James Lynch Biography Part 3

In this 3rd part of his biography, James becomes a naturalized citizen.

James Lynch Naturalization Certificate

     After his discharge, he returned to Illinois and worked for a Mr. Countryman at Linnville, Illinois.  He liked Mr. Countryman very much and had letters from him after coming to Kansas.  At Ogle County of Illinois in the town of Oregon, he applied for naturalization papers and became a citizen of the United states on November 9, 1886.  Two witnesses wee present--John Rutlidge and E. F. Dutchen.  The residing judge was M. N Heaton. 
     James stayed in Illinois until November 1867, when he went to Kansas after getting letters from former neighbors.  One neighbor was Mr. Phelps, who had bought the farm later known as the Shepherd farm, and after that the Kaniper Place.  The other neighbor was Mr. Cunnngham, who owned the farm right across the road from where James later built his house.  In later years, James bought that farm, and it was my brother Carl's home.  Cunningham moved to Emporia and was County Treasurer.
These neighbors had written to him that he could buy cheap land in Kansas.  He took the train to Topeka and the stage to Burlingame and visited these friends.  He bid on and bought 134 acres at four dollars per acre.  He then went to live with his younger brother Thomas (who lived between Lawrence and Lecompton) and worked there that winter to get money to farm with.  his brother died there of pneumonia, I think, and was buried there.  Mae and Floyd Hazel's brother and wife) took Mother there once to find and decorate his grave, I remember.
     The next year, he used a breaking plow hitched to a pony and an oxen and worked for Mr. Condell to pay for the use of them.  He made posts and used smooth wire to fence his land.  He later bought two oxen.  The grass was shoulder high.  His land was next to Elm Creek, with running water and shade.