1930 Census-President Bush

Future president George W. Bush is only enumerated in 1930 with the "W" he's the Walker shown here in part of the 1930 census enumeration for he and his family.

You can View Census Records Online at Ancestry.com or you rcan read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

President Madison in 1820

Residing in Orange County, Virginia, former president James Madison had his name underlined and commented on to make him easier to find.

Those who want to see the entire entry can search the 1820 at Ancestry.com. His name is spelled correctly in the index.

If you don't have a subscription to Ancestry.com, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

President Harry Truman Lives with in-laws

The 1920 census finds future president Harry S Truman living with his wife's parents the Wallaces in Jackson County, Missouri. His occupation is listed as farm manager.

The 1920 United States Federal Census can be searched for your relative at Ancestry.com, regardless of whom they were living with. Those who don't have a subscription can read our free-trial suggestions here.

From Poor Leather Merchant to General

The 1860 census finds future US General U S Grant living in Galena, Illinois as a leather merchant with personal property valued at $200. He would shortly have a different occupation.

Search the 1860 Census at Ancestry.com for your relative---whose occupation in 1860 may or may not be a surptise to you. If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

1930 President

Not many individuals have their "industry" in the 1930 census listed as "United States" and even fewer list their occupation as president. The entire image can be seen here for those who are not aware of who was president in 1930.

You can search of the 1930 census at Ancestry.com and see what your relatives occupations are---doubtful if they are president. If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

President Richard Nixon in 1920

Future president Richard M. Nixon was enumerated with his parents and several siblings in the 1920 census for Orange County, California. His parents were not native Californians; his father was born in Ohio and his mother was born in Indiana.

Search the everyname index to the 1920 United States Federal Census at Ancestry for your ancestor--whether he was living in California or not!

1870 Census--President William McKinley

The 1870 census found future president William McKinley living with his parents and working as a lawyer and living in Canton, Stark County, Ohio.

You can search for your relative in the 1870 census, but they probably aren't a future president....

1920 Census-Ronald Reagan

Future President's Reagan's family is split in the 1920 census--not in the literal sense--just over two census pages. His parents are both listed as working, father in a shoe store and mother in a dry goods store. Search the 1920 United States Federal Census for your own family members.

1920 Census--President Kennedy

The 1920 census enumeration for future President Kennedy shows him as a small child

with his parents and siblings. His father is listed as a banker and the household had two siblings, including one who was an Irish native. The household staff were both unnaturalized aliens....

Search the 1920 United States Federal Census for your own family at Ancestry.com

1900 Census--William McKinley

President William McKinley is US president in 1900 and is enumerated while living in the White House.

Of course the census taker did not refer to it as the "White House," it is referred to as the "President's Mansion" in a notation made on the far right hand side of the enumeration. The 1900 Census is searchable on Ancestry.com.

The entry for McKinley is difficult to read, given that a statistician from the Bureau of the Census has made a notation right above his last name. This is compounded by the fact that the enumerator spelled the president's last name incorrectly (it's pretty clear that the last two letters of the name are "ly" as written in the census).

This is the screen that shows how McKinley's name was indexed---pretty reasonable for him considering what it looked like. Users can enter corrections or comments--which is what I intend to do as soon as I post this blog entry. His wife was Ida Sexton, although it is not the easiest thing to read either. If you find someone whose index entry is wrong (or that needs a comment because the original is slightly off) consider entering that comment when you find the name in a census entry at Ancestry.com. Those names eventually are searchable after the corrections and comments have been uploaded.