NOTE -
There is a 20 yr. gap in the census records [1880 - 1900] as the 1890 census was burned in the 1920's. Add 20 yrs to everyone's 1880 age for the 1900 census.
I’m not related to any member of this family.
1940 is the last available census at this time.
Census records do not record the “specific locality” of a person’s birth.
Census records only record where a person was born – state or country.
Census records record where a person was living when the census taker came by.
Facts you should know about the early census records –
All census records [1790 – 1840] prior to the 1850 census ONLY listed the head of household; whether male or female.
NO specific age was stated for any family member
NO place of birth was stated – city, state, or country
NO city, town, or village is stated – only the county; however some census takers listed the township
NO street address was stated
NO marital status was stated – single, married, widowed, or divorced
NO family relationship was stated – brother, sister, cousin, son, daughter, wife, inlaw, etc…
NO occupation was stated
NO parental birthplaces are stated
NO race was stated [but assume “white”]
1850, 1860 & 1870 census records do not show family relationships, marital status or parental birthplaces.
Step children are not enumerated as “step” children
Adopted children are not enumerated as “adopted”
Grand children are not enumerated as “grand children”
Orphaned children were not enumerated as "orphan"
Immigration date is not recorded
1850 is the 1st census that shows all family members with their birthplaces
1880 is the 1st census that shows parental birthplaces and family relationships +++
WHO is your g/grandfather??
WHO did he marry??
NEED DOB's + birthplaces for both.
1880 - There are NO Foster families in Gratiot county MI.
1900 -
Name: Edgar A Foster
Age: 44
Birth Date: May 1856
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1900: Paw Paw, Van Buren, Michigan
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Occupation: salesman
Edgar A Foster 44, 5/56 NY - listed as widowed
Alfred Foster 16, 10/83 MI
Neita Foster 14, 6/85 MI
Nina Foster 13, 6/87 MI
Carrie Foster 11, 5/89 MI [see below]
You wrote " he married Effie Hawkins (b Jan 17, 1866) in Gratiot Co., Michigan".
Effie may be a nick-name.
1910 -
Name: Edgar A Foster
Age in 1910: 53
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1910: Benton, Lake, Illinois
Race: White
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Ella N Foster
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Edgar A Foster 53, MI ??- 2nd marriage, salesman for grocery store
Ella N Foster 54, WISC - 2nd marriage, married 7 yrs
Caroline G Foster 20, MI
1910 -
Name: Carrie Norton
Age in 1910: 22
Birth Year: abt 1888
Birthplace: Michigan
Home in 1910: Markham, Bonner, Idaho
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Eliasha Norton
Father's Birthplace: New York
Mother's Birthplace: Michigan
Eliasha Norton 31, MI - odd jobs
Carrie Norton 22, MI - married 5 yrs. 2 children; claimed father b. NY
Flossie Norton 4, OREGON
Mildred Norton 2, MI
ILLINOIS DEATH RECORD -
Name: Edgar Augustus Foster
Birth Date: 25 May 1856
Birth Place: Flint, Michigan
Death Date: 4 Jan 1934
Death Place: Zion, Lake, Illinois
Burial Date: 6 Jan 1934
Burial Place: Benton, Lake, Illinois
Death Age: 77
Occupation: Grocery Clerk
Race: White
Marital Status: M
Gender: Male
Father Name: Ephriam Foster
Father Birth Place: New York
Mother Name: Elizabeth Church
Spouse Name: Mariah Foster
Mich. marriage record -
Elisher Norton
Age (Expanded): 25 years
Birth Year: 1879
Birthplace: Isabella County, Michigan
Spouse's Name: Carrie Foster
Spouse's Age (Expanded): 16 years
Spouse's Birth Year: 1888
Spouse's Birthplace: Gratiot County, Michigan
Event Date: 01 Oct 1904
Event Place: Alma, Gratiot, Michigan
Father's Name: Wallace Norton
Mother's Name: Lindria Sheldon
Spouse's Father's Name: Delbert Foster
Spouse's Mother's Name: Hawkins