1850 Census--Siamese Twins Chang and Eng Bunker

Talk about a combined household.

The 1850 Census enumerator for Surry County, North Carolina put Chang and Eng Bunker's family in the same household and then simply listed the children in order of age (partially shown in the image on this post). It even looks like the enumerator started to put an "&" after Chang's name as if he were going to put them on the same line. Our site contains the complete image of the Bunker's enumeration.

We've blogged about the 1860 enumeration which lists the twins households separately. Oh the things they don't mention on the list of enumerator instructions.

Those with an Ancestry.com subscription can search the 1850 Census--everyname index.

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--Walter Cronkhite

The 1920 Census found future newsman living with his parents in a boarding house in Kansas City, Missouri. The complete enumeration indicates Cronkhite was born in Missouri and his father's occupation. Of course, those who want to search for less well-known relatives in the 1920 census can do so at Ancestry.com.

Draft Card--Robert Frost

The World War I Draft Card for poet Robert Frost has one of the most legible signatures I have seen. He lived in New Hampshire, but was a professor at Amherst College in Massachusetts. If memory serves Frost was actually born in California but moved to New England at a young age.

Search World War I Draft Cards at Ancestry.com--maybe your ancestor had a legible signature as well.

1930 Census--Actor Charles Bronson

Enumerated as Charles Bunchinski in Ehrenfeld, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, with his parents listed as Walter and Mary Bunchinski--this was a BIG family. I never realized he was one of twelve children. You can view the family's complete entry to see Mr. Bunchinski's occupation. His rent was $7 a month.

Search the 1930 for your ancestor and see how much he was paying a month for rent.

1930 Census--Mike Wallace

Future journalist Mike Wallace is living with his parents in Brookline, Massachusetts. He's enumerated under Myron Wallace, which is his real name, with his parents Frank and Zina Wallace, living at 179 Rawson Road.

Search the 1930 census for your relatives.

World War I Draft Card--E B White

The World War I Draft Card for E B White contains his complete name of actual name of Elwyn Brooke White. His name is difficult to read, but if you know what it is supposed to be, it certainly makes it easier---just like with a lot of our on relatives' records.

This card comes from the World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 database where you can search for your family member to see how he signed his name on his draft card.

Are You Paying Too Much for Vital Records?

Shop around before you buy a copy of that vital record. Experienced genealogists usually know where and how to get the best price on a vital record, but those who are just starting their ancestral search may pay significantly more than they have to.

Generally speaking, copies of birth, death, and marriage records are best ordered from the local (county or city) office that records and maintains them. Additional copies of these records may be at a state department of vital records, but typically their prices are slightly higher than local offices. Of course, there are always exceptions.

In some cases, the records may have been microfilmed and may be available at either a state archives or via the Family History Library. In some states the records have actually been placed online at no cost. This is true for at least Missouri, Arizona, and Utah for some records in some years.

It is never cheapest to order from one of the "online providers" of vital records and genealogists rarely need "immediate service" which significantly adds to the cost.

Before you purchase a vital record for the first time, search the UsGenweb page for the county where the event took place. These pages may have information on obtaining vital records for the county in question. If that does not work, consider posting a message to the appropriate message board at rootsweb http://lists.rootsweb.com or http://boards.ancestry.com. Someone may be able to tell you where to obtain records for the place in question.

Don't just type in "kansas vital records" into google and click and buy at the first site that comes up. Save that money for other copies ;-)

1870 Census--President William McKinley

The 1870 census found future president William McKinley living with his parents and working as a lawyer and living in Canton, Stark County, Ohio.

You can search for your relative in the 1870 census, but they probably aren't a future president....

Census Enumeration Forms and questions

Thought these links might be helpful to those doing their census work:
1850 Census Questions
1860 Enumeration Form
1860 Census Questions
1870 Enumeration Form
1870 Census Questions
1880 Enumeration Form
1880 Census Questions
1900 Enumeration Form
1900 Census Questions
1910 Enumeration Form
1910 Census Questions
1920 Enumeration Form
1920 Census Questions
1930 Enumeration Form
1930 Census Questions

1900 Census--Helen Keller

Helen Keller is enumerated in Alabama with her mother and siblings as shown in the image here .

The mother is listed as a landlady and the children are listed as students, including 19 year old Helen.

Search the 1900 census for your relative, who if they were like mine and nineteen years old in 1900 were likely employed--most as farmers or farm laborers.

Where did they get THAT?

Confusion is often in the mind of the beholder. The every name 1900 census index at Ancestry.com has caused me to revisit some relatives in this census. When I viewed one entry, I remembered how confused I was when I first saw it. Like many genealogical records, the enumeration contained an error. And like many errors, the incorrect statement was a clue. In this case it was a clue that I failed to notice.

The article Where Did they Get That? continues on our site...

1930 census--H & R Block

Henry and Richard Bloch were born and raised in Kansas City, the second and third sons of a prominent Kansas City lawyer, Leon Bloch. The 1930 census enumeration for their family indicates they were not living in the low rent district. They were the founders of the tax preparation giant H and R Block.

It might be a little taxing, but you can search the 1930 for your relative at Ancestry.com

1900 Census--Al Capone

Al Capone was located living in New York with his parents and siblings, but because of statistical markings from the Bureau of the Census, it was a little difficult to find him at first.

Search the 1900 census for your relative-hopefully he's not on his way to a life of crime and the Bureau of the Census wrote marks on someone else's name.

1930 Census--Sam Walton of Walmart

The 1930 census found the future founder of WalMart living with his family and enumerated with the nickname of Sammie. You can search the 1930 for your relative at Ancestry.com--just remember they might just be listed under their nickname...

Clipping Clues

"The bride, a pretty blonde, looked beautiful in her wedding costume of blue crepe with silver accessories." The 1936 description of my grandmother gives me an image I did not already have.

The Mendon [Illinois] Dispatch of 2 January 1936 contains a brief mention of my grandparents' 17 December 1935 wedding. Other than Grandma's attire, the clipping did not contain any new clues or leads. This week we will see how the information fits with other known facts...(continue reading the article posted on our site)

Just about any newspaper clipping can contain hidden clues---you just have to look. Of course this short notice has four spelling errors in it (Trautvetter twice, Keithsburg, and the wrong their). But one must remember, the editor did not have spellcheck in 1936.

If I won the Irish Contest

I won't win, because I never do. However, if I did win the Irish trip, I'd go to Newtown Limavady and the surrounding area in County Derry, Ireland. That's where my Neill ancestors immigrated in the 1860s, initially settling in Canada. Family always indicated the Neills were famine immigrants, but they weren't. They hung in there almost twenty years before immigrating. And they kept little of their Irish culture--none of that heritage has been passed down. In fact, I had a difficult time locating their origin in Ireland. Of course, my Neill ancestor married an Anne Murphy in Canada. She was born in the early 1840s and was an Irish immigrant. Of course, there are so few Anne Murphys that I am having a difficult time finding one who could be her (grin...)

Meet My Ancestors?

I won't say where...but I recently saw an ad that offered me the chance to "Meet my ancestors." I only have three ancestors in this world that I can meet. I met four others, but only remember two. If you're among the living and are meeting your deceased ancestors in your spare time, I'd be very selective with whom I shared that information. Interviewing the dead may be tempting, but it is a very slipperly sloap from a documentation standpoint. I have read Elizabeth Mills' Evidence! cover to cover and I never saw her give instructions on how to cite conversations with the dead ;-). She occasionally asks members of the APG list for unique documents so she can create citation templates, but I have yet to see her ask for a transcription of a conversation with the dead...

Ancestry's Irish Trip Contest

Ancestry is giving away a trip to Ireland in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Entries are accepted until St. Patrick's Day, but the prize is not announced until April. Leprechauns are apparently allowed to enter--at least I didn't see them on the usual list of disallowed participants.




Maybe you'll have the luck of the Irish and will win the prize. I wish they'd give away some Irish ancestors....I have a few I can't find.

1930 Census--Donna Reed

In 1930 she was Donnabele--not just Donna. The 1930 census enumerator found TV mom Donna Reed living in Iowa with her parents as Donnabele Mullinger.

You can search the 1930 for your relative at Ancestry.com--just remember they might not have the first name you think.

1930 Census-Cloris Leachman

The 1930 census enumeration for actress Cloris Leachman reminds us of several things to remember in genealogical research. Cloris was named for her mother. Apparently her uncle and aunt were living next door. One should always pay attention to the neighbors when doing genealogical research. And who knew she was from Des Moines?

You can search the 1930 for your relative at Ancestry.com

1930 Charlton Heston

The websites say his name is actually James Charles Carter, but we found him in the 1930 census with his parents enumerated as Charlton J. Carter. Of course websites are not always correct---and the census is not always correct either. You can search the 1930 for your relative---just remember his name might not be exactly what you think it is.

1870 Census--Levi Strauss

He's not on page 501...nor is that his house number either.

The Levi Strauss of "Levi" jeans fame is living in San Francisco, California, in 1870.

You can search the 1870 census and see where your ancestor was living, but it won't tell you if he was wearing Levis or not.

1870 Census--George Custer

http://www.rootdig.com/1870census/1870_george_custer.html

George Custer is enumerated in Michigan with his parents in 1870.

His occupation is listed as Captain U S A. Of course, this is before his infamous "last stand." You can search the 1870 census and see where your ancestor was standing...err residing in that year.

1880 Census-Frank Lloyd Wright

The 1880 Census taker found Frank Lloyd twice--this enumeration is with his uncle in Iowa County, Wisconsin.

You never know...you may find your own relative twice in the 1880 census.