Anna Apgar Verikios Lake Turns 100-Where Was She When She Was 7?

This is the "Application for Social Security and Tax Account Number" for Anna Margaret Lake, my wife's grandmother who would have been 100 years old on 8 March 2013
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There is no birth certificate for Anna in Cook County, Illinois, which is where her parents were living when she was born and where her older and younger siblings births were recorded. I've speculated on why she has no birth certificate (her older siblings have delayed records and her younger brother has a contemporary birth certificate).

The real mystery with Anna is where she is enumerated in the 1920 census. She has been located in 1930 living with her mother Mary Verikios and step-father Peter Verikios) in Chicago at 221 E. 115th Street (Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 431; Page: 38A; Enumeration District: 405; Image: 324.0; FHL microfilm: 2340166.)

Her mother and step-father have been located in Chicago's 1920 census, but Anna is not enumerated with them although her siblings are. The family is living at in 907 E 43rd Street in Chicago (Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 3, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_313; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 159; Image: 267.).

Nothing is known of Anna's father--William Apgar (aka William Frame) after about 1918. He was born in Chicago approximately 1888. It is unknown whether Anna was living with him, but it is doubtful. Family tradition has it that she never actually knew her biological father.

Anna is married and living with her husband Ola Lake by the 1940 census enumeration (as Anna and Ollie Lake living in Marceline, Missouri  (Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Marceline, Linn, Missouri; Roll: T627_2125; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 58-23). Her life is pretty well documented from that point--it's just the 1920 census enumeration where I cannot locate her.

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Partial 1920 Census Index Free at Family Search

FamilySearch's Pilot Site recently released a partial index to the 1920 census. I am always glad when datasets get a new index, especially when it is a census year where I have had difficulty finding someone.

I have been looking for Anna Apgar/Verikios in the 1920 census since shortly after my wife and I got married. Anna is my wife's grandmother and was born in Illinois in 1913--likely in Chicago. I have searched for her to no avail. She was likely born Anna Apgar, the daughter of William and Marie/Mary Desmarais/Demar Apgar. Her parents split ca. 1918 and by 1920 her mother was in a relationship with Peter Verikios. I have searched for Anna as:

• Anna Apgar/Apker, etc.
• Anna Demar/Desmarais
• Anna Verikios

Throughout the entire state of Illinois, trying all variants of these three last names that I could think of. All to no avail. Consequently I was excited when FamilySearch released their 1920 census index that includes Illinois. Maybe I would find her. Again, no such luck.

There is a remote chance that Anna was in New York State in 1920--which is where her mother was born and where her mother had siblings living. I will hold off on any more creative searches until New York State has been included in the index at Family Search. Maybe one day I will find her.

President Harry Truman Lives with in-laws

The 1920 census finds future president Harry S Truman living with his wife's parents the Wallaces in Jackson County, Missouri. His occupation is listed as farm manager.

The 1920 United States Federal Census can be searched for your relative at Ancestry.com, regardless of whom they were living with. Those who don't have a subscription can read our free-trial suggestions here.

1920 Census--Perry Como

I didn't think Perry Como's real name was "Perry Como," but sure enough, it was. He and his family were living in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1920 as shown in the image to the right. The complete image indicates the family immigrated in 1910 and that Como's older siblings were born in Italy.

The 1920 United States Federal Census can be searched for your relative at Ancestry.com. Those who don't have a subscription can read our free-trial suggestions here.

Cleaning Clothes in 1920

The 1920 Census found the Maytags of Maytag washer fame, living in Newton, Iowa. Frederick Maytag isn't living there anymore---and Maytags are made there anymore either, if I recall. At least they didn't move Maytag's remains to Mexico!

You can clean up on your search for your relatives in the 1920 United States Federal Census. Just don't go too crazy during the spin cycle.

1920 Census--Grandma from the Waltons (Ellen Corby)

Did you know that Grandma from the Waltons (Ellen Corby) was born in Wisconsin of Norwegian parents and grew up in Pennslyvania? I sure didn't.

Her maiden name was Ellen Hansen and her 1920 census entry is partially shown here with her mother and step-father in Philadelphia.

The 1920 United States Federal Census can be searched for your relative--no matter where in the US they were born or were living. Of course, sometimes we search but never find them.

1920 Census-Anthony Quinn

His real name was Antonio Quine (at least in the 1920 census). Those of us with ancestors for whom English was not their native language must always be on the lookout for the "original" name of our ancestor or how their name might have sounded to the census taker. The rest of the image can be viewed on our site, along with the year the Quine family came to America. They were living in California in 1920 where Antonio was a little too young to be an actor.

Search the everyname index to the 1920 United States Federal Census for your ancestor--and keep those alternate spellings and names in mind.

Candy is Dandy, but Ogden's Not Legal

Ogden Nash penned "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker," but he probably had not written it at the time of this 1920 census enumeration in New York. The 17 year old is living with his parents on 5th Avenue in Manhattan where his father worked in the export business.

You can search the 1920 United States Federal Census for your relative.

1920 Census--Jazz Great Louis Armstrong

The 1920 census found Louis Armstrong living with his mother in a boarding house in New Orleans. The 19 year old is listed as being employed in the "theatre" as a musician. Armstrong was not too difficult to find, but common names in large cities combined with bad handwriting always makes for a challenging search.

You can search the 1920 United States Federal Census for your relative.

1920 Census-Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart and his family were living on West 103rd Street in Manhattan at the time of the 1920 enumeration. The partial image to the right shows most of the household members. The future actor is listed as a 20 year old railroad clerk. I'm not quite certain what the father's occupation is supposed to be.

Those with relatives in the United Statse can search the 1920 EVERY NAME United States Federal Census at Ancestry.com

Hizzoner Richard Daley in 1920

Future Chicago Mayor Richard Daley (the father of the current may0r) is enumerated in the Chicago census at 7621 Green Street--his grandmother is also living there.

You can search the 1920 United States Federal Census for your ancestor who may or may not be living with grandparents and future mayors.

President Richard Nixon in 1920

Future president Richard M. Nixon was enumerated with his parents and several siblings in the 1920 census for Orange County, California. His parents were not native Californians; his father was born in Ohio and his mother was born in Indiana.

Search the everyname index to the 1920 United States Federal Census at Ancestry for your ancestor--whether he was living in California or not!

1920 Census--Roy Rogers

Roy Rogers wasn't always Roy Rogers and one of Hollywood's most famous cowboys didn't grow up on a western ponderosa either. In 1920 he is enumerated as eight year old Leonard Sly in Scioto County, Ohio, with his family (see the complete enumeration). The Ohio native did not move to California until after the 1930 census enumeration.

Those who want to search for less well-known relatives in the 1920 census can do so at Ancestry.com--just make certain you know their correct name and if that name is common, have an idea of where they would be living and others who would be enumerated in the same household.

1920 Census--Charlie Chaplin

1920 finds Charlie Chaplin living as an actor in California. He is an alien, not because he landed on an UFO, but because he was born in England.

Search the 1920 Census for your own ancestor at Ancestry.com--maybe you'll find out they were aliens!

1920 Census-Ronald Reagan

Future President's Reagan's family is split in the 1920 census--not in the literal sense--just over two census pages. His parents are both listed as working, father in a shoe store and mother in a dry goods store. Search the 1920 United States Federal Census for your own family members.

1920 Census--John Wayne--who wasn't always John Wayne

John Wayne's actual name was Marion Michael Morrison, which is how he was enumerated in this 1920 census for Los Angeles County, California.

You can search the 1920 United States Federal Census for your own ancestor---just make certain you know his name.

1920 Census--President Kennedy

The 1920 census enumeration for future President Kennedy shows him as a small child

with his parents and siblings. His father is listed as a banker and the household had two siblings, including one who was an Irish native. The household staff were both unnaturalized aliens....

Search the 1920 United States Federal Census for your own family at Ancestry.com

1920 Census--Katharine Hepburn

It it Katharine H. the younger who is the well-known actress in this 1920 census enumeration. The Hepburn children all apparently had the same middle name (Houghton) or else the census taker got bored or lazy (grin..). This family's entry is split over two pages, Mr. Hepburn is on last line of the previous page.

Search the 1920 United States Federal Census for your ancestor--hopefully their splits are only due to pagination issues and not marital problems.

1920 Census--Coors means Pots not Beer

As noted in an earlier entry, the Coors family made pots (the ceramic kind) during Prohibition. The image here shows the occupation of several members of the Coors family in the 1920 census listed as being also being involved in the malted milk business. The servants are members of the Coors family household staff. The complete enumeration can be seen here. You can search the 1920 United States Federal Census and see what they were making (or where they were working).

1920 Census--Honus Wagner

We went ahead and located baseball great Honus Wagner in the 1920 census as well. He is living on the same street as 1930, but the house number in 1920 is 605 Beechwood Avenue while in 1930 it is 615 Beechwood Avenue. Nothing major, but just remember that people do occasionally move and house numbers do get changed. And of course, sometimes street renumberings are done solely to confuse genealogists..... ;-)

Of course, you can search the everyname index to the 1920 United States Federal Census for your own relatives.