Census Sunday: Counties of Birth

The 1860 census record for the family of my aunt's 2nd-great-grandparents provides particularly detailed places of birth for the residents of the Township of New Barbadoes, Bergen County, New Jersey.

1860 United States census, Township of New Barbadoes, Bergen County, New Jersey, population schedule, page 465, image 167. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

My aunt's 2nd great-grandparents Josiah Gardner Bogert and Margaret (Kough) Bogert, her great-grandfather Cornelius Bogert, and the other children were all born in Bergen County, New Jersey.

1860 United States census, Township of New Barbadoes, Bergen County, New Jersey, population schedule, page 465, image 167, family 652. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.

Birthplaces of other residents listed on the same page include Passaic County, New Jersey; Ulster County, New York; Duchess [Dutchess] County, New York; New York City, New York; and Clair [Clare?], Ireland.

Census Sunday: One Year Before Emigration

In 1865, my 3rd-great-grandparents Jorgen Pedersen Boe and Ingeborg Torsdatter Vatner lived on the Nistaas farm in Bø, Telemark, Norway. They had previously lived on the Bø farm, but Jorgen sold it to his brother Gregar. Jorgen's occupation was Husmand med Jord (tenant farmer with farm).

Telemark fylke, Bø prestegjeld, Statlig folketelling [Telemark County, Bø parish, Government census] 178 (RA/S-2231/E), 1865-1865, oppb: Riksarkivet. https://media.digitalarkivet.no/en/ft20090728610426

Side 1 of the household's census enumeration, up close:

Side 2 of the household's census enumeration, up close:

The following year, the family left Norway and went to the United States.

Census Sunday: Living with Cousin's Family in Haugesund, Rogaland, Norway

After her father died in 1865, my 2nd-great-grandmother Marthe Elisabeth Eriksdatter (Erickson after immigrating to the United States) and her siblings went to live in different households. Their mother had died in 1856. When the 1865 Norway Census was enumerated, Marthe was living with her first cousin Svend Knudsen Torvestad, his wife Emma Tomine Knudsen (née Jacobsen), and their son Knud Johannes Knudsen in Haugesund, Rogaland, Norway. Marthe's occupation was Tjenestepige (servant girl). Sven's occupation was Søfarende (sailor). 

Rogaland fylke, Torvastad prestegjeld, Haugesund ladested, Statlig folketelling [Rogaland County, Torvastad parish, Haugesund seaport, Government census ] 275 (RA/S-2231/E), 1865-1865, oppb: Riksarkivet. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-ft20090803640064.jpg

Census Sunday: Kari and Her Younger Husband

My 4th-great-grandmother Kari Halvorsdatter Sønstebø's second husband was a much younger man. Ougund (or Ougun) Halvorsen was sixteen years her junior.

In 1865, eighteen years after their marriage, the couple lived on the Eiken østre farm in Bø, Telemark, Norway. Ougund was a farmer, and he owned his farm. Kari's grandson Peder Jorgensen lived with them; his occupation was Tjenestekarl (male servant). Two female servants, Mari Markusdatter and Aslaug Hansdatter, also lived with them.

Telemark fylke, Bø prestegjeld, Statlig folketelling [Telemark County, Bø parish, Government census] 178 (RA/S-2231/E), 1865-1865, oppb: Riksarkivet. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-ft20090728610455.jpg

Side 1 of the household's census enumeration, up close:

Side 2 of the household's census enumeration, up close:

Census Sunday: Servant on Uncle's Farm in Bø, Telemark, Norway

In 1865, my 2nd-great-grandfather Jorgen Jorgensen Boe was living with the family of his father's brother Gregar Pedersen Bø on the Bø farm in Bø, Telemark, Norway. His occupation was Tjenestedreng (servant). His uncle Gregar was a farmer and owned the Bø farm.

Telemark fylke, Bø prestegjeld, Statlig folketelling [Telemark County, Bø parish, Government census] 178 (RA/S-2231/E), 1865-1865, oppb: Riksarkivet. http://www.arkivverket.no/URN:NBN:no-a1450-ft20090728610423.jpg

Side 1 of the household's census enumeration, up close:

Side 2 of the household's census enumeration, up close:

Black Sheep Sunday and Census Sunday: Boe Brothers in Jail

In 1930, my 2nd-great-grandfather's brother Gregar or (Gregger) Boe and his family were enumerated in Williston. Williams County, North Dakota. The households of his two married sons were enumerated below his household.

1930 United States Census, Williston, Williams County, North Dakota, population schedule, enumeration district 53-64, sheet no. 9B. Available from Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

Close up view of names in the above image:

His sons George and Ingmar were enumerated twice in the 1930 United States Census. The second enumeration was in the Williams County Jail!

1930 United States Census, Williston, Williams County, North Dakota, population schedule, enumeration district 53-63, sheet no. 12A. Available from Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

Close up view of names in the above image:

Ingmar Boe's wife, Louise Ann Decouteau, was a member of the Ojibwe Native American tribe. The 1937 Indian Census of the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation shows that Ingmar was in the penitentiary.

Census of the Turtle Mountain reservation of the Turtle Mountain jurisdiction, North Dakota. 1 January 1937. Page 71. Ancestry.com. U.S., Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M595, 692 rolls); Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Record Group 75; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Although the Indian census roll indicated that Ingmar would be in the penitentiary until 1940, he had been released by 5 November 1938, when he married Pearl (Peterson) Gardner in Sidney, Richland County, Montana.

Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F37L-PSC), Ingmar Boe and Pearl Gardner, 5 Nov 1938; citing Marriage, Sidney, Richland, Montana, county courthouses, Montana; FHL microfilm 1,905,316.

I have not yet learned why George and Ingmar were incarcerated.

Census Sunday: Mr. and Mrs. Sexy

I came across this census record, and the names of one couple caught my attention: J.N. Sexy and Mrs. Sexy. I thought that was an unusual surname!

1925 Census of Iowa. Ellsworth, Hamilton County, Iowa. Available from Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Census Sunday: Errors in 1870 United States Census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee

The 1870 United States census records for the 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, contain errors. My 3rd-great-grandparents Joseph and Amanda (Russell) Tarkington (spelled Tarington in the census record) appear to be in a household headed by Mary Ann Clardy. The next household appears to be headed by my 4th-great-grandmother Sobrina Russell (Amanda's mother). She lived with Amanda and Joseph in 1860.

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 8. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. 

Close up:

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 8. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 9. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Close up:

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 9. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

By looking closely at the other families on the census pages, it becomes apparent that the enumerator recorded the dwelling and family numbers on the wrong line; they should have been written on the line below. In many households, some children appear to be in different households than their parents. Several households appear to be headed by babies less than a year old.

The below image shows households that appear to be headed by Nancy Fleming, age 4/12; James M. Gardner, age 9/12; William Hulme, age 3; and Ransom J. Dudley, age 1.

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 2. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

The error begins on the first page of the census for the 7th Civil District, but there is another problem as well: dwelling 1, family 1 begins on line 12 of the census page.

1870 United States census, 7th Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 1. Available from Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Census Sunday: Can No Longer Read and Write

United States federal census records between 1850 and 1880 consistently show that Miriam (Hill) Russell, the wife of my 4th-great-grandmother's brother James Russell, was able to read and write.

The 1850 United States census shows that James' mother Hannah (my 5th-great-grandmother) and sister Sobrina (my 4th-great-grandmother) cannot read and write. There is no mark in the Persons over 20 years of age who cannot read and write column for James or Miriam.

1850 United States census, Davidson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 279B, image 564. Available from Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

In 1860,  There is no mark in the Persons over 20 years of age who cannot read and write column for any members of the Russell family.

1860 United States census, 14th District, Davidson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 243, image 285. Available from Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

In 1870, there is no mark in the Cannot Read or Cannot Write column for Miriam Russell or her daughter.

1870 United States census, 1st Civil District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 10B, image 27. Available from  Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

In 1880, there is no mark in the Cannot Read or Cannot Write column for Miriam Russell or any member of her family.

1880 United States census, 1st District, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 4C. Available from Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

However, in 1900, "no" is written in the Can read and Can write columns for Miriam Russell.

1900 United States census, District no. 1, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 8B. Available from Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

1900 United States census, District no. 1, Williamson County, Tennessee, population schedule, page 8B. Available from Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. 

It is possible that this is a mistake. But perhaps Miriam could no longer read and write. Maybe her eyesight was failing and she could no longer see well enough to read. Maybe she was no longer physically able to write. Maybe this census record is a clue to the physical ailments that she may have experienced in her old age. She was in her 80s at the time of the census enumeration.

Census Sunday: My Cousin's Husband Was the Census Enumerator

Leonard Smith, the husband of my first cousin twice removed Louise Margaret Gray, worked as a census enumerator. Below is the page from the 1930 United States census that his family appeared on. They were living in Danube Township, Herkimer County, New York.

1930 United States census, Danube Township, Herkimer County, New York, population schedule, enumeration district 22-2,  sheet no. 6B. Available from Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. 

 This closeup of the upper right hand corner shows that Leonard Smith was the census enumerator.

This closeup of the Smith family shows that Leonard's occupation was Enumerator, US Census.

The 1940 United States census that Leonard Smith's household appeared on is shown below. Leonard's father Darius Smith passed away in 1933, but Leonard and his mother and sister were living in Danube, Herkimer County, New York. The census page shows that they lived in the unincorporated place Indian Castle.

1940 United States census, Indian Castle, Danube, Herkimer County, New York, population schedule, enumeration district 22-3, sheet no. 5A. Available from Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. 

This closeup of the upper right hand corner once again shows that Leonard Smith was the census enumerator.

This closeup of Leonard Smith's household shows that that Leonard's occupation was census enumerator, US Census. Naturally, he was the one that provided the information to the census enumerator (himself!)

Census Sunday: D. Binkley, 1860 U.S. Census, Agricultural Schedule

D. Binkley. 1860 United States Census, Township 9 Range 2, Williamson County, Illinois, agricultural schedule, pages 49-50. Ancestry.com. Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

My 3rd-great-grandfather Davidson Binkley was enumerated in the 1860 United States Census, agricultural schedule, as D. Binkley. His farm was in Township 9, Range 2, Williamson County, Illinois (post office: Marion).

He had 20 acres of improved land. The cash value of his farm was $200, and the cash value of farming implements and machinery was $100.  On June 1, 1860 he had 2 horses, 1 milch cow, 4 other cattle, and 7 swine. The value of his live stock was $350.

During the year ending June 1, 1860, he had the following produce: 120 bushels of Indian corn, 5 bushels of peas and beans, 18 bushels of Irish potatoes, 20 bushels of sweet potatoes,100 pounds of butter, and 20 gallons of molasses, made from sorghum.

The value of his homemade manufactures was $5, and the value of his animals slaughtered was $40.

Census Sunday: Were They Really Widowed?

My great-grandmother's sister Augusta "Gussie" Gersbacher married Emil Glaser in 1903. By 1910, they were no longer together. In the 1910 United States census, Gussie was enumerated as head of household in St. Louis, Missouri. She ran a rooming house and lived with her younger sister Annie. She was listed as married.

1910 United States census, St. Louis City, Missouri, Ward 7, population schedule, enumeration district 111, sheet no. 5A.

Her estranged husband Emil Glaser was also enumerated in St. Louis. He was living with his mother Lena. His marital status is given as widowed.

1910 United States census, St. Louis City, Missouri, Ward 15, population schedule, enumeration district 243, sheet no. 9A.

 

Divorced/separated people often claimed to be widowed. I have seen many women listed as widows when their husbands were still alive, but Emil Glaser was the first man that I found listed as a widower when his wife was still living. Gussie was Catholic; maybe Emil was too. Divorce would be an even greater stigma for a Catholic family. Emil or another member of his household may not have wanted to admit that his marriage had failed. Perhaps his mother provided the information to the census taker and did not want to say that her son was married but not living with his wife.

Census Sunday: She Hasn't Aged a Day in Twenty Years!

In 1940, my great-grandmother's sister Augusta "Gussie" (Gersbacher) Parker was enumerated as a lodger in the household of John and Mary Buckley in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California.

1940 United States census, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, population schedule, Assembly District 47, enumeration district 19-472, sheet 2B.

According to this census record, Augusta Parker was 40 years old. Her date of birth was 29 January 1881, so she was actually 59 years old - nearly twenty years younger than the record stated! Her place of birth is incorrect as well; she was born in Germany, not Missouri, although she came to Missouri when she was two years old.

Census Sunday: Keeping House for Her Uncle

In 1880, the household of my 3rd-great-grandmother's brother Samuel Samuelson included a servant who was keeping house. Her name was given as Mary Bord.

1880 United States census, Westchester Township, Porter County, Indiana, population schedule, enumeration district 136, page 27. NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 304, image 806. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

"Mary Bord" was actually my great-great-grandmother Mary Borg. Although the census record does not indicate that she is related to anyone in the household, she was Samuel's niece. Her mother was Samuel's sister Johanna Carolina (Samuelson) Borg. Samuel's wife Maria had died three months before the census was taken. Samuel had five children between the ages of one and eight years to take care of. Although his 70-year-old mother-in law lived with the family, taking care of five young children and keeping house probably would have been too much for her to do alone. Mary probably moved in after Samuel's wife died, so that she could help her uncle.

Census Sunday: Not Just a Servant

In 1880, my great-great-grandparents Andrew and Martha (Erickson) Anderson and their children were living in Chicago, Illinois. Also in the household was a 15-year-old servant, Christine Nelson.

1880 United States census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, enumeration district 177, page 12. NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 198, image 360.
 
Christine was not just a servant. She was Andrew's niece. Andrew's sister Elna married Nils Jonsson, and their first child, Christina, was born in Grevie, Skåne, Sweden on 5 November 1864. Her surname would have been a patronymic derived from her father's given name, Nils. In the United States, other members of her family used the surname Nilsson instead of Nelson. Christina came to the United States before her mother did, and she would have been 15 years old at the time of the 1880 census. Her father never came to the United States; he died in Sweden in 1892. Because Christina came to the United States without her parents, it makes sense that she would live with her uncle and his family.

Census Sunday: The Russell Family in 1840 and 1850

In 1840, my 5th-great-grandmother Hannah (Hardgrave) Russell was enumerated as head of household in Civil District No. 14, Davidson County, Tennessee. Her son James Russell was listed as head of household on the same page of the census return.

1840 United States census, Davidson County, Tennessee, roll 520, page 349, image 718. 

 Hannah's household included one free white female age 40-49 (likely Hannah, although the age is incorrect; perhaps the census taker marked the wrong column, or Hannah's age was reported incorrectly), two free white females age 30-39, one free white female age 10-14, one free white female age 5-9, two free white females under age 5, and two free white males age 5-9.

In 1850, many of the same people were listed on the same census return page for Davidson County, Tennessee.

1850 United States census, Davidson County, Tennessee, population schedule, roll M432_875, page 279B, image 564.

Hannah and her daughter Sobrina (my 4th-great-grandmother) are enumerated in the same household, and her son James and his family are listed nearby. Two of the other households enumerated on this page also belong to the same family group. "Elvira Carrington" is Hannah's widowed daughter Malvira (Russell) Carrington, but her name is incorrect (perhaps the census taker misheard the informant), and her age is way off. Malvira and her children were probably living with Hannah in 1840. Hannah's granddaughter Amanda (Russell) Tarkington (Sobrina's daughter, and my 3rd-great-grandmother) was probably also in Hannah's household in 1840. Amanda married Joseph Tarkington in 1849, and she and her husband (my 3rd-great-grandfather) and their baby son James (my great-great-grandfather) lived near Amanda's mother, grandmother, aunt, uncle, and cousins. Four generations of my family are listed on this census page.

Census Sunday: Norwegian Surnames in Census Records

Finding Scandinavian ancestors in United States census records can be a challenge. Spelling variations are not the only potential difficulty. The same individual could be listed under his/her patronymic, his/her father's patronymic, or another surname (in the case of Norwegians, it could be a farm name).  This 1875 Minnesota state census record shows that even members of the same family could be enumerated under different surnames.

Minnesota state census, population schedule, 1875. Swenoda, Swift County, page 791. Ancestry.com. Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

The first circled family consists of my 3rd-great-grandparents Halvor Eriksen and Guro Hansdatter and three of their children. My 3rd-great-grandfather is enumerated as Halvor Erikson, my 3rd-great grandmother is enumerated as Toro Hanson, and their daughters are enumerated as Anne, Johanna, and Kari Halvorson. Every member of the household is listed under the patronymic that would have been used in Norway, although the women are listed under the masculine version. Even daughter Johanna, born in Minnesota, is listed with a patronymic instead of her father's surname.

Two more children of this couple are listed on the same census page. Their son Erik Halvorson is listed with Gustava Johnson. Their surnames are different, but they are husband and wife; they married on 16 August 1874. Their daughter Aaste (enumerated as Aste) and her husband Jorgen Jorgenson (my great-great-grandparents) are listed below with their daughter Kari. All of them are enumerated with the surname Jorgenson.

By 1880, Jorgen and his family were using the surname Boe. Erik most often used the surname Halvorson, but sometimes used the surname Otterholt. As adults, some of his children used the surname Halvorson, and some used Otterholt.