Slowly but surely making my way back in time with the Joe & Vilate Ranson family…now in the 1920 US census. This time four children are living at home ranging in age from 5 to 14 years old.
1920 U.S. Census, Rich County, Utah, population schedule, Randolph Precinct, Randolph Town, enumeration district (ED) SD 1, ED 93, sheet 6A, dwelling 101, family 108, Joseph H. Ranson household; digital images, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org : downloaded 28 July 2014).
Transcript:
1920 US Census
Utah, Rich County, Randolph Precinct, Randolph Town
SD 1, ED 93, Sheet 6A
13 January 1920
Lines 39-44. 3rd East Street
Farm. Dwelling 101, Family 108
Own, Free.
Line 39. Ranson, Joseph H. Head, Male, White, 34, Married, can read and write. POB: Utah. Father POB: England, English. Mother POB: England, English. Can speak English. Manager, Telephone Co, worker.
Line 40. —–, Vilate E. Wife, Female, White, 36, Married, can read and write. POB: Utah. Father POB: England, English. Mother POB: Missouri. Can speak English.
Line 41. —–, Ervie. Son, Male, White, 14, Single, attended school this year, can read and write. POB: Utah. Father POB: Utah. Mother POB: Utah. Can speak English.
Line 42. —–, Zentha. Daughter, Female, White, 13, Single, attended school this year, can read and write. POB: Utah. Father POB: Utah. Mother POB: Utah. Can speak English.
Line 43. —–, William A. Son, Male, White, 10, Single, attended school this year, can read and write. POB: Utah. Father POB: Utah. Mother POB: Utah. Can speak English.
Line 44. —–, Robert. Son, Male, White, 5, Single. POB: Utah. Father POB: Utah. Mother POB: Utah. Can speak English.
Notes:
Randolph, Utah is a tiny little town. At the time of the 1920 US census there were 758 people living there. According to Wikipedia there were 464 people living there.
Here’s the Google Maps view of the town of Randolph, with the marker at 3rd East Street where the Ranson’s were living.
And here’s the street view at that location. The census doesn’t give me a house (in this case Farm) number so I’m not sure where along this street they lived. At the time there were only 5 families living on that street. Today, it would appear that it doesn’t look much different!
Now, moving back in time to the 1930 census we find a son, Robert – age 15, living at home with them.
1930 U.S. Census, Ogden City, population schedule, Ogden City, Precinct 52, 5th Ward, enumeration district (ED) ED 29-56, SD 1, sheet 1A, household 29, family 29, Joseph H. Ranson household; digital images, Family Search (familysearch.org : downloaded 28 July 2014); NARA.
Abstract
1930 US Census
Utah, Weber County, Ogden City, Precinct 52, 5th Ward
ED 29-56, SD 1, Sheet 1A
3 April 1930
Lines 25-27. Gramercy Avenue 2765
Household 29, Family 29
Own, $3500, radio, not a farm.
Line 25. Ranson, Joseph H. Head, Male, White, 44, Married, 19 years old when married. Didn’t attend school this year, can read and write. POB: Utah. Father POB: England. Mother POB: England. Can speak English. Electrician, Railroad Shops, worker. Employed, not a veteran.
Line 26. —–, Valate E. Wife, Female, White, 46, Married, 21 years old when married. Didn’t attend school this year, can read and write. POB: Utah. Father POB: Illinois. Mother POB: New York. Can speak English, not employed.
Line 27. —–, Robert. Son, Male, White, 15, Single. Attended school this year, can read and write. POB: Utah. Father POB: Utah. Mother POB: Utah. Can speak English, not employed.
Notes
The family is still living at the same home that they were living in in 1940. Interestingly, while the property value is listed as $3500 in this census, it was listed for $3000 10 years later in the 1940 census. I guess that speaks to the effect the Great Depression had on housing values.
I’m prepping for a trip to the Family History Library tomorrow and was collecting all the information I already have about the Joseph & Vilate Ranson family and, more importantly, what I don’t have.
In these searches, I came across Joseph’s WWI Draft Registration Card. I love that it includes his signature! It’s amazing to consider that he signed this paper nearly 100 years ago! I also love the way they list his physical description…he could really be anyone, it’s not very specific!
Abstract:
Order Number: 139 Joseph Hyrum Ranson
Randolf, Rich, U[tah]
Age: 33
DOB: April 27, 1885
White, Native Born
Electrician – Utah & Wyo. Tel. Co.
Nearest Relative [Spouse]:
Vilate Elizabeth Ranson
Randolph, Rich U[tah]
Signed: Joseph Hyrum Ranson
Height: Medium
Build: Medium
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark Brown
Date of Registration: 9/12/1918
“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” digital images, Family Search (FamilySearch.org : downloaded 28 July 2014), Joseph Hyrum Ranson, draft registration; citing GS Film Number: 001983887, Digital Folder Number: 005243490, Image Number 03121.
I’m going back to researching in Utah right now because its so much easier! This time I’m looking at Troy’s maternal line, specifically the Joseph Hyrum Ranson and Vilate Elizabeth Corless family.
Joseph and Vilate, about 1915
Working my way backwards is the easiest way to do this and since their deaths are so recent (Joseph – 22 Feb 1975, and Vilate – 28 Dec 1963) censuses seemed like the best way to start. Here is the most recent available census, 1940:
1940 U.S. Census, Ogden City, Weber County, Utah, population schedule, Ogden City, Ogden Precinct, 4th Ward, enumeration district (ED) 29-53, SD 3, sheet 1B, household 14, lines 48-49, Joe Ranson Household; digital image, FamilySearch.org (www.familysearch.org : downloaded 24 July 2014).
Abstract
1940 US Census
Utah, Weber County, Ogden City, Ogden Precinct, 4th Ward
SD 3, ED 29-53, Sheet 1B
28 April 1940
Lines 48-49. Gramercy St. [Ave.] 2765
Household 14, Owned, $3000 value, not a farm
Line 48. Ranson, Joe. Head, Male, White, 54, Married. Didn’t attend school this year, completed 8 years of schooling. POB: Utah. Living in 1935: same place. Employed, worked 40 a week, Electricitian, RR [railroad] Shops, private work, 52 weeks worked in 1939, $1781 income in 1939, no farm.
Line 49. —–, Vilate [x]. Wife, Female, White, 56, Married, Didn’t attend school this year, completed 0 years of schooling. POG: Utah. Living in 1935: same place. Household work.
Notes
At this point in their lives Joseph (Joe) and Vilate are living in Ogden and their children have all left home. It appears that Joseph was employed over the previous years (even though it was a depression) perhaps because he had a skill – electrician. Also, it was interesting to me that he had only an 8th grade education while his wife had completed 0 years of schooling. This is as reported by Vilate herself (with the x next to her name). Also, Joe earned $1781 in 1939. According to various online inflation calculators that is about $30,000 buying power today. Times sure were different! The address of 2765 Gramercy Ave. looks like this, today:
Why, its the study of the Lund's, of course! I am jumping in to researching our family history and seeing where it takes me. We are the Lund's. We come from Lund's, Ranson's, DeMacedo's, Lima's, Anderson's, Warner's, Ferreira's, Da Silva's and beyond! Since my own side of the family is from Brazil, it is quite difficult to track things down. Troy's side, on the other hand, has proven to be much easier. So, I'll be jumping back and forth and all around to learn about where we come from.
Are you related to us? I'd love to learn more about you and share what I know about our common ancestors!
