My great-grandparents, Newton Coleman Ward and Rachel Louisa Johnson, appeared on the 1930 census in Fannin County, Georgia.
Census Abstract:
- Newton C. Ward, head, homeowner, lived on a farm, age 38, married at age 18, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, farmer on a general farm, working on his own account, not a veteran.
- Rachel L., wife and homemaker, age 37, married at age 17, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, no occupation.
- Worth W., son, age 15, single, attended school during the year, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, laborer on a general farm.
- Ella R., daughter, age 13, single, attended school during the year, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, no occupation.
- Bondell, daughter, age 11, attended school during the year, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, no occupation.
- Thelma, daughter, age 8, attended school during the year, born in GA, both parents born in GA, no occupation.
- Pearl, daughter, age 7, attended school during the year, born in GA, both parents born in GA, no occupation.
- Living.
- Newman J. Johnson, boarder, age 24, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, laborer on a general farm.
- Carl Gregory, boarder, age 28, married at age 27, literate, born in TN, both parents born in GA, laborer is marked out.
- Ruby L. Gregory, boarder, age 18, married at age 17, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA.
- Helen E. Gregory, boarder, age 1 month, born in TN, father born in TN, mother born in GA.
The family lived in the Stock Hill district.
1930 U. S. Census, Fannin County, population schedule, Stock Hill Mil. District 1488, enumeration district (ED) 56-19, sheet 1-B, dwelling 16, family 16, Newton C. Ward household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 December 2008); National Archives and Records and Administration microfilm publication T626, roll 355.
Analysis of the data:
- Newt was born 24 Oct 1890, a date consistently reported on his WWI draft registration, SS-5, and death certificate, so his reported age on the census is off by one year. His reported occupation was farmer in 1910, 1920, and 1930. 1930 is the first year that his home was owned, rather than rented.
- Rachel was born 9 Aug 1892, so her age is correct. Their ages at first marriage imply that they were married in 1910; they were actually married 27 Jun 1909.
- The information on all the children is consistent with other records.
- Newman Johnson is Rachel’s nephew. Her brother, John William Johnson is Newman’s father.
Theory
I have no evidence for this yet, which is why it is under the heading “Theory.” I believe that Ruby L. Gregory is Newt and Rachel’s second daughter, Ruby Lee Ward. Ruby Lee later married Grady Johnson and I have no evidence of an earlier marriage for her. However, several things have led me this theory.
- Ruby Lee was born in 1912, so she would have been 18 in 1930.
- She does not appear anywhere else on the 1930 census in Fannin County. If this Ruby L. is not great-aunt Ruby, then where is she?
- Grady Johnson was still living at home with his parents in 1930 and is reported as single, so I know that he and Ruby Lee were not married yet.
- My mother says that Ruby Lee had a daughter named Helen.
Other Wards and Johnsons in Fannin County
Newt’s parents, William and Mary, lived next door to them, along with two of his younger brothers. His brother, Charlie, appeared three households down on the same page. Another brother, Clifford, appeared with his family in the Morganton District. There are four other Ward families in Fannin County in 1930, but I believe that they are unrelated to my Wards.
Fourteen Johnson households are enumerated in 1930 in Fannin County, but I can only identify one of them as related to my Johnsons. J. W. Johnson appeared with his family, also in the Stock Hill District. He was Rachel’s brother and Newman’s father. Oh, and the Grady Johnson who later married great-aunt Ruby, was also J. W.’s son and appeared in his household on this census.
