Census Sunday
Howell Research
Howell Line
By Don Taylor
I’ve been finding it quite fun to find family members during the 1950 Census. Often, it contains information I knew part of but not all of the story.
For example, I knew grandparents, James Dallas & Mary (Hobbs) Howell, lived in Maryland in the 1950s. I didn’t realize that they were living with their daughter, Mary, and her husband, Don Wright, in what must have been a new home.
1950 Census[i]
The household lived at 1617 Belvedere Blvd. Silver Spring, Maryland, the 1,280 sq ft house was built in 1948.[ii]
The house has no alley, no garage, and no parking.
Name Age Role Born Employed
Don O Wright 32 Head Ohio Manager, Standard Oil St.
Mary H Wright 24 Wife NC
Helen E Wright 2 Daughter Wash. DC
James D Howell 70 Father-in-law NC Clerk, Reconstruction Fin
Mary H Howell 65 Mother-in-law NC
Frank A Howell 34 Brother-in-law NC Electrician, Inter-office Com.
Mary was entered on Line 4, so additional sample data was collected from her that included:
-
- In 1949 she lived in Washington D.C.
- For education, she completed the 12th
- She also served in the military during World War II and either before or after the war.[iii]
Endnotes:
[i] 1950 Census for Wheaton, Montgomery, Maryland – ED 16-144, Sheet 2, Lines 3 thru 8. – Don Wright Head. Via Ancestry.Com. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/29038454?h=256a1f
[ii] Internet – Zillow entry for 1617 Belvedere. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1617-Belvedere-Blvd-Silver-Spring-MD-20902/37288773_zpid/
[iii] This Census question was intended to be asked only of males over the age of 14. However, its answers are entered for Mary. I need to research further to learn if Mary served, or if Don served and Mary’s answers pertained to her husband.
