My great-grandparents, Newton Coleman Ward and Rachel Louisa Johnson, appeared on the 1920 census in Fannin County, Georgia.
Census Abstract:1
- Newton C. Ward, head of household, renter, age 28, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, a farmer on a farm, working on his own account, farm schedule #14.
- Rachel, wife, age 27, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, no occupation.
- Nellie, daughter, age 9, attended school during the year, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, no occupation.
- Ruby, daughter, age 7, attended school during the year, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, no occupation.
- Worth, son, age 5, born in GA, both parents born in GA.
- Elleree, daughter, age 3, born in GA, both parents born in GA.
- Bondell, daughter, age 1, born in GA, both parents born in GA.
- {another family in the same household starts here} Martha J. Johnson, head of family, renter, age 65, widowed, literate, born in GA, both parents born in GA, no occupation.
They lived on a farm in the Stockhill District.
Click to enlarge
Analysis of the data:
- This census record doesn’t offer much in the way of new information for me. One notable point is that Newt was a renter in 1920, but a homeowner in 1930, so I should look for land records between those years.
- The ages are mostly consistent with other records, with the exception of Newt, who should have been 3o.
- Martha J. Johnson nee Garrett is Rachel’s mother.
Other Wards in Fannin County
- Newt’s parents, William and Mary Ward, appeared two households up from Newt and Rachel on the prior census page, along with Newt’s brothers: Clifford, Carl (? – I’ve seen him as Coles in other records), Charly, and Virgil.
- Newt’s brother, William D., was enumerated as W. Dallas, and appeared on the following census page, with his wife Belle. They actually appear in the household with Rachel’s brother, James H. Johnson (see below).
- Newt’s aunt – Georgia A. Kirby and her family – appeared on the prior census page. She was Newt’s father’s sister and appeared five households away from William and Mary Ward.
- There were two households with Wards that I do not believe are related to me. One was headed by Samuel and the other by Fred.
Other Johnsons in Fannin County
- Rachel’s brother James H. Johnson appeared 15 households away, with is wife Carrie (who died later in 1920) and children: Robert, Eula, Edith, and Lucy. This is my first sighting of Edith.
- Rachel’s uncle James W. Johnson and his wife, Rachel E. (Lance) appeared two pages away, still in the Stockhill district.
- There were fourteen other Johnson households in the county; at this time, I don’t believe any are connected to my Johnsons.
- 1920 U. S. Census, Fannin County, Georgia, population schedule, Stockhill District, enumeration district (ED) 40, sheet 1-B, dwelling 14, family 14, Newton C. Ward household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 8 April 2007); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication T625, roll 256. ↩
