Kissin' Kin

January 30, 2009 03:31 pm

— Hidden in the Census
To find out if your ancestor listed in the 1910 census saw Civil War service, check Column 30. It tells if the person was a survivor of the Union or Confederate Army of Navy. If the column contains the letters “UA” it means he served in the Union Army, if the letters are “UN,” he served in the Union Navy. “CA” stands for Confederate Army, and “CN” stands for Confederate Navy.
Have an ancestor that was foreign born? The 1870 census (column 19) shows if the man was a citizen over 21 years of age. If the man was foreign born, it would mean he was naturalized. Census pages of the 1900 (column 18) and the 1910 (column 16) and the 1920 (column 14) all ask the person’s naturalization status. The answers are “AL” for alien, “PA” for “first papers filed,” and “NA” for naturalized. The year that “came to America” or year they were “naturalized” is also found in the columns. When a family man filed and became naturalized, it would cover his wife and children, they would not have filed separately. If the wife has different dates, it could indicate that she came with her family before she was married.
“What happened to the 1890 census?” 47,000 enumerators collected information on the 62 Americans in 1890. On the afternoon of January 10, 1921, smoke was seen coming from the Commerce Building in Washington, D.C., where the 1890 schedules were stored. The fire was confined to the basement, but the basement was flooded in the effort to put out the fire. The decision was made later to destroy all the records as many could not be salvaged. A few census sheets were saved at the last minute, only enough to be on one roll of microfilm for the entire United States. This is indexed and available, also the enumeration of “Union Veterans & Widows” was saved, you can find some veterans of the Confederacy on these, most very lightly marked out.

From the past
Local news from the Weatherford Democrat, Thursday, February 13, 1896:
“Mr. M.L. Sikes of Christian, Texas arrived in Wednesday to visit his daughter.
“Mrs. Dr. H.F. Henderson is recovering from a serious illness.
“Two splendid granite shafts were placed in the cemetery this week, one to the memory of Mrs. J.R. Couts, the other marking the resting place of Mr. D.C. Haynes.
“The ladies of Couts Memorial Church will give an entertainment Friday night at the residence of Miss Etta Oliver, consisting of music and recitations.
“The Fort Worth Gazette states the Mr. M.W. Littleton of Dallas was employed by the Texas & Pacific Coal company. He is about 24 years old, a brilliant lawyer, and the brother of C.C. Littleton of the Merchants & Farmers Bank of Weatherford.
“Miss Daisy Barnes has returned to Cleburne, after a visit to her sister, Mrs. T.R. Riggins of this city.
“Mrs. Georgia Tinkle of Goldthwaite is visiting her cousin, Mrs. B.G. Bidwell.
“At R.W. Bonner & Co., on the northwest corner of the square, W.J. Carson, agent, is prepared to supply the public with Rock Creek and McAlester coat.”
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Evlyn Broumley’s column, “Kissin’ Kin,” appears Sundays in the Lifestyles section. Send inquires to Evlyn Broumley, 3802 Lake Shore Drive, Weatherford, TX 76087 or e-mail www.evlynbroum@prodigy.net.