Census Saturday - 1910 Federal Census - Joseph & Frances Legge Household

This week we are still following Harry A. Legge. He was living with his parents in Hays City Ward 3, Ellis, Kansas in the 1910 Federal Census.

Joseph and Frances Legge household

Thirteenth Census of the United States: 1910 - Population; State: Kansas; County: Ellis; Hays City; Supervisor's District No. 6; Enumeration District No. 19; Sheet No. 9 B; page 1451 (handwritten); Enumerated by me on the 22nd day of April, 1910. Jur. H. Freesa, Enumerator. Street: West Perry Avenue; Lines 68-72; Dwelling 199; Family 204. 
Joseph Legge, head, male, white, 62 years old, married for 33 years, born in Germany, father born in Germany, mother born in Germany, immigrated in 1868, naturalized, speaks English, occupation is own income, able to read and write, owns his own home free of mortgage. 
Frances Legge, wife, female, white, 50 years old, married for 33 years, gave birth to 15 children, 10 were living, born in New Jersey, father born in Germany, mother born in Germany, speaks English, no occupation, able to read and write. 
Louisa Legge, daughter, female, white, 13 years old, single, born in Kansas, father born in Germany, mother born in New Jersey, speaks English, no occupation, able to read and write, attended school.
Harry Legge, son, male, white, 10 years old, single, born in Kansas, father born in Germany, mother born in New Jersey, speaks English, no occupation, able to read and write, attended school. 
Tresia [sic] Legge, daughter, female, white, 6 years old, single, born in Kansas, father born in Germany, mother born in New Jersey, no occupation, [education information blank].


Harry is living with his parents and the youngest of all his siblings. There was a child between Louisa and Harry named Helena "Lena" Legge, but she died in 1901 at the age of two. His mother, Frances (Franzika), noted that she had given birth to 15 children, however only 10 were living at the time of this census. Another interesting piece of information is that "own income" is listed as the occupation for head of the household, Joseph Legge. I'm not sure if this means he is retired or self-employed, but I would think they would specify self-employed if that were the case. He does own his home home though with no mortgage. The two older children are attending school. It is also noted that they live on West Perry Avenue, however, I was unable to locate this street on a map, so it's possible the name of the street was changed at some point.

Source: 1910 U.S. census, Ellis, Kansas, population schedule, Hays, enumeration district (ED) 19, sheet 9B, p. 1451 (handwritten), dwelling 199, family 204, Joseph Legge household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http:www.ancestry.com : accessed 15 Sep 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 438.

Census Saturday - 1930 Census - Harry & Veronica Legge

This week I am going back another decade with Harry & Veronica Legge. In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, they were just married and she was pregnant with their first child, Harold, who would be born in July of that year. They were living in Fairview, Rush, Kansas on a farm.

Harry & Veronica Legge Household

Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920 - Population. 
State: Kansas; County: Rush; Fairview Township; Supervisor's District No 7; Enumeration District No 214; Sheet No 4A; Enumerated by me on the 27th day of January 1920, Wm Crotinger, Enumerator. Lines 20-21; House number: FM; Dwelling No. 56; Family No. 56: 
Harry Legge, Head, rented house, male, white, 19 years old, married, did not attend school since Sept. 1 1919, able to read, able to write, born in Kansas; father born in W-s--ollin [crossed out] Germany, mother tongue German; mother born in New Jersey, able to speak English; trade of farming on general farm; Farm schedule 57. 
Veronica Legge, wife, female, white, 17 years old, married, did not attend school since Sept. 1 1919; able to read; able to write; born in Kansas; father born in [illegible crossed out word] Russia, mother tongue German; mother born in Kansas; able to speak English; occupation none.


I've learned that Harry & Veronica were living and working a farm they do not own. I learn that both of their mother were born in America and their fathers born outside of the country. What I find most interesting in this census is that the enumerator had written down a specific location within the country their fathers were born in. Unfortunately, they were badly written and then crossed out so I am unable to read them. Harry's brother was living in the same town and has the same crossed out name, but that is difficult to read as well.

Source: 1920 U.S. census, Rush, Kansas, population schedule, Fairview, enumeration district (ED) 214, sheet 4A, p. 751 (handwritten), dwelling 56, family 56, Harry Legge household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 Sep 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll 547.

Census Saturday - 1925 Kansas Census - Harry Legge Household

This week I am looking at the Kansas State census of 1925. The Legge family is still living in Fairview, Rush, Kansas and only have the first three children living with them.

State: Kansas; County: Rush; Township: Fairview; Post Office: La Crosse; Page 1 (stamped); Lines 10-14; Name or number of street, avenue, rural route, etc. 2; Number of house or box, if on rural route: 52; Dwelling number 3; Family number 3.
Harry Leggle, head, male, white, 24 years old, married, born in Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, able to read and write.
Veroniga [sic] Leggle, wife, female, white, 22 years old, married, born in Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, able to read and write.H
Harold Leggle, son, male, white, 4 years old, single, born in Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, not able to read and write.
Ralph Leggle, son, male, white, 2 years old, single, born in New Jersey, from New Jersey to Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, not able to read and write.
Dorethy Leggle, daughter, female, white, 1 year old, single, born in New Jersey, from New Jersey to Kansas, no occupation, did not attend school, not able to readn and write.


First, the surname is spelled wrong. I had to look for them manually in the database on Ancestry because they weren't coming up in a simple search. Harry's name had been indexed incorrectly as Marry. The rest is just the incorrect spelling by the enumerator. Little Dorothy is only one year old and was born in New Jersey, so the family must have moved back sometime in the year and a half prior to this census and after she was born. Another interesting notation on this census is that there is no profession listed for Harry. I'm not completely positive this was an error, but it seems unlikely that he wouldn't have been working while trying to provide for a small family. It's also possible he was between jobs.

Source: 1925 State Census, Rush County, Kansas, population schedule, Fairview, p. 1 (stamped), dwelling 3, family 3, lines 10-14, Harry Leggle household; digital images, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 Sep 2011); citing Kansas City Historical Society, Microfilm Reel K131.

Census Saturday - Harry A. Legge Household, Fairview, Kansas

This week I am moving to a different side of the family... the Legge family. This family is in my maternal line. In 1930, the Legge family consisted of two adults and six children all under the age of ten. They were living in Fairview, Rush, Kansas.

State: Kansas; County: Rush; Fairview Township; Enumeration District No. 83-9; Supervisor's District No. 8; Sheet No. 2B; Page 0151 (handwritten); Enumerated by me on April 17, 1930, Walter H Nickel, Enumerator. [actual census taken April 18th according to left margin] Lines 58-65; Dwelling 36; Family 38.
1) Harry A. Legge, Head, home rented, owns radio set, family lives on a farm, male, white, 29 years old, married, aged 18 at first marriage, did not attend school, able to read and write, born in Kansas, father born in Germany, mother born in New Jersey, able to speak English, Farmer, General Farm, Own account, not a veteran, farm schedule no. 39

2) Veronica M Legge, Wife of head, female, white, 27 years old, married, aged 16 at first marriage, did not attend school, able to read and write, born in Kansas, father born in Russia, mother born in Kansas, able to speak English, no occupation.

3) Harold Legge, son, male, white, 9 years old, single, did attend school, born in Kansas, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

4) Ralph Legge, son, male, white, 7 years old, single, did attend school, born in New Jersey, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

5) Dorothy M. Legge, daughter, female, white, 6 years old, single, did attend school, born in New Jersey, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

6) Edward Legge, son, male, white, 4 years 7 months old, single, did not attend school, born in Kansas, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

7) Robert Legge, son, male, white, 3 years 1 month old, single, did not attend school, born in Kansas, parents born in Kansas.

8) Alfred Legge, son, male, white, 1 year 3 months old, single, did not attend school, born in Kansas, parents born in Kansas, no occupation.

I noted several things from this census. There are pretty exact ages listed for the youngest three children, which leads me to believe that it was the mother, Veronica, who was giving this information to the enumerator. It's possible that it was the father, however, it seems more likely the mother would be tracking this information more closely. The ages given match the time frame I have for the known birth dates of these children as well. The birthplaces of both Harry and Veronica confirm information I already had. I also learn that they married at relatively young ages of 18 and 16 years old. Two of the older children were born in New Jersey, so it appears the family moved there for a period of time, possibly to be closer to his family. I will be looking into that time and place to see if I can locate any records of their time there.

Source: 1930 U.S. census, Rush County, Kansas, population schedule, Fairview, enumeration district (ED) 9, sheet 2B, p. 0151 (handwritten), dwelling 36, family 38, Harry A. Legge household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 31 Mar 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626, roll 718.

Fearless Females - Women's History Month Daily Blogging Prompts - March 2

March 2 — Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

This is a picture of my grandmother, Helen. I'm not sure when this photo was taken, but I believe it was taken while she was still living in California because the background doesn't look like it belongs in Tucson. If so, the picture would be dated before 1957 as that was when she moved to Tucson.


I chose this photo because it fascinates me what my ancestors were like when they were younger and before I knew them. I love to study the details not only of the focus person, but also what is going on in the background. Who is taking this picture? Had she already met my step-grandfather? She looks like she is dressed for work and I know she was a waitress. I also know that is how they met. I love her 50's hair and the bows in it. I also love her little purse (or maybe lunchbox?). She looks a tad tired in this picture and has her arm around her belly in what seems like a protective way. There seems to be a slight bulge, so I wonder if she is pregnant in this picture. And if she is, which of her 5 children is she pregnant with? My guess would be that it would be her 5th child and that would date this picture around early 1957. I am guessing it is her 5th because she looks older in this picture than she does in previous pictures with her other children. However, it is only a guess. :)