Wishful Wednesday -continuing with #9 Mounsey Little - Naturalization

continuing ........ 

             "LITTLE'S" are my Mothers Fathers line
PARENTS
Isaac (1806-1863) & Jane (Mounsey) (1812-1867) LITTLE   [2nd Great Grandparents ]

Siblings of Hudson's.........
doneMary LITTLE (1831- ?) -          [Great Grand Aunt]
doneJohn LITTLE (1832-1861)         [Great Grand Uncle]
doneAnne LITTLE (1835-?)              [Great Grand Aunt]
doneWilliam LITTLE (1837-1843)     [Great Grand Uncle]
doneIsaac LITTLE (1840-?)               [Great Grand Uncle]
doneHUDSON LITTLE 1843-1934) [Great Grand Uncle]
doneJane Eliza LITTLE 1846-1867)   [Great Grand Aunt]
doneJames LITTLE 1849-1855)        [Great Grand Uncle]
Mounsey LITTLE (1851-1940) ...........[My Great Grandfather]

Joseph LITTLE (1852-1932)     [Great Grand Uncle]

.........and of course of all things I was able to locate Mounsey LITTLE'S naturalization papers. At 57 years of age he applies and receives his Certificate of Naturalization. Why? Why at this time was it necessary to become an American citizen. He has been in this country and in one place since age 21. Now 36 years later he feels he needs to be an American citizen. It is 1908. 

What was going on in 1908? What prompted him at this point in his life  to apply & receive his Naturalization Papers. I did a quick look at 1908 as a whole  and I didn't see anything going on that would prompt someone to apply for their citizenship papers. World War I was coming in a couple of years but I am not sure that there is an urgency immediately for that. 

The Naturalization Paper I have is a copy of the notarized copy my cousin had in her collection of papers.

As you can see (maybe not read) below it tells me about the man Mounsey and his family.. Mounsey  is 57 years old, 5'9" tall, skin color is white, complexion is fair, color of eyes are blue, color of hair gray and visible distinguishing marks include a scar on left thumb.

State of New York, City of Ithaca #11170, petition volume 1, page 21, sub volume 1117, page 10

It also gives the name, age, place of residence of

.....wife, Mary Little, 47, Dryden, NY

....      Isaac M Little, 30, Cortland, NY

.....    Joseph Hudson Little, 28, Dryden, NY

.....    Jennie E Little, 25, Dryden, NY

.....    Burton H Little, 16, Dryden, NY  [my grandfather] 

WOW, an original signature ([ok a copy of the signature] Mounsey Little

dated ......  30 November 1908 signed by the County Clerk

............and yes that is a snapshot of Mounsey Little in approximately 1910-1920. Sorry it is so hard to see clearly.