{"id":1294,"date":"2015-10-22T15:33:07","date_gmt":"2015-10-22T15:33:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rootdig.genealogytipoftheday.com\/?p=1294"},"modified":"2015-10-22T17:20:35","modified_gmt":"2015-10-22T17:20:35","slug":"6-signatures-for-christian-trautfetter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rootdig.genealogytipoftheday.com\/?p=1294","title":{"rendered":"6 Signatures for Christian Trautfetter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Handwriting and name spelling presents all sorts of problems for the genealogist. The “signature” of Christian Troutfetter appears six times in his completed homestead application file. At least the documents claim his signature appears six times. \"christian-signature6\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The signatures look similar, except for the one on 8 June 1891. There’s little doubt that Christian didn’t actually write his name above the line where it says “signature of claimant.” The handwriting is similar to the handwriting used to write the date and it’s very different from Troutfetter’s somewhat more labored and slightly more German-looking signature.<\/p>\n

\"christian-signature5\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Christian never spelled out his entire first name. It is difficult to tell if he meant to write Troutfetter or Trautfetter. Because of that, and due to the fact Christian used Troutfetter in other records while living in Kansas, he has been styled as Christian Troutfetter.<\/p>\n

\"christian-signature4\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The signatures only range over a period of seven years and do not appear to have changed much over that time.<\/p>\n

\"christian-signature3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The image from the 1891 “Final Affidavit Required of Homestead Claimants” has been slightly altered (Christian’s signature has been “moved” to the document title, the remaining portion of the document cut away and the date added). All other images were simply cut from the original document with no additional manipulation carried out.<\/p>\n

\"christian-signature2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Reminders from this set of signatures:<\/p>\n