Enumerated

Mailed back my 2010 census form today.  Since we don't have home delivery, and only have a post office box, the census bureau dropped off forms at the town hall for us to fill out and mail in.  Those who don't mail them back within about the next week or so will be scheduled for a personal visit.

With this short form, I wasn't too impressed genealogically from the information it asked.  I was surprised to see them ask for the complete birthdate, I would have expected more a month-year type of question like the 1900 census.  Nothing about occupation or education level on this short form, either.

The 2010 census seems overly concerned about whether or not we are Hispanic, for some reason.  Then there is the concern about race.  Always about race in this country.  

I made a copy of the form and filed it with my records, also scanned a copy.  I did the same thing with the 2000 census, though right now I can't seem to lay my hands on it.

This year they wanted college students to be counted where they are going to school.  My stepdaughter told me that no one had visited or sent forms to her school yet.  I didn't include her in my count, so I hope that she gets counted.  Otherwise, she'll end up being one of those mysteries when her descendants can't find her in 72 years.

I can remember filling out the 2000 census, living in Madison County, Indiana at the time.  In the 1990 census, I was a college student in Delaware County, Indiana, living off campus.  I remember my roommate and I receiving and filling out the form.  I was married that May, and I distinctly remember a census worker visiting our home, so I was probably counted twice.  Possibly even a third time, if my parents in Madison County still listed me on their form that year.  

This year, it was Grant County, Indiana.  In a thirty year period, I've managed to be counted in 3 counties in close proximity, yet someone researching my life 72 years from now would be missing a lot of information if all they went by was where I was on census day.  Which makes me realize that for many of my ancestors, it is possible that there is much more to discover between enumerations.


© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

Family Milestones: April 12th

My maternal 3rd-great grandaunt, Amanda GROENENDYKE, married on this date in 1857 in Madison County, Indiana to Edwin Clark Anthony SNYDER.  Amanda was the daughter of Elias and Nancy (JENKINS) GROENENDYKE, and the older sister of my Catherine GROENENDYKE.  Amanda was born circa 1839.  Edwin was born December 10, 1835 in Centre Township, Delaware County, Indiana, the son of John T. and Cynthia S. (GUSTIN) SNYDER.  They had 1 son.  Amanda died August 20, 1859 in Madison County, Indiana.  Edwin died in 1900.

My paternal 5th-great grandaunt, Rachel HAINES, married on this date in 1804 in Burlington County, New Jersey to Japeth BISHOP.  Rachel was the daughter of Robert and Rachel (VENICOMB) HAINES, and the younger sister of my Hannah HAINES.  Rachel was born November 20, 1779 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Japeth was born September 18, 1780 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  I do not have his parentage.  They had at least 1 child.  Japeth died July 18, 1825 in Burlington County, New Jersey.  Rachel died October 31, 1849 in Burlington County, New Jersey.

My maternal 6th-great granduncle, Bennett FIELD, was born on this date in 1752 in Mansfield, Connecticut.  Bennett was the son of Bennett and Elizabeth (SPOFFORD) FIELD, and the younger brother of my Bethiah FIELD.  Bennett married Elizabeth PIERCE, daughter of Seth and Elizabeth (NYE) PIERCE.  Elizabeth was born June 2, 1748.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My maternal 5th-great grandaunt, Jane WRIGHT, was born on this date in 1782.  Jane was the daughter of John and Sarah (FLEMING) WRIGHT, and the younger sister of my George WRIGHT.  Nothing further is known at this time.

My paternal grandmother, Ruth Pauline HALEY, was born on this date in 1911 in Noble Township, Jay County, Indiana.  Ruth was the daughter of Eli Weldon and Cora Belle (METZNER) HALEY.  Ruth married February 28, 1932 in Jay County, Indiana to Ord Wehrly LeMASTER.  Ord was born September 30, 1906 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana, the son of Luman Cooper and Barbara Isabel (WEHRLY) LeMASTERS.  They had 6 children.  Ord died October 30, 1971 in Bluffton, Wells County, Indiana.  Ruth died February 1, 1990 in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana. 

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com

A Lot Can Happen Between The Census

In the 1900 census, my maternal 3rd-great grandfather, Carey W. LAMBERTSON was living in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana.  By the time the 1910 census rolled around, the family was living in the 2nd ward of the city of Elwood, Madison County, Indiana.  

I'm not sure why they moved to Elwood, although it could be the fact that two of his older sisters, Sarah LYST (husband John) and Mary SNIVELY (husband Sam) were already living in the area.

I was hoping that city directories could help nail down a more precise date for the arrival of the Carey LAMBERTSON family to Elwood.  The Elwood Public Library had a city directory for the year 1907, but no Lambertson entries.  The earliest city directory I was able to find that lists Carey LAMBERTSON was the 1916 R.L. Polk & Co. city directory, living at 1906 North F Street in Elwood.

1906 North F Street in 2010

Through readings of the city directories of Elwood, I was able to track Carey LAMBERTSON living in this house on North F Street up until his death in 1918.  The library had the 1916 directory, which listed the family living there.  In addition, I was able to locate newspaper articles stating this was the family residence.

After Carey's death, his grandson, Clemon Beals LAMBERTSON somehow came to posses the home on F Street.  I need to research deed records and mortgage records in Madison County, Indiana to find out all of the details.  City directories for 1924, 1925, and 1929 list Clemon and his family living at 1906 North F Street.  His daughter, my grandmother Bonnie, told my mother about growing up at the F Street house.  The house was right behind the city pool where she learned to be a lifeguard.  Clemon and family were living in the residence at the time of the 1930 census.  City directories for Elwood in 1931, 1933, 1935 and 1938 show Clemon and family at the residence.

Sometime between 1938 and 1940, the family moved to Greentown, Howard County, Indiana.  During this time, Clemon was still listed in the city directory of Elwood as being employed by the Sellers cabinet company, but residing in Greentown. Clemon's parents, Charles and Pearl (BEALS) LAMBERTSON, were living in the Greentown area at that time as well.  It is assumed that the house on F street was sold out of the family during this time.

Clemon and family came back into Elwood at the close of the war, and the 1945 Elwood city directory lists them at 221 North 12th Street.

 221 North 12th Street in 2010

Clemon and family only stayed at this home for a year or so, for by the 1947/48 city directory, the family was living at 717 South A Street.  The family appears at 717 South A Street in 1949 and 1952, the last year Clemon was recorded in Elwood.  My great-grandmother June had died in 1951, and by 1952 he was remarried to Helen (DUNCAN) FISHER.  After that he lived in Anderson, Madison County, Indiana.

717 South A Street in 2010

Clemon's son, Harold LAMBERTSON begins to show up in the city directories in 1941, where he was living at 1303 South D Street.  In the 1945 directory, he is shown living at 902 1/2 South Anderson Street, but is listed as being away in the Army (actually, he was in the Navy).  Harold is back at 1303 South D Street in the 1947/48, 1949, 1952, 1957, 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1972 directories for Elwood.  I hadn't continued into searching the phone directories, but I know he lived there for many more years.

 1303 South D Street in 2010

There was a previous house that stood in front of where the house in this photograph stands.  I remember helping haul away some of the bricks from the old house that once stood there.  

Clemon's other son, Floyd LAMBERTSON, shows up in the Elwood city directory in 1947/48 and 1949 at 902 South B Street.  From 1950 on, he was listed living in nearby Alexandria, Madison County, Indiana at 618 West Adams.

I have since visited the Elwood library many times over the past few weeks, trying to track the members of my LAMBERTSON family down and watching with interest as they change jobs and residences through the years.  Ancestry.com also has recently placed many U.S. directories online which can help fill in the gap between the census years.

© 2010, copyright Travis J. LeMaster http://tjlgenes.blogspot.com