Apparent now in an image of the page on which my Great-Grandparents Henry and Amilie Augusta (RACKOW) PETZOLD were enumerated in the 1920 Fed. Census of Bosque Co., TX (Justice Precinct No. 5) is some significant information I have never noticed before: although the words are crossed out and maybe misspelled, this document indicates that both of Henry's parents were from "Mecklenburg, Germany" and that Amilie and her parents were from "Posen, Germany." This census also ridiculously gives Henry's birthplace as Texas, but that is beside the point; what matters here is the amazingly specific designations of Mecklenburg and Posen. This is independent confirmation of some very important facts.
Henry appears as "Petzolt, O.H." and Amilie as "Emilie." They are renters on a farm and their seven children ---all boys--- live with them: Otto, Fred (instead of Fritz!), Walter, William, Herbert, Theodore (not "Tado" to the census-taker!), and Edwin. Henry and Amilie are listed as 50 and 47, respectively, which is completely off. Amilie declares that she is a "naturalized" citizen, although it simply says "un" where the year of her immigration should be. And, again, because Henry claims to be a native Texan, no marks are made in those same categories where Amilie's are. Everybody in the family can read and write, it says, although we know that probably wasn't so. They did all speak English, though. Bill, Herbert, PaPa, and Sam had all attended school in the past year. Amilie's "native tongue" is given as "Germany" [sic], but that space is blank for Henry, the big fibber. Henry is a "general farmer" working on his "own account," but his eldest boys, Ott and Fritz, are "wage worker" farmers. Neither Amilie nor the younger boys are credited with any occupation.
The moral of the story is to always go back to the original documents (or reproductions) and really give them the once-over twice. Never trust transcriptions if you don't have to. To find such specificity in a census record may not be rare, but it is pretty amazing. Pay attention to what is crossed out and to the context. Great stuff.
Henry appears as "Petzolt, O.H." and Amilie as "Emilie." They are renters on a farm and their seven children ---all boys--- live with them: Otto, Fred (instead of Fritz!), Walter, William, Herbert, Theodore (not "Tado" to the census-taker!), and Edwin. Henry and Amilie are listed as 50 and 47, respectively, which is completely off. Amilie declares that she is a "naturalized" citizen, although it simply says "un" where the year of her immigration should be. And, again, because Henry claims to be a native Texan, no marks are made in those same categories where Amilie's are. Everybody in the family can read and write, it says, although we know that probably wasn't so. They did all speak English, though. Bill, Herbert, PaPa, and Sam had all attended school in the past year. Amilie's "native tongue" is given as "Germany" [sic], but that space is blank for Henry, the big fibber. Henry is a "general farmer" working on his "own account," but his eldest boys, Ott and Fritz, are "wage worker" farmers. Neither Amilie nor the younger boys are credited with any occupation.
The moral of the story is to always go back to the original documents (or reproductions) and really give them the once-over twice. Never trust transcriptions if you don't have to. To find such specificity in a census record may not be rare, but it is pretty amazing. Pay attention to what is crossed out and to the context. Great stuff.
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