There are lots of fun things about this genealogy business, I have found out over the past year or so. One of them, and the one I've had the most fun with, is census records.

I know. You probably think I have taken leave of my senses. What could possibly be interesting about dry, old census records, you ask? Well, believe it or not, reading the census is like strolling through the neighborhoods of your ancestors on a warm summer night and stopping to visit along the way. Censuses are much more than just a glorified head count...although that's pretty much the way they started out.

Census-taking in the United States began in 1790 and, up until 1850, it was just thata head count. People were counted by households, within militia districts, within counties, within each state. Early censuses listed only the name and pertinent information on the head of each household (usually a man, of course) and the number of people of each sex living in the home. Pertinent information could include the value of personal property and real estate, and the number of slaves owned. If a woman was the head of household, you could pretty much take it for granted she was a widow. But, even with just that amount of limited information, the census gives clues to help you figure out things about your family.

For instance, since the census taker went house-to-house, pretty much in order, you could tell who your ancestor's neighbors were. More often than not, neighbors were relatives, giving you clues to surnames of people who may have married into your family. If you compare information in a will with census records, you will often find neighbors as witnesses and executors. There was not much specific information in early censuses, but lots of possibilities. And you could at least prove your ancestor's existence. That is step number one in genealogy. The second step is proving their relationship to you. That's often the hardest part.

But, back to the census. In 1850, the world opened up for genealogists. Censuses began to enumerate everyone living in the household, their age, where they were born, where their parents were born, occupations, value of property, and whether each person could read and write. And by 1920, all kinds of information came through the census. There is sort of an "80-year privacy" rule, so the most recent census available is 1920. Don't worry about people looking you up...unless you're over 80. The most recent census I've viewed, personally, is 1900, but he very first census I ever saw was taken in 1870.

Backtracking from an Alabama cemetery into Georgia, I first found my GGgrandparents, John and Sarah Ann Norris Fowler, in the 1870 Campbell County, Ga. census. The information was on microfilm at the Coweta Genealogical Library. The ladies there were very helpful and showed me how to find my GGgrandfather first in the 1870 Georgia Census Index. This is a book which lists all heads of household enumerated in Georgia in that year. Being new, I never would have discovered the index without their help. It gave me the name, county, district, and page number in the census where my GGgrandfather was listed. Then they helped me set up the microfilm viewer, insert the roll of film, and I was transported back in time to Fairburn of 1870.

If you're new to this, as I am, seeing your ancestor's name in print for the first time may leave you a bit awed. You can't touch the actual page, since all censuses are on microfilm. But here was evidence that somebody visited with my GGgrandfather in August of 1870, sat in his living room, and chatted with him about his family.

I ran my fingers gently over the names projected on the table. A few weeks before, I didn't even know their names. And here they all were. I got goose bumps.

A few pages over, in the Campbellton District, I found my great-grandfather, my great-grandmother and their young son, Oscar. I was finally able to give a first name to my great-grandmother. Up until this point, she had been known only as "Unknown Owens." And there she was... "Lucy."

Next door was Amanda and Robert Owens. Hmmm, I thought. Maybe they're relatives. And next door to the Owens family was Nancy Elizabeth Fowler and John Pierce Walker with their young family. Were they relatives? Of course. It was my great-grandfather's older sister. So, there, in one census, I had proved the existence of several of my ancestors. Not bad for one afternoon. I wrote down the information I needed and headed home to study it.

A few weeks later I went to the Troup County Archives in LaGrange to check out my family in the next census, 1880. I had been given a tip that Troup County's facility had all kinds of census records. I was not disappointed. When I opened the microfilm drawer I felt as if I were in a genealogy candy store. There were censuses from everywhere in Georgia and Alabama, including Cleburne County, where I knew my family had migrated next.

The 1880 Cleburne was a little hard to read, even with the excellent viewers. I found my family and made a few copies... "Lucy" was now "Lucinda C." More clues.

But when I found the 1900 Cleburne census and started scrolling through the roll, I knew I'd struck pay dirt. This was the first year that included the birth month and year of each person, the number of years a couple had been married, the number of children born and the number still living, number of months spent in school...so much information I could hardly digest it all. So I started making copies...and more...and more, until I realized I had copied the entire "Lost Creek" district.

I frantically counted my copies as the volunteers were almost pushing me out the door (it was five minutes past closing time), and came up with 283 pages. It cost me a pretty penny but was well worth it. I took everything home, put the pages in a notebook, indexed it and sat down to visit with all the families in Hightower, Alabama (including my own). After writing all those names, I felt we were almost old friends. I knew their kids, what they did for a living and, best of all, who lived next door to whom. I knew who went to school, who owned their farms and who rented, how long they'd been married, and what relationship each person held to the head of the household. In-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins...all were so noted in 1900.

With my census pages neatly punched and put into a notebook, I nowfeel I have something to share with others who are researching that area. Do you need a lookup for someone in Ranburne, Hightower or Macedonia community in 1900? I have them all.

There's a strange little story that goes with all this and proves what a truly small world we live in.

About a year ago, on the Internet, I met a lady from Oregon whose ancestors seemed to follow same path as mine. She was looking for Ashleys, Teals and Gays, and I for Fowler, Walker, Johnson...and Gays too, I learned later. From our e-mails, I knew her ancestor in Cleburne County was named Jesse Teal. When I finally got my Cleburne census done and put together, guess who I found living right next door to my Uncle Walter Fowler? Yup! Jesse Teal.

Now, what do you think her Jesse and my Walter would think if they knew their relatives would find each other 100 years later, even though they were nearly 3000 miles apart? I fired off an e-mail to let her know what I'd found. We're still shaking our heads over that one.

So, when you find out where your ancestors were, try checking out the census to really give a complete picture of their family, friends, and neighbors...even their life-style. Census records can be found at genealogical libraries, archives, LDS Family History Centers, and even some public libraries. I am told the Fayette County Library has all Georgia censuses. They also have microfilm readers that allow you to make copies of the census pages. I plan to go there myself and check out the 1850 Gwinnett County census. Fayetteville is a heck of a lot closer than LaGrange.

Don't forget to send us information on your south metro Atlanta families of long ago so we can tell everyone who your ancestors were. You're going to get weary of reading about the Fowlers if you don't! Send mail to The Citizen, P.O. Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA 30214. Or you can e-mail me directly at jkilgore@thecitizennews.com.

Until next week, happy hunting!

Back to the Citizen Home Page