Joseph Loewenstein first applied for citizenship on Sept 24, 1868 at the Allegheny County courthouse in Pittsburgh, PA, shortly after his 21st birthday.

This certified copy of his Declaration of Intent was sent to the Milam County courthouse when he petitioned for citizenship in 1893. It reads:

"... Allegheny County ... Pennsylvania, do by these presents certify that on Thursday the 24 of Sept in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty eight Joseph Loewenstein a native of Germany and heretofore a subject of the King of Prussia came before me, and having been duly sworn according to law, made his declaration, stating that it was bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and renouncing and abjuring all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatever, and particularly renouncing and abjuring all allegiance and fidelity to the King of Prussia whereof he was a former subject. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Pittsburgh, this 24 day of Sept Anno Domini 1868 and of the Independence of the United States, the _"

"John G Brown - Clerk."

John G Brown's credentials are verified by this document sent by the Allegheny County court in October of 1893, one month before citizenship was granted in Milam County.

This important piece of documentation places Joseph Loewenstein in Pennsylvania in 1868. One might have hoped that the certificate would verify when and where he entered the country, but unfortunately the record is incomplete, being cut off at the top. Perhaps an original copy can be found at the Allegheny County courthouse.

The final petition for citizenship was granted on Nov 7 1893. Vouchsafing for him were N. H. Tracy and J. H. Holtzclaw. Tracy was a lawyer and at some point he was Mayor of Rockdale, as well as a State Representative.

It's worth noting that the grant of citizenship (the document on the right) was never actually signed by the clerk.