Thomas Raidt & the Wisconsin Censuses.

Census Sunday
Raidt Research
By Don Taylor

Following families in the early census records is always tricky. Often, a census provides the basis for many new questions. Such is the case concerning Thomas Raidt and the 1855 Wisconsin Census.

I was looking for Frank H. Raidt in the early censuses. He is the son of my son’s 3^rd great-grandfather, Thomas Raidt (1817-1891). Frank was born on 25 August 1851 in Watertown, Wisconsin. Parts of Watertown are in Jefferson County, and parts are in Dodge County, so it is possible he and his parents could be found in either county.

The surname “Raidt” has many phonetically similar names, including Radt, Raid, Raith, Rait, Reit, and Raidh. Those variations can make tracing the family complex. I expect that Frank, born about 1851 in Watertown, Wisconsin, would be about four years old, and his father, Thomas, would be the head of the household. I believe Frank had four siblings in 1855: Mary (age about 9), Caroline (8), Joseph (6), and Katie (2). I believe that Frank and Katie were born in Wisconsin; I’m not sure where the three older siblings were born.

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1855 Wisconsin Census[i]

The census enumerated the Thomas Raits (or Raith) household with five males, four females, and six total who were foreign-born.

• ·      Thomas and Magdalene (Mary) were Born in Germany and France.
• ·      The three other females are probably Mary, Carolina, and Katie.
• ·      Two of the males are probably Joseph and Frank, leaving two unknown males. The two unidentified males and the two oldest children may also be foreign-born, raising the total of foreign-born to six.

I have tentatively ascribed this household to Thomas Raidt. I hope that further research confirming the birth locations of the older children and possibly other individuals in the household will help solidify this family unit, as I have much more research to do on this family.

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1875 Wisconsin Census[ii]

The 1875 Wisconsin Census is much more straightforward. In it, Tom Raidt lives in Watertown, Jefferson County. His household consists of four males and six females.

It appears his household included:

• Males              Females
• Thomas           Magdelena
• Joseph             Mary
• Frank               Rosa
• Lennis              Ida
•                         Anna
•                         Theresa

Frank married Catherine Justin between 1876 and 1879 and relocated to Minnesota about 1882.

Katie and Caroline would have been in their 20s in 1875 and are likely married. Again, further research should confirm this family unit.

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Conclusion

I am reasonably sure I’ve found Thomas (and Frank) in the 1875 Wisconsin Census and believe I may have found them in the 1855 Census also. In either case, I need to step back and document the children of Frank and Catherine and the children of Thomas and Magdelene to ensure I’ve encountered the correct family groups.

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Endnotes:

[i] Wisconsin, U.S., State Censuses, 1855-1905, Ancestry.Com, 1855 – Jefferson, Watertown, Ward 1, 2nd from bottom – Thomas Reith [Raidt]. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Census Year: 1855; Roll: 1.

[ii] Wisconsin, U.S., State Censuses, 1855-1905, Ancestry.Com, 1875 – Jefferson, Watertown, Seventh Ward – 15th from top – Tom Raidt. Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Census Year: 1875; Roll: 2 (Image 36 of 36).