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!

 

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!

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?