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Betty Nelson — 1940 US Census Record
Model Tree available1940 United States Federal Census · Shelby-County, Iowa
Our Model Tree links this Betty Nelson across the 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Shelby-County, Iowa (XGBoost, ~Confirmed), with identified parents Martin & Marie — first a daughter (b.~1920), then head of a 6-person household.
Age 20
b. ~1920
Female
Daughter
Born: Iowa
Single
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Shelby-County, Iowa |
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Betty Lou |
| Relationship to Head | Daughter |
| Sex | F |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 20 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Iowa |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Harlan Town |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Shelby |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Stenographer |
| Industry | Seed Nursery Co |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 40 |
| Income (1939) | 144 |
| Highest Grade | H-4 |
| 1935 Residence | Iowa |
| Birth State | Iowa |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | iowa |
| Occupation | Stenographer |
| Township / Ward | Harlan Town |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1920 |
Household Members
Census records only state relationship to the household head.
Pairwise kinship is derived (~90–95% accurate), not recorded.
Step/blended families and boarders can break it.
6 people recorded at the same address in the 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to Betty | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dorothy Flagman | Other | — | 24 | ~1916 |
| Marie Nelson | Spouse | — | 45 | ~1895 |
| Martin Nelson | Head | — | 47 | ~1893 |
| Loraline Nelson | Daughter | — | 14 | ~1926 |
| Edward Moe | Other | — | 25 | ~1915 |
| Betty Nelson | Daughter | — | 20 | ~1920 |
Census Appearances
1920
Shelby, Iowa
Daughter, age 1
Shelby, Iowa · implied b. ~1919 — 4 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Betty Lou |
| Relationship to Head | Daughter |
| Sex | F |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 1 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Iowa |
| Father's Birthplace | Iowa |
| Mother's Birthplace | Iowa |
| Birth State | Iowa |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | iowa |
1930
Shelby, Iowa
Daughter, age 10
Shelby, Iowa · implied b. ~1920 — 6 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Betty Lou |
| Relationship to Head | Daughter |
| Sex | F |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 10 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Iowa |
| Father's Birthplace | Iowa |
| Mother's Birthplace | Iowa |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Birth State | Iowa |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | iowa |
1940
Shelby-County, Iowa
Daughter, age 20
Shelby-County, Iowa · implied b. ~1920 — 6 household members
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Betty Lou |
| Relationship to Head | Daughter |
| Sex | F |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 20 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Iowa |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Harlan Town |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Shelby |
| Occupation | Stenographer |
| Industry | Seed Nursery Co |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 40 |
| Income (1939) | 144 |
| Highest Grade | H-4 |
| 1935 Residence | Iowa |
| Birth State | Iowa |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | iowa |
Model Tree
An inferred pedigree reconstructed from census links — up to 4 generations within the 1900–1950 window. Closer generations are built from household co-residence; deeper ones are bridged by following a relative to their own childhood census. Confidence compounds and weakens with each generation.
Our Model Tree links Betty Nelson across 3 US Census years (1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage. Identified parents: father Martin Nelson (~0.92 confidence) and mother Marie Nelson (~0.92 confidence) and mother Marie Nelson (~0.92 confidence). The pedigree spans 1 generation with 3 identified ancestors.
Show:
Gen 1
Parents
confidence ≈ 0.92
Father
Martin Nelson
b. ~1893
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Marie Nelson
b. ~1895
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Marie Nelson
b. ~1895
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
This person
Anchor record
Betty Nelson
Daughter · 1940 · age 20 · b. ~1920 · Iowa
★ You are viewing this record
Sibling
Loraline Nelson
Sibling · 1940 · age 14
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Confirmed / household (~0.90+)
Probable / derived (~0.65–0.89)
Candidate (<0.65, unverified)
Original Census Page
1940 US Federal Census — Shelby-County, Iowa
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Shelby-County, Iowa
Page Contents
36 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-01204-00168)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Elsie L. Johnson | 29 | Daughter | Nurse | Iowa |
| 43 | S. Mae Harris | 70 | Head | Music Teacher | Missouri |
| 44 | Martin S. Nelson | 47 | Head | Mechanic | Iowa |
| 45 | Marie R. Nelson | 45 | Wife | — | Iowa |
| 46 | Betty Lou Nelson THIS PERSON | 20 | Daughter | Stenographer | Iowa |
| 47 | Loraline A. Nelson | 14 | Daughter | — | Iowa |
| 48 | Edward Moe | 25 | Roomer | Rural Sociologist | Utah |
| 49 | Dorothy Flagman | 24 | Roomer | Beauty Operator | Iowa |
| 50 | Iden Scarbrough | 53 | Head | Salesman | Illinois |
| 51 | Lee Scarbrough | 49 | Wife | — | Iowa |
| 52 | John R. Scarbrough | 18 | Son | — | Montana |
| 53 | Betty L. Scarbrough | 17 | Daughter | — | Montana |
| 54 | Patricia A. Scarbrough | 10 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 55 | Walter S. Baughman | 22 | Head | Mechanic | Iowa |
| 56 | Norma J. Baughman | 20 | Wife | — | Iowa |
| 59 | Malvern Rasmussen | 36 | Head | Restaurant Owner | Iowa |
| 60 | Arlene Rasmussen | 25 | Wife | Waitress | Iowa |
| 61 | Jeanne Rasmussen | 6 | Daughter | — | Iowa |
| 62 | Jean Alice Rasmussen | 5 | Daughter | — | Iowa |
| 63 | William X. Steiner | 33 | Head | Mechanic | Iowa |
| 64 | Ida Steiner | 28 | Wife | Stenographer | Nebraska |
| 65 | Walter S. Nielsen | 53 | Head | Beer Parlor Operator | Denmark |
| 66 | John F. Thorsen | 70 | Head | Harness Shop Proprietor | Sweden |
| 67 | Emma Thorsen | 62 | Wife | — | Sweden |
| 68 | Jens M. Petersen | 58 | Head | Traveling Salesman | Denmark |
| 69 | Edith A. Petersen | 51 | Wife | — | Iowa |
| 70 | Betty J. Petersen | 15 | Daughter | — | Iowa |
| 71 | L. W. Cullichson | 52 | Head | Carpenter | Iowa |
| 72 | Amy Cullichson | 52 | Wife | Beautician | Iowa |
| 73 | Cora Ramsey | 65 | Head | Practical Nurse | Wisconsin |
| 74 | Eiler J. Rasmussen | 57 | Head | Carpenter | Denmark |
| 75 | Mary L. Rasmussen | 55 | Wife | — | Denmark |
| 76 | Emma Rasmussen | 29 | Daughter | Telephone Operator | Denmark |
| 77 | Gerald O. Mcconnell | 22 | Head | Timekeeper | Iowa |
| 78 | Arlene M. Mcconnell | 22 | Wife | — | Iowa |
| 80 | Minnie Seeger | 68 | Head | — | Missouri |
Related Census Records
Pedigree Summary
Betty + 1 sibling
Gen 1 · 3 parents
~0.92
Max depth 4 (1900–1950 window)
About This Record & Model Tree
This record was independently indexed by YourRoots from the 1940 United States Federal Census (NARA). Our Model Tree links this person across census decades using XGBoost-based record linkage, with per-link confidence scores. Household corroboration strengthens the signal when co-residents appear on the same census pages in multiple years.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)