The 1950 Census is Here!

Nobody really cares that the 1950 United States Federal Census is now available, except family history nerds like myself. So if you are into genealogy, you will understand my excitement.  

 The first federal census was in 1790 and asked just a few questions: 

• Name of head of family
• Number of free white males age 16 years and upwards, including head of family
• Number of free white males under 16 years old
• Number of free white females, including head of family
• Number of all other free persons (fee African-Americans)
• Number of slaves

Since that time, the census has been taken every 10 years. Sadly, the 1890 census records were lost to fire in 1921. Each year the questions have varied and included such data as age, marital status, immigration status, work/salary information and addresses. For the family historian, there is much to be gleaned from the census records. 

Each census is released after 72 years. The records are released to the public by the National Archives and Records Administration. April 1^st of this year, the 1950 census was released. For many people, this is the first census they find their parents, or even themselves. 

I found records for my dad, uncle and grandma in the Dutchess County, New York census. Daddy (12 y/0) and Uncle Jack (14 y/o) were students at Greer School (Hope Farms), where Grandma Miller (41 y/0) was a teacher. Grandma lived in the staff dorms and Daddy and his brother lived in resident housing. Although I’ve known for years they were at Greer School, it was exciting to me to find this documentation of their residence. I’ll need to do a post soon of some of the stories Daddy has shared with us about his time at Greer.

Next I was able to locate the page listing my mom, her oldest brother and parents, in Richland County, South Carolina. Mama has always told me they lived in several places in Columbia, specifically the Eau Claire area. In 1950, the census shows that they lived at 1802 Adams St. Grandpa Myers was a 29 y/o auto mechanic at a repair shop. Grandma Myers was 31 y/o and kept house. Mama was 4 y/o. Uncle Hazel was 9 y/o. Every fifth person listed was a sample for additional questions, and Uncle Hazel was one of those. This sample information indicated that he did not live in the same house a year ago. It also states that he lived in Kershaw County the previous year, and that he was in 4th grade.

I have lots more people to look up, so I better get busy!

 

Great-Grandmother Mary A. Gaffney Miller

 

I know little about my father’s paternal side of his family. I am currently trying to learn more about his grandmother, Mary A. Gaffney Miller.

When I talked to my dad about her, he did not know her parent’s names. I ordered a copy of her death certificate in hopes of learning their names.

It took weeks and weeks before the document came, but it did in fact have their names. I was excited to get this information, but not so excited that they all have rather common names, which makes it harder to research.

Her parents are John Gaffney and Margaret Power. No middle initials are included, or their places of birth. At least this is a starting point!

                     

This document indicates that Mary’s date of birth was July 6, 1887, in Jersey City, New Jersey and that she was 62 years old when she died May 31, 1950, in Highlands, New Jersey.

I entered this latest information into Family Search and have in fact located a John Gaffney and Margaret Power with a daughter Mary Gaffney. There is a christening record in FS from St. Peter-Catholic, in Jersey City, New Jersey, which lists a Mary Gaffney born July 6, 1886, to John Gaffney and Margaret Power. This date has a different year than the death certificate, but the month and day are the same, as well as the location. I believe this christening record is for “my” Mary, but further research will be required to be sure. With the common names, it is so much more difficult, but with the month, day and location being the same, it is a pretty safe bet this is her.       

                        

              

Going on the assumption that these ARE my great-great-grandparents, John and Margaret had several other children. The 1900 US Census lists John & Margaret Gaffney in New Jersey on June 6, 1900, with seven children listed. One of the children is 14-year-old Mary. This age supports the birth year of 1886 from the christening record.

The census indicated that John was born in New Jersey and Margaret was born in Ireland.

Mary's obituary from the June 1, 1950, edition of The Daily Register (Red Bank, New Jersey) provides little information I didn't already know. My great-grandfather Burton J. Miller and their three sons are mentioned. New information to me is a sister that is mentioned, but since it does not include her given name, it's not much of a lead. 

My next steps will be to look further into the siblings to see if I can find any connection to my great-grandmother, and to look for more information on John and Margaret.

 

Where are you, Walter C. Miller?

And other yet unsolved mysteries… 

Walter C. Miller is my 2^nd great-grandfather on my dad’s side. In the year 1888, on my great-grandfather’s (Burton John Miller) birth certificate, Walter is recorded as the father, with Sophia D. Dall as the mother. The birth certificate states that Sophia had 3 children, including Burton John. Who are the other two children?

Walter is listed as 46 years old, which would mean he was born about 1842 or 1843.

                                  

                                                               Birth certificate copy from personal collection of Fred Miller

Following is what I have discovered so far concerning Walter:

1850  The 1850 census lists 6-year-old Walter with parents Nelson & Sarah. Sister Emma, age 3, has profession and value of real estate owned listed on line 25, but I believe that information is actually for Joshua Miller, on line 26. Joshua and Rhoda Miller are recorded in the same dwelling. I am guessing they are Nelson’s parents but will have to research more to verify. 

Walter Miller in household of Nelson Miller, "United States Census, 1850" • FamilySearch

1860  Seventeen-year-old Walter is listed in the 1860 census with parents Nelson & Sarah again. Sister Emma is also listed again, and sister Lena. Rhoda is recorded in the home, but Joshua is not. He is possibly deceased by this time but will have to verify that. 

      Walter Miller in household of Nelson W Miller, "United States Census, 1860" • FamilySearch

1865  In 1865 there is a marriage record of Walter C. Miller to Juliet H Hubbard, on December 25^th. This link does not list the age of Walter, so further research into marriage is needed to verify if this is “my” Walter C. If he is, he would be about 22, as the 1860 census lists him as 17.

Walter C. Miller, "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997" • FamilySearch

1870  The 1870 US Census lists Walter C, age 27, farmer; Juliet, age 27, housekeeper and Wallace, age 4 mos. The age of Walter is consistent with his age indicated on his son Burton’s birth certificate. (I am assuming this is the Juliet listed with Walter in the 1865 marriage record, and that she is Wallace’s mother – further research will be needed.)

Walter C. Miller, "Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997" • FamilySearch

                                                                  

1879  On October 20, 1879, Walter C. married Sophia D. Dall, in New York. Walter’s parents appear to be Nelson & Sarah R., and Sophia’s parents appear to be Clemens & Catherine. The handwriting is not very clear on the document. No ages are listed on this document, but we know that Walter C. Miller and Sophia D. Dall are the parents of Burton John.

  

Ancestry.com - New York, U.S., Episcopal Diocese of New York Church Records, 1767-1970, pages 286 & 287

1880  The following year, the 1880 US Census lists Walter C., age 37 (cannot make out occupation), wife Sophia D., age 21, keeping house, and son Wallace H., age 10, at school. The ages of Walter and Wallace are consistent with the ages on the 1870 census, which would support them being the same people on both census’. Assuming they are the same people, Sophia would be Walter’s 2^nd wife and Wallace’s stepmother. No further information has been found yet for Juliet. Research will need to be done to try to discover if she and Walter divorced, or if she died prior to his marriage to Sophia.

Walter C Miller, "United States Census, 1880" • FamilySearch

1888  In 1888, Walter is listed in the death records of Arthur Nelson Miller, 8 years old and Emma Roeina Miller, 3 years old. It is possible these are the other two children listed on Burton John Miller’s birth certificate. Other death records for Emma and Arthur indicate the father is W.C. and the mother is S. Walter's father was Nelson, and a sister was named Emma, so these children may have been named after them. I’ll have to really dig into this, but I feel like these are the “missing” children. Depending on his actual date of birth, Arthur may not have been born when the 1880 census was completed, and Emma would not have been born until 5 years later. Neither of them would appear on the 1890 census, as they would have already been dead 2 years.

 If these are Walter and Sophia’s children, what happened to them? Was there an illness? An accident? The records indicate they died October 19, 1888, just 15 days after Burton was born. It would also appear that Arthur was born very close to Wallace.

 

Walter C Miller in entry for Arthur Nelson Miller, "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934" • FamilySearch

Walter C Miller in entry for Emma Roeina Miller, "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934" • FamilySearch

W.c. in entry for Arthur N. Miller, "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955" • FamilySearch

W.c. in entry for Emma R. Miller, "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955" • FamilySearch

1890  There is no census available that Walter appears in for 1890 (most of the 1890 census was lost to fire), so it is difficult to determine who was in home of Walter & Sophia at that time. This census would be the first time Burton would have been mentioned, as a 1-year-old. 

1898  A marriage record from 1898 indicates Walter married Estella Lorin, which would be his third wife.

                             WEB: Connecticut Marriage Records, 1897-1968 - Ancestry.com

1900  The 1900 census shows Walter with his third wife, Estella. Mother Sarah is listed, but with a different last name. It appears to be Hyde, but I am not certain. If Walter’s mother is living with him, where is his father, Nelson? Where is his son Wallace, who would be 30 at this time? Did he marry, or simply move out on his own? Did he pass away? This census indicates that Walter was born in May of 1843.

 

                              Walter C Miller, "United States Census, 1900" • FamilySearch

1910  The 1910 census lists a Walter C Miller, age 65, farm laborer, with wife Esther, age 52 and son Wallace, age 40, farm laborer. The ages of Walter and Wallace are again consistent, and in the marriage column (8) there is a 3 next to the M, indicating that this is Walter’s 3^rd marriage. I would assume that his wife Estella, who was listed in 1900, is the same person as Esther and that the enumerator listed her incorrectly. Will need to verify which name is correct. Mother Sarah is not on this census, so she has either passed away or moved in with someone else. Why is Wallace back in the household?

                        Walter C Miller, "United States Census, 1910" • FamilySearch

After the 1910 census, I have found no further record of Walter C. I have no idea of his death date.

From what I have concluded, he was married three times, had children by at least two different women, and had 2 children die at very young ages. Lots more research to be done to verify what I’ve found so far, and to find out when he died.

WHERE ARE YOU WALTER C. MILLER??

Brothers

 

FUN FACT: Brothers Robert L. Smyrl and Hugh T. Smyrl are BOTH my 3^rd great grandfathers! They are two of the children of Thomas Smyrl Jr and Mary Lee Anderson Smyrl.

Robert is my Grandma Lou Clyburn Myers’ great-grandfather on her mother’s side. He was born in 1807, married Nancy Love, and their child Mary Etta Smyrl became Etta Kelly, my 2^nd great grandmother.

Hugh is my Grandma Myers’ great-grandfather on her father’s side.  He was born in 1815, married Margaret McKain, and their child Mary Ann Elizabeth Smyrl became Mary Clyburn, my 2^nd great-grandmother.

I don’t know anything about my Smyrl, Love or McKain ancestors – I can see that family history research will be never-ending!

Anticipation

 I have collected quite a few old disposable cameras, and one old roll of film.  I have no idea when or where the photos on them were taken. Most of them are mine, but there are a few that were found in the belongings of Sean's mom Ruth. 

I took a few of them to CVS today for processing.  The staff member there told me they no longer process on-site, but mail it to FUJI Film for processing. It is then returned digitally to the CVS location for printing. She said it can take 10-14 days,  and they will contact me by phone when ready. 

I can't wait to see what might be on them! I'll share here when I get the photos. 

Grandma & Grandpa Myers

Grandma & Grandpa Myers are my Mama’s parents. They are the grandparents I spent many summers with. I miss them both so very much!

I'm not sure how old they are in this picture, or where it was taken, but it is one of my favorites of them. Young and having fun! Even though you can't see Grandma's face, you can tell she is smiling!

Grandma is Lou Singleton Clyburn, born November 10, 1918 in Camden, South Carolina. Grandpa, Charles Hazel Myers, was born two years later, on September 2, 1920. I could not locate birth certificates for either of them, so I do not have documented proof of their birth dates. I applied for copies at the SC Vital Records Office and obtained statements for both that certificates could not be located based on the information I provided. 

They were married in 1938. While trying to find marriage documentation for them, I assumed they were married in Camden. With no luck at the Kershaw County Probate office, I started searching for a newspaper announcement. I was amazed when I did find a notice, and it said they were married two counties away, in Newberry. I would have never checked in Newberry! I would love to know how it came to be that they were married there. The announcement also says the marriage, “comes as a surprise to their many friends”.  Why was this a surprise? 

With this new information, I was able to order a record of the marriage from Newberry County. This indicates they were married March 26, 1939. If the information on this certificate is accurate, then Grandpa was the older one, not Grandma, as we have always thought. It states he was 21 and she was 20 when they married. That would mean he was born September 1917, not September 1920.

Without a birth certificate for him, or some other documentation, we may never know for sure. Is it possible they deliberately stated he was older on the certificate, or did the probate office make an error?

 

New Beginnings

 As I've become more involved in family history research, I've tried to think of a better way to share information. I thought I'd try a blog. No idea what I'm doing, or how a blog really works, but giving it a shot!

Like everything else I do, this won't be kept up on regular basis, of course. When I do share things, they may be just "generic" facts about someone, or an interesting tid-bit I find. Maybe I'll be asking for your input or help if I'm stuck or run into a dead-end.

I didn't give much thought to the name of the blog - just came up with something as I went through the process of creating the blog. I originally thought something like "Past Lives" or "Bygone Tales", but then thought I might also include present day stories. 

Let me know what you think. Suggestions/ideas/improvements?