Jonas S. ROTH being called as a witness in his own behalf in support of homestead #10.21(9?)or(q?) for W-SW; NE-SW; & SE-NW; Sec:12 Twp. 18 NR18W testifies as follows:

• Question #1: WHAT IS YOUR NAME - WRITTEN IN FULL AND CORRECTLY SPELLED - YOUR AGE AND POST OFFICE ADDRESS? Answer: Jonas S. ROTH - Age: 35 years - P.O. Address: Douglas Grove, Custer Co. NE.
• Question #2: ARE YOU A NATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES, OR HAVE YOU BEEN NATURALIZED? Answer: I am a native.
• Question #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.) Answer: Commenced house in fall of 1880 - fromJune 1800 till house was completed. I lived on the land in tents. House: 12' X 16' - Two doors, four windows; Stable: 12' X 28'; Granary: 10' X 14'; Corral & Cattle shed; well & pump. (unreadable word)house-Milk House 10' X 12'; about 40 Acres (unreadable word) 1/2 acre of Orchard about 1-1/2 acres (for?trees). They are worth, in my judgement, $500.oo.
• Question #4: OF WHOM DOES YOUR FAMILY CONSIST AND HAVE YOU & YOUR FAMILY RESIDED CONTINUOUSLY ON THE LAND SINCE FIRST ESTABLISHING RESIDENCE THEREON? (IF MARRIED, STATE THE FACT.) Answer: Myself, wife & six children have resided continuously on the land; except as stated below.
• Question #5: FOR WHAT PERIOD OR PERIODS HAVE YOU BEEN ABSENT FROM THE HOMESTEAD SINCE MAKING ______?____ _____?_____ ____?____? WHAT PURPOSE AND IF TEMPORARILY ABSENT, DID YOUR FAMILY RESIDE UPON & CULTIVATE THE LAND DURING SUCH ABSENCE? Answer: During the first year, I was absent several times with my family cultivating land at a distance from the homestead: and the winter of the first year being very severe and not having my house fully completed, I was compelled to be absent for there on 4 months since that time myself and family have resided continuously on the land.
• Question #6: HOW MUCH OF THE LAND HAVE YOU CULTIVATED AND FOR HOW MANY SEASONS HAVE YOU RAISED CROPS THEREON? Answer: 40 acres - have raised crops for first 5 seasons.
• Question #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 AGRICULTURE THAN MINERAL PUROPOSES.) Answer: There are none. Valuable only for framing and grazing.
• Question #8: HAVE YOU MADE ANY OTHER HOMESTEAD ENTRY? (IF SO, DESCRIBE THE SAME.) Answer: I have not.
• Question #9: HAVE YOU SOLD, CONVEYED OR MOTRGAGED ANY PORTION OF THE LAND AND IF SO, TO WHOM AND FOR WHAT PURPOSE? Answer: I have not.
• I HEREBY CERTIFY: that the foregoing testimony was read to the claimant before being subscribed and was sworn to before me this 22nd day of June 1885. The judge being absent from the county, WILSON HEWITT, Clerk of the District Court_____________Co. NE.
• Note: If naturalized, the claimant must file a certified copy of his certificate of naturalization. In a combined homestead, a foreign born claimant, if not naturalyzed, must file a certified copy of his declaration of intention. In making proof, the party must surrender his original duplicate receipt or file affidavit of it's loss. (Something unreadable is handwritten over the right hand side of the last statement.)

Wm. WAGNER. being called as witness in support of the HOMESTEAD entry of Jonas S. ROTH 4 W-SW;NE-SW and SE-NW Sec 12 Twp 18N Range 18W testifies as follows:

• Question #1: WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION AND WHERE IS YOUR RESIDENCE? Answer: Am a farmer-resident: Sec 15 Twp 18N 17W in Custer Co. NE.
• Question #2: HAVE YOU BEEN WELL ACQUAINTED WITH JONAS S. ROTH, THE CLAIMANT, IN THIS CASE EVER SINCE HE MADE HIS HOMESTEAD ENTRY #10.21(q or9?) Answer: I have
• Question #3: WAS CLAIMANT QUALIFIED TO MAKE SAID ENTRY? (STATE WHETHER THE SETTLER WAS A CITIZEN OF THE U.S., OVER THE AGE OF 21 YEARS, OR THE HEAD OF A FAMILY AND WHETHER HE EVER MADE A FORMER HOMESTEAD ENTRY.) Answer: He was - native born citizen - above the age of 21 years and the head of a family.
• Question #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.) Answer: About 2nd week in June 1880. Commenced active residence during the same month and year. Sod house 12' X 26'; 2 doors; 4 windows; Stable 12' X 28'; Granary 10' X 14'; corral and cattle shed; Well; about 40 acres and some timber; Improvements worth about $450.oo.