Write a Captivating Family History with the 1900 Census

What were you doing at the turn of the century? Watching the Times Square Ball drop as Dick Clark prattled on? Were you hiding in a closet, worried about how Y2K would wreak havoc on your life? Were you partying like it was 1999?

Author Ian Frazier masterfully wove together the happenings of the previous turn of the century with his own genealogical findings in the opening of his book, Family: “The Twentieth Century began on a Tuesday. On that day, all my great-grandparents but one were living in Ohio or Indiana.” What an enthralling way to tell your family history, as opposed to the tedious opening, “I was born…”

Tell your captivating family history by describing what your grandparents were doing at the turn of the twentieth century. Discover this by finding them on the 1900 US Census or the 1901 UK Census.

What will the 1900 US Census tell you about your ancestors?

• Name and address
• Color/race and gender
• Month and year of birth
• Marital status and number of years married
• Number of children born and how many are living
• Birthplace
• Birthplaces of parents
• Year of immigration if foreign born
• Citizenship status if over 21
• Occupation
• Whether they can read, write & speak English
• Whether home is owned or rented
• Whether the home was a farm and/or was mortgaged

Weaving together this wealth of information will help you achieve a story to be remembered, as you craft an engaging narrative about your family’s history. For more tips on writing a captivating family history, check out our article, 11 Do's and Dont's of Writing Family Biographies.

Legacy Tree Genealogists has extensive experience in helping clients trace their ancestors from all over the world, and we can help you dig through census records to find details about your ancestors to beatifully preserve the details of their lives. Contact us today!