The Census – More Than Just a Name

Today is the first of a multi-part post in which I wanted to share some useful tips for using census records. My examples are from the U.S. Federal Census, but can also apply to state census records and census records in the British Isles, or perhaps even beyond.

The U.S. Census remains confidential for 72 years, after which it is released to the public. Census records start in 1790, the first decade of our country’s independence, and are available through 1940. Some county and state level records losses have happened, and of course the tragic loss of the 1890 census for almost the entire country. There are also ethnic variations that may limit the usefulness of these records: American Indians may not find ancestors until more recent records, or in special Indian census records, and African American ancestors who were enslaved will not appear until the first post-Civil War census of 1870.

But let’s say you’ve found your ancestor in a census record. What more does this give you than a name? Loads, as it turns out! I’ll start with a 1930 census example from my own tree.

My grandfather was not living with his father in 1930. I knew that already – my grandfather’s mother had died when he was only about 18 months old and he lived with her sister while his father returned to his home, as back then it was very difficult to successfully live as a single father. Although I already knew a lot about my great grandfather, including his siblings’ and parents’ names, from my grandfather, I still looked him up in 1930.

I saw him living with his brother August at their parents’ farm on King Road. Also living with them were his brother Walter and Walter’s new wife Lillian, who was born in Germany, and their youngest brother Frederick. Their two sisters and other brother appeared to be out of the household as well as the parents (presumably deceased). August was not married and was working the farm, but his brothers were out working elsewhere. The census shows my great grandfather was an automobile salesman, something I had never heard. And while the family’s mother was born in Germany as expected, I was surprised to discover their father was born in Michigan.

To summarize, this document gave me the following information:

• Town and road on which my great grandfather lived
• Several of his siblings’ names
• The names of his neighbors
• His oldest brother owned the farm and worked it
• They owned a radio
• He was male, white, 34 years old, widowed, and first married at age 26
• He did not attend school that year, but could read and write
• He was born in Michigan, his father was born in Michigan, and his mother was born in Germany
• He was able to speak English
• He worked as an automobile salesman for a wage
• He was not a verteran

While some information is just of general interest, like the fact that they owned a radio or his job, much will help me track him the next census back in 1920. I’ll be able to narrow in on the King Road address and should find him living with a father from Michigan and mother from Germany, along with siblings named August, Walter, and Frederick. He would also be about age 24. It also gives me an approximate year of 1922 for his marriage. And, if I have trouble finding his family (Siems often is written or transcribed incorrectly), I can search for the names of his neighbors to get in the ballpark area where he may be enumerated.

Next post we will visit the 1920 census to see what more we learn of my great grandfather and helpful information available from that year.