Sophia (Meinzen) Kropp in the 1900 U.S. Census - Census Sunday

Because Sophia's obituary stated that immigrated to the U.S. in 1887, I knew I might be able to find her and her family in the 1900 U.S. Census, especially after finding her in 1920 and 1910 where both years she was living with her daughter and son-in-law.

Her 1920 obituary also indicated that her husband, Carl, had died fifteen years earlier.  I was interested to see if he would be on the 1900 census.

I know that the 1900 U.S. Census asks married women how many children they've had and how many are living.  From Sophia's obituary in 1920 I learned that three were living.  I was interested to learn if she'd had more children. 

In 1900 Sophia and Karl Kropp were enumerated in Steubenville Township, Jefferson County, Ohio, S.D. 15, E.D. 75, Sheet #7, Page #221A, Dwelling #119, Family #119, lines 9-14.  Image is from FamilySearch.  (Click image to enlarge.)

Below is a partial transcription of this census record.

• Spahn, John, head, white, male, born Oct. 1874, 25 years, married 0 years, born Germany, immigrated 1889, in the U.S. 11 years, naturalized, Daryman [sic], 0 months unemployed, can read, write, speak English, rents farm, #69 on farm schedule
• -------, Sophia, wife, white, female, born Jul 1876, 23 years, married 0 years, mother of 0 children, born Germany, immigrated 1887, in U.S. 13 years, can read and write, speaks English
• Kropp, Sophia, mother, white, female, born Sep 1842, 57 years, married 38 years, mother of 6 children, 4 living, born Germany, immigrated 1887, in U.S. 13 years, can read and write, does not speak English
• -------, Carl, father, white, male, born Jan 1835, 65 years, married 38 years, born Germany, immigrated 1887, in U.S. 13 years, 0 months unemployed, can read and write, does not speak English
• -------,  William, brother, white, male, born Oct 1866, 33 years, single, born Germany, immigrated 1885, in U.S. 15 years, naturalized, dary [sic] laborer, 0 months unemployed, can read and write, does not speak English
• -------, Henry, boarder, white, male, born Dec 1868, 31 years, single, born Germany, immigrated 1885, in U.S. 15 years, naturalized, green grocer, 0 months unemployed, can read and write, does not speak English

Observations and Comments

Sophia's birth information (September 1842) is the same as on her death certificate.

Her immigration year (1887) is the same as in her obituary.  Previous census records give different immigration years.

Sophia's and Carl's "married 38 years" suggests a marriage year between 1871 and 1873, but her obituary states she and Carl were married in 1861.  Perhaps the person responding to the census taker's questions counted backward (like I occasionally do) and miscounted. 

The birth years of the children in this census are 1866, 1868, and 1876.  Children could have been born between 1862 and 1865 and between 1869 and 1875.  Did the others immigrate to the U.S. or stay in Germany?  Did they die here or in Germany and if in Germany, did they die as infants, children, or adults?

It's interesting that William's relationship is recorded as "brother" and Henry's as "boarder."  I believe both are brothers.  It seems that they immigrated two years before their parents.

Finding Carl Kropp, Sophia's husband, on this census and not on the 1910 census suggests that he probably died between 1900 and 1910, and that the "fifteen years ago" of Sophie's 1920 obituary may be accurate.

The search continues.  I wish I knew now whether this Sophia and my Henry Meinzen are siblings.

--Nancy.

Copyright ©2016 Nancy Messier. All Rights Reserved.
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