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James Cowan — 1940 US Census Record
Linked across censuses1940 United States Federal Census · Ritchie-County, West Virginia
Our Model Tree links this James Cowan across the 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Ritchie-County, West Virginia (XGBoost, ~Confirmed) — first a son (b.~1917), then head of a 9-person household.
Age 23
b. ~1917
Male
Son
Born: West Virginia
Married
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Ritchie-County, West Virginia |
| Surname | Cowan |
| Given Name | James W. |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 23 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | West Virginia |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Grant District |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Ritchie |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Farming |
| Industry | Farm |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 60 |
| Income (1939) | 26 |
| Highest Grade | No 7 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | West Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | west virginia |
| Occupation | Farming |
| Township / Ward | Grant District |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1917 |
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.
9 people recorded at the same address in the 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to James | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harley Cowan | Son | — | 15 | ~1925 |
| Charles Hendrickson | Other | — | 20 | ~1920 |
| James Cowan | Son | — | 23 | ~1917 |
| Nellie Cowan | Spouse | — | 47 | ~1893 |
| Howard Cowan | Son | — | 13 | ~1927 |
| Jim Cowan | Head | — | 56 | ~1884 |
| Virginia Cowan | Other | — | 25 | ~1915 |
| Luverna Nutter | Other | — | 65 | ~1875 |
| Harold Cowan | Son | — | 17 | ~1923 |
Census Appearances
1930
Ritchie, West …
Son, age 13
Ritchie, West Virginia · implied b. ~1917 — 11 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Cowan |
| Given Name | James |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 13 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | West Virginia |
| Father's Birthplace | West Virginia |
| Mother's Birthplace | West Virginia |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Birth State | West Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | west virginia |
1940
Ritchie-County, West …
Son, age 23
Ritchie-County, West Virginia · implied b. ~1917 — 9 household members
| Surname | Cowan |
| Given Name | James W. |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 23 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | West Virginia |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Grant District |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Ritchie |
| Occupation | Farming |
| Industry | Farm |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 60 |
| Income (1939) | 26 |
| Highest Grade | No 7 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | West Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | west virginia |
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 James Cowan across 2 US Census years (1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage.
Show:
This person
Anchor record
James Cowan
Son · 1940 · age 23 · b. ~1917 · West Virginia
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Sibling
Howard Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 13
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Harold Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 17
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Harley Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 15
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 — Ritchie-County, West Virginia
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Ritchie-County, West Virginia
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-04445-00195)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mary F. Haught | 55 | Head | — | West Virginia |
| 2 | Carolyn Haught | 17 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 3 | John Mcguirk | 50 | Head | Foreman | Pennsylvania |
| 4 | Laura D. Mcguirk | 48 | Wife | — | West Virginia |
| 5 | Eugene W. Mcguirk | 20 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 6 | John E. Pratt | 65 | Head | Farmer | West Virginia |
| 7 | Ella B. Pratt | 54 | Wife | — | West Virginia |
| 8 | Elna C. Pinkerton | 21 | Lodger | — | West Virginia |
| 9 | Charlie Hupp | 21 | Head | Road Work | West Virginia |
| 10 | Catherine Hupp | 20 | Wife | — | West Virginia |
| 11 | Melvin C. Hannan | 51 | Head | Pumper | West Virginia |
| 12 | Jessie B. Hannan | 45 | Wife | — | West Virginia |
| 13 | Ronald L. Hannan | 20 | Son | New Worker | West Virginia |
| 14 | Charles L. Hannan | 16 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 15 | Edna F. Hannan | 13 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 16 | Robert M. Hannan | 11 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 17 | D. Wesley Eddy | 42 | Head | Laborer | West Virginia |
| 18 | Catherine E. Eddy | 35 | Wife | — | West Virginia |
| 19 | Thelma D. Eddy | 16 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 20 | Mary L. Eddy | 14 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 21 | William N. Eddy | 11 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 22 | John W. Eddy | 10 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 23 | Belva Eddy | 7 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 24 | Deloris N. Eddy | 0 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 25 | Jim Cowan | 56 | Head | Route Scout | West Virginia |
| 26 | Nellie L. Cowan | 47 | Wife | — | West Virginia |
| 27 | Harold P. Cowan | 17 | Son | Farmer | West Virginia |
| 28 | Harley E. Cowan | 15 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 29 | Howard G. Cowan | 13 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 30 | James W. Cowan THIS PERSON | 23 | Son | Farming | West Virginia |
| 31 | Virginia Cowan | 25 | Daughter in law | — | West Virginia |
| 32 | Charles Hendrickson | 20 | Nephew | — | West Virginia |
| 33 | Luverna C. Nutter | 65 | Mother | — | West Virginia |
| 34 | Oakland W. Cowan | 30 | Head | Farmer | West Virginia |
| 35 | Frontie E. Cowan | 27 | Wife | — | West Virginia |
| 36 | Violet M. Cowan | 8 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 37 | Paul W. Cowan | 1 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 38 | Carl F. Lowther | 30 | Head | Stone Mason Road Work | West Virginia |
| 39 | Sarah C. Lowther | 29 | Wife | — | West Virginia |
| 40 | John L. Lowther | 6 | Son | — | West Virginia |
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)