1. “Researching U. S. Census Records” Cleve Kimmel, WebMaster: YGF

2. Typical U.S. Census Records

3. Some Types of Census Records Federal (1790-1930) State Census County Census School Census Naturalization Lists Merchant Seamen Mortality Slave Schedules Foreign Census List of Citizens Farm Census Freedman’s Bank Indices & Lists –War Pensions –War Service –Passenger Lists –Passport Applications –Pass & Immigrations –NY Passengers –Tax Lists –City Directories –Death Indexes –Soundex

4. Categories of Census Records 1790-1841: Only Head of Household shown & all others by age groups 1850 On: Head of Household and all members in the household are shown 1936: SS Act directed that the 1880 Census be indexed to households with children age 10 and under listed. (To prepare for Social Security costs) Thus Soundex was created.

5. Soundex Census Records All surnames that sounded similar were coded the same Family information was listed on 3x5 cards, microfilmed and indexed to given (first) name of Head of Household. Example: BACCUS is coded B-220, same for Backus, Bachus, Bachuss, Backhorse, etc.

6. Problem Census Records The 1890 Census records for most of the US were destroyed in a 1921 fire (Dept of Commerce Building) Census records become available after a 70-year lapse. 1907: Federal Law mandated that states record birth and deaths. (21 states failed to comply & these are soundexed)

7. Soundexed States Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee Texas, Virginia and West Virginia

8. List of Citizens Often overlooked, but is really a census, and precedes Official Census; for example: In Montana they list persons and occupation by locale during winter of 1862 & 1863 –Fort Benton –Females at Bannack (Beaverhead County) –Persons at Big Hole (Nez Perce at Anaconda) –All other locations in Washington & Montana Territory (Describing Montana Boundaries)

9. Course on Easy Census Search This presentation only covers the Federal U.S. Census Records (in Ten-year increments starting with 1790) Blank Census Forms are available at: –http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/photos/Histforms / –Heritage Quest (via Parmly Billings Library) –Get these before you start researching

10. Step One - Read the Census Rules Answers to census questions (1910 example) reflect the status of the household as of April 15th. For example;(Census taken on 17th) “those who had a birthday on the 16th, would be listed with their age as it was on April 15th, making them appear to be a year younger--.”

11. Step One_a - Re-read the Rules Ages for children on 1910 Census who were less than two years of age (as of the 15th) were to be “given in complete months, expressed as twelfths of a year A child born on the 16th, would not be listed for that census year

12. Step Two - Where to Start What are you trying to research? –Bloodlines? –Immediate Family? –Only parents? –Family siblings? –Family Siblings and spouses? –Family Siblings, all spouses, descendants & ancestors, etc. are recommended. Many persons don’t know who their parents are. Look for who you know. Add others as more clues appear.

13. Step Three - Use Newest Census Use 1930, then work backwards to point of immigration (or natural American resident) on earlier census Reporting date for 1930 was April 1st All children born after April 1st are excluded! (They do not exist in 1930!) Know the Abode (house/farm) location place (may need map)

14. Step Three_a - 1930 Entry Rules Name of each person in this family’s abode Include every person living on April 1, 1930. Relationship to head of household Home owned or rented Value or monthly rental Radio set Whether on a farm

15. Step Three_b - 1930 Entries Sex (Gender) Race (W=White, Neg=Negro, Mex=Mexican, In=Indian, Ch=Chinese, Jp=Japanese; Fil=Filipino, Hin=Hindu, or Kor=Korean) – ”Other race, spell out in full” – “Indian: list whether - full or mixed blood, and list tribal affiliation”

16. Step Three_c - 1930 Entries Age of person Marital status (M - S - D - W) Age at first marriage School attendance Literacy Birthplace of person (and parents birthplace if foreign born)

17. Step Three_d - 1930 Entries Language spoken in home before coming to the U.S. Year of immigration Whether naturalized (Na=Naturalized, Pa=First Papers, Al=Alien) Ability to speak English Occupation, industry, and class of worker

18. Step Three_e - 1930 Entries Whether at work previous day (or last regular working day) - if not, line number on unemployment schedule (these schedules no longer exist) Veteran status (WW=World War (eg. WWI), Sp=Spanish- America War, Civ=Civil War, Phil=Philippine Insurrection, Box=Boxer Rebellion, Mex=Mexican Expedition)

19. Step Three_f - 1930 Entries Number of farm schedule –(these schedules no longer exist)

20. Step Four - Locate 1930 Record

21. Step Four_a - Census Date

22. Step Four_b - Household (Abode)

23. Step Four_c - Household Form

24. Step Five - Who to Look For Known “Person(s)” - Head of Household in each census Persons in family who are listed in “other” households –married and living with another –boarder, relative –servant, etc. Generally this requires patience and TIME

25. Step Six - Keep Records Copy the census record (if you are able) Make a separate listing of each record, re-copied over onto blank Census Forms Find where the “Abode” is actually located –What is the actual boundary of the State, County, Town at time of census. –In 1790 many states stretched from Atlantic Ocean to Spanish/French land holdings.

26. Step Six-a - Find the Abode Use the POLK City Directories to find address (most live in towns); or death record (Alt to using the computer records) Look up the Ward Boundaries in Miscellaneous Section of POLK Examine Enumeration Districts mf rolls (County, District & Ward) - That leads to the Census Record mf Roll.

27. Step Seven - Link Records Starting with 1930 Census, link the family Tree backwards in time Don’t be concerned about name spellings –They will probably vary from record to record and family siblings to their family siblings Don’t get hung-up on ages or other related pieces of data –Census takers spell and report as they see fit. –People can’t always recall details

28. Step Seven_a - Link Records In my KIMMEL family, one generation ago –My eldest uncle took care of his father’s funeral He didn’t know how to spell his name He didn’t know where he was born He didn’t know his mother’s maiden name He didn’t know here she was born My father knew all these things

29. Step Eight - Link the Records This is not for the faint of heart! It is very important that you create a solid link of your family tree –Many families look alike, same head of household, children names are the same, ages nearly the same (is it a census error?) –Examine the census records to identify the neighbors, and proximity to your family. They probably are kin.

30. Step Eight - How I Linked During this research you should be able to identify all who immigrated to America, when and where. (Primary male surname & others in grouping, and probable relatives) Assign an Alpha Code to each immigrant –AA, AB, AC,…for Head of Household –AA-1, AB-1, AC-1, for 1st Spouse (AA-2, etc) AA-A, AA-B … etc for each child by age/Spouse

31. Step Eight - Why I Linked (Cont’d) The KIMMEL family had been extensively researched since the Revolutionary War. There were numerous KIMMEL’s who immigrated here; I had all the census’. Going backward in time left a connection hole (My immediate family was huge) Going forward from the immigrations left a hole (Why was there no connection?)

32. Step Eight - Why You Might Link (Cont’d) If you can’t be 100% positive that you have located your true immigrant ancestor, then this linking process will find him. Place each census record (names, relation & ages) by DATE and LOCATION onto a spreadsheet. (Manual or Computer) Identify each census with the appropriate Alpha Code for the Head of Household.

33. Step Nine - Linked File Example

34. Start with newest census (names are noted) Work backwards and identify-verify names in same family grouping Identify where they entered America When completed you should be able to identify 1790 census persons names. WHY is linking needed?

35. Step 10 - The 1790 Census As of 2 August 1790 for 13 colonies –head of household (by name) –Number of free white males ages 16 and older number of free white males under the age of 16 number of free white females number of all other free persons number of slaves Note the skimpy information

36. Step 10 - What I found There were two Joseph Kimmel families –Same spouse (listed as Mrs.) & same ages –Same location Going to church record at location I found: –At bottom of one page was Joseph (b/d, parents, and witnesses) -very hard to read –Top of next page same record, but parents & witnesses reversed) -names were identical, and extremely hard to read. [Record was ignored]

37. 1800 Census - 14 States head of household(4 August) –number of free white males and free white females categorized by age group –number of all other free persons, except Indians not taxed –number of slaves

38. HQ Census - SearchScreen

39. HQ Census - List of “Hits”

40. HQ Census - Select 1810

42. HQ Census - 1810 Format Ages: 0-9, 10-15, 16-25, 26-44, 45 & over.”Other Free Persons, Slaves ***Age groups vary between schedules.

43. HQ Census - Select 1810 Image Joseph

44. 1810 Census - 16 States/Terr head of household (6 August) –number of free white males and free white females categorized by age group number of all other free persons except Indians not taxed number of slaves

45. 1820 Census - 18 States/Terr head of household (7 August) number of free white males and females categorized by age group number of foreigners not naturalized number of free colored males and females by age group number of male and female slaves by age group number of all other persons, except Indians not taxed

46. 1830 Census - 18 States/Terr head of household (1 June) number of free white males and females categorized by age group number of foreigners not naturalized number of free colored males and females by age group number of male and female slaves by age group number of white blind persons and number of blind slaves and colored persons number of white deaf-mutes and number of deaf-mute slaves and colored persons number of white aliens

47. Where to get Census Records There are a lot of sites, but I recommend the Parmly Billings Library web site: www.billings.lib.mt.us/ –Connect - On-Line Resources - Genealogy –Heritage Quest On Line (Census & History) Simply enter your Library Card ID for access Searching and files are provided at no cost. Use the indexes to speed up research (Can Assist) Go to actual file for the record

48. Other Census Record Sources http://www.censusfinder.com/ - Free Databases/Indexes US & Foreign Census, Maps, Museums, Obituarieshttp://www.censusfinder.com/ http://www.census-online.com/links/ - Free Databases/Indexes US & Foreign Census, Tax Lists, Directorieshttp://www.census-online.com/links/ http://www.censusdiggins.com/ - Free Databases/Indexes Census, Marriage, Civil War, Orphan, Vital Recordshttp://www.censusdiggins.com/ http://www.genealogybuff.com/ - Free Databases/Indexes – Surname Tool to locate records from everywherehttp://www.genealogybuff.com/

49. Microfilm Census Records For those who prefer microfilm, –Use the Parmly Billings Library for Montana –Use the Family History Center for others + MT If not immediately available on site, you can get a roll delivered for a very nominal fee (librarians will assist) Hard copy records of some records & indexes are available in Montana Room, YGF GenRoom, and at the FHC.

50. Census Entries to Look For Persons entered twice in different locations –Due to census record reporting dates, some persons were counted at one place, then moved and were recounted at new location) Families living with other families –Don’t confuse these as being siblings of Head Individuals residing in other residences –Poor farms, old-age homes, farmers, boarders

51. Census Errors Census records of residents are not always reliable Persons wandered about, and didn’t sit at home or on a homestead waiting for the census taker If there was no one at a location, the location was simply bypassed, and not even noted on the log sheet

52. Where to Go Next? After identifying the families and locations –Locate them on a map, trace their journeys –Locate newspaper articles about them (obits, bios, area historys, other events) In Billings, the library lists persons and events published in the newspapers. The GenRoom hosts bios, births, deaths and obits –Prepare a timeline of the family of interest. Keep good records (what-where-when)

53. The End Thanks for attending –Cleve Kimmel (WebMaster & Member) MT State Genealogy Society Yellowstone Genealogy Forum Yellowstone County GenWeb Pioneers of Eastern Montana Yellowstone Basin Preservation Society