Courthouse Steps Quilt Block

This Courthouse Steps quilt block is the eighth block of my Irish Great-Grandpa Sampler Quilt.  I found the pattern for this 12" block here.  Each of the logs is 1" finished, with a 2" center square.  It's one of the variations of the Log Cabin block. 

While my maternal grandmother was still in high school, she interviewed her father, James Lynch, at the urging of her older brother Will, who was living in China at the time.  (Read his letter to her here.)  Later, she wrote a biography of her father from the notes she'd taken during the interview.  Following is the eighth part of this biography:

"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, 1866.  Two witnesses were present - John Rutledge and E. F. Dutchen.  The presiding judge was M. N. Heaton."

 - by Hazel Lynch Skonberg, James Lynch's daughter

   "Be it Remembered, That on the ninth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-Six, personally appeared before the Honorable M. N. Heaton, Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court of the County of Ogle and State aforesaid . . . James Lynch an alien born, free, white, male person, above the age of twenty-one years, and applied to the said Court to be admitted to become a naturalized citizen of the United States of America . . .
     "And the said James Lynch having thereupon produced to the Court competent and satisfactory testimony showing that he had heretofore enlisted in the Army of the United States and that he has been honorably discharged therefrom and he having first filed his petition and declaration of his intention to become a citizen of the United States, according to the provisions of the said several Acts of Congress, and the Court being satisfied, as well from the oath of the said James Lynch as from the testimony of E. F. Dutchen and John Rutledge who are known to be citizens of the United States, that the said applicant has resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States for at least one year, and one year last past within the State of Illinois; that during the whole of that time he has sustained a good moral character, and appeared to be attached to the principles contained in the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to good order, well being and happiness of the same.
     "It is thereupon Considered, Ordered, and Adjudged by the Court, That the said James Lynch be admitted to all and singular, the rights, privileges and immunities of a naturalized citizen of the United States, and that the same be certified by the Clerk of this Court, under the Seal of said Court accordingly."

 Are you interested in reading more about my Irish Great-Grandpa Sampler Quilt?  You'll find it all right here.

You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here.