recorder, within and for the County of Conway and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the annexed and foregoing instrument of writing was filed for record in office on the 1st day of March 1884 8 O'Clock am, and the same is now duly recorded in Record Book H page 26. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office, this the 11th day of March 1884 M.L. ALSBURY, Clerk and Ex-Officio Recorder