Double Trouble: 52 Ancestors 2022 Extra Post

Two Places at Once: Selmer Peterson is Counted Twice on 1910 Census

Selmer Arthur Peterson: 1892-1972 (2^nd Cousin 1x Removed)

 

Every once in a while, I find an ancestor who is counted twice on a census. Usually it occurs in early adulthood, where a young man or woman is still considered part of their parents’ household, but may be boarding most of the year at their workplace or with a relative. This is what occurred with Selmer Peterson on the 1910 census. The double count helped to confirm a familial relationship with another family in my tree.

Selmer Peterson was born on July 3, 1892 to parents Andrew and Rhoda Peterson (Rhoda was the daughter of my great-granduncle Gulbrand Olson, and is found on my tree as Ragnhilda Rhoda Gulbrandsdatter Hulsether). He grew up on their farm near the town of Wingville in Grant County, Wisconsin.

Selmer appears on the 1910 census at age 18 with his parents and older brother, Peter G. Peterson. The enumerator completed this census page on April 27, 1910. The form states that Selmer was not employed and was not attending school in 1910, and incorrectly lists his age as 17, a year younger than he actually was.

Selmer also appears on the 1910 census as part of his aunt’s household. Selmer’s mother Rhoda had a sister Oline who married another farmer in Grant County Wisconsin, a man named Thomas Williams. Oline and Thomas had several daughters close in age to Selmer. Apparently Thomas hired his wife’s nephew as a farm laborer, and the young man was living with them on their farm near Castle Rock, Wisconsin.

There are some curious errors on this census record as well as on the Wingville one. Selmer is now listed as being 19 years old—off by a year in the other direction. The form also states that he was out of work zero weeks of the year, but also attended school during the past year. His father claimed he was not employed and did not attend school. Of course the information on census forms is only as good as the heads of household provide, so the conflicts between the two entries probably reflect confusion on the parts of both Thomas Williams and Andrew Peterson.

This Castle Rock Township census form actually was completed on April 20, 1910,  one week before the one at Selmer’s parents’ home. Did Selmer return home in late April? Or did his parents just count him even though he was living about nine miles away? Either way, his presence in Oline’s household confirms that Oline and Rhoda were related and in close contact.

And Selmer Peterson has the distinction of being counted twice on the 1910 United States Census.