Henry and Elizabeth (Armitage) Meinzen & Family in the Census - 1870-1920

Below is the family of Henry and Elizabeth (Armitage) Meinzen as they appear in census records from 1870 to 1920. I think census records are an amazing, brief view of family situations across an expanse of time. It's almost like you can see the children growing before your eyes.

I decided to put notes and comments at the beginning so that as you scroll through the records below, you have a bit of a guide.

Notes and Comments
Henry's place of birth changes from Prussia in 1870, to Hanover in 1880, to Germany. I had hope this would indicate his hometown but it seems that Hanover indicates a larger geographic area in this situation.

I thought finding Joseph Raash of the 1870 census in subsequent census records might help me find more detail about Henry's place of origin but I haven't been able to find him.

Henry, age 62 in 1900, still had 10 single children living at home; the youngest was just 2 years old. Henry was 32 when he married; Elizabeth was 17.

There are several children who do not appear in Henry's and Elizabeth's census records because they were born and died between census years.

I think the name changes from one census to the next are interesting: Eliza/Elizabeth (1870/all others); Minnie/Wilhelmina (1900/1910); Luella/Lula (1900/1910); and Naomi/Naoma (1900/1910). None seem as though they are spelling variations or census taker's hearing except possibly Naomi/Naoma.

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1870 U.S. Census
Steubenville, Ward 4, Jefferson, Ohio, written page 36, Dwelling Number 268, Family Number 273, lines 5-7, 11 July 1870. Roll: M593-1228, Page 126, Image: 255

MINSON Henry, 32, male, white, works at railroad, born Prussia, father & mother foreign born, eligible to vote
--------- Eliza, 18, female, white, keeping home, born England, father & mother foreign born
RAASH Joseph, 24, male, white, works at railroad, born Prussia, father & mother foreign born

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1880 U.S. Census
Steubenville, Ward 5, Jefferson, Ohio, written page 28, North 8th Street, Dwelling 251, Family 257, lines 3-8, 9 June 1880. Roll: T9-1037, Family History Film 1255037, Page 547,5000, E.D. 114, Image 0687

MINZEN Henry, 41, married, laborer, born Hanover, father & mother born Hanover
--------- Elizabeth, 28, married, keeping house, born England, father & mother born England
--------- Henry, 10, son, single, at school, born Ohio, father born Hanover, mother born England
--------- William, 8, son, at school, born Ohio, father born Hanover, mother born England
--------- Hannah, 5, daughter, single, at home, born Ohio, father born Hanover, mother born England
--------- Edward, 1, son, single, at home, born Ohio, father born Hanover, mother born England

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1900 U.S. Census
Cross Creek Twp., [New Alexandria] Jefferson, Ohio. E.D. 65, sheet 9, Dwelling 180, Family 187, lines 36-47, 12 June 1900.

MEINZEN Henry, born Jul 1837, 62, married 30 years, born Germany, father & mother born Germany, immigrated 1866, 34 years in U.S., naturalized citizen, gardener, 4 months unemployed this year, can read, write, speak English, rents a farm
--------- Elizabeth, wife, born Aug 1852, 47, married 30 years, mother of 15 children, 11 living, born England, immigrated 1864, 36 years in U.S., father & mother born England, cannot read or write, speaks English
--------- Hannah, born Feb 1875, 25 years, single, born Ohio, parents born Germany, can read & write, speak English
--------- Edward, born March 1879, 21, single, born Ohio, farm laborer, 0 mo. unemployed, can read, write, speaks English
--------- Isabella, born Aug 1880, 19, single, born Ohio, can read, write, speak English
---- Walter, born Nov 1882, 17, single, born Ohio, farm laborer, 0 months unemployed, can read, write, speaks English
--------- Minnie, born Jan 1885, 15, single, born Ohio
--------- Luella, born Jan 1887, 13, single, at school 8 months, can read, write, speaks English
--------- Bertha, born Oct 1888, 11, single, born Ohio, at school 8 months, can read, write, speaks English
--------- Robert, born Feb 1891, 9, single, born Ohio, in school
--------- Jacob, born Dec 1893, 6, single, born Ohio
--------- Naomi F., born May 1898, 2, single, born Ohio

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1910 U.S. Census
Steubenville Ward 1, Jefferson, Ohio, House 306, Family 57, South High Street, written sheet #3, lines 21-28, 18 April 1910. Series: T624, Roll: 1201; pg. 40A, E.D. 121, Part 2

MEINZEN Henry, 72, married 40 years, born Germany, parents born Germany, groser [sic], can read, write,
--------- Elizabeth, 57, married 40 years, 6 children living, born England, can red, write
--------- Edward, 28, born Ohio, can read, write
--------- Wilhelmina, 25, Ohio, can read, write
--------- Lula, 23, born Ohio
--------- Robert, 18, born Ohio, can read, write
--------- Jacob, 16, born Ohio, can read, write
--------- Naoma, 11, born Ohio, can red, write

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1920 U.S. Census
Steubenville Township, Steubenville 4th Ward, Jefferson, Ohio, 1540 Oregon Avenue, Ohio, E. D. 231, Page 288, Sheet 16A, lines 6-8. Roll T625-1402, Image 111B. 24 January 1920.

MINCIN Henry, own, free of mortgage, male, white, 82, married, immigrated 1866, naturalized in 1871, can read, write, born Hanover, Germany, native language German, parents born Hanover Germany, speaks English, no trade/profession
-------- Elizabeth, wife, female, white, 67, married, immigrated 1864, naturalized 1871, can read & write, born England, native language English, parents born England, no trade/profession
HENDRICKS Edna, granddaughter, female, white, 11, single, attended school, can read & write, born Ohio, parents born Ohio