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James Sanders — 1920 US Census Record
Model Tree available1920 United States Federal Census · Mercer, West Virginia
Our Model Tree links this James Sanders across the 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Mercer, West Virginia (XGBoost, ~Confirmed), with identified parents Junie & Jessie — first a son (b.~1904), then head of a 7-person household.
Age 16
b. ~1904
Male
Son
Born: West Virginia
Single
1920 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1920 |
| Location | Mercer, West Virginia |
| Surname | Sanders |
| Given Name | James |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Mulatto |
| Age | 16 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | West Virginia |
| Father's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Mother's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Rail Road |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read | No |
| Can Write | No |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Birth State | West Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | west virginia |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Township / Ward | Bluefield City |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1904 |
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.
7 people recorded at the same address in the 1920 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to James | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louise Sanders | Daughter | — | 5 | ~1915 |
| Jessie Sanders | Head | — | 44 | ~1876 |
| Jessie Sanders | Son | — | 12 | ~1908 |
| Thomas Sanders | Son | — | 8 | ~1912 |
| Lara Sanders | Son | — | ~1920 | |
| James Sanders | Son | — | 16 | ~1904 |
| Ada Sanders | Spouse | — | 40 | ~1880 |
Census Appearances
1910
Mercer, West …
Son, age 7
Mercer, West Virginia · implied b. ~1903 — 10 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Saunders |
| Given Name | James |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 7 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | West Virginia |
| Father's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Mother's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Birth State | West Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | west virginia |
1920
Mercer, West …
Son, age 16
Mercer, West Virginia · implied b. ~1904 — 7 household members
| Surname | Sanders |
| Given Name | James |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Mulatto |
| Age | 16 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | West Virginia |
| Father's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Mother's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Rail Road |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read | No |
| Can Write | No |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Birth State | West Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | west virginia |
1930
Mercer, West …
Head, age 27
Mercer, West Virginia · implied b. ~1903 — 2 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Saunders |
| Given Name | James E. |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 27 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | West Virginia |
| Age at First Marriage | 25 |
| Father's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Mother's Birthplace | Virginia |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Railroad |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Home Owned/Rented | R |
| Home Value / Rent | 20 |
| Birth State | West Virginia |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | west virginia |
1940
Mercer-County, West …
Son, age 33
Mercer-County, West Virginia · implied b. ~1907 — 7 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Saunders |
| Given Name | James |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 33 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | West Virginia |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Bluefield City |
| Occupation | Assistant Engineer |
| Industry | Electric Light Power |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 40 |
| Income (1939) | 1620 |
| Highest Grade | Hs 4 |
| 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 Sanders across 4 US Census years (1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage. Identified parents: father Junie Saunders (~0.92 confidence) and father Jessie Sanders (~0.92 confidence) and mother Ida Saunders (~0.92 confidence) and mother Ada Sanders (~0.92 confidence) and father Peter Saunders (~0.60 confidence). The pedigree spans 1 generation with 5 identified ancestors.
Show:
Gen 1
Parents
confidence ≈ 0.86
Father
Junie Saunders
b. ~1874
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
Jessie Sanders
b. ~1876
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Ida Saunders
b. ~1879
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Ada Sanders
b. ~1880
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
Peter Saunders
b. ~1897
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.6
This person
Anchor record
James Sanders
Son · 1920 · age 16 · b. ~1904 · West Virginia
★ You are viewing this record
Sibling
Jessie Sanders
Sibling · 1920 · age 12
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Louise Sanders
Sibling · 1920 · age 5
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Lara Sanders
Sibling · 1920 · age
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Thomas Sanders
Sibling · 1920 · age 8
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
1920 US Federal Census — Mercer, West Virginia
Open full size
1920 US Federal Census — Mercer, West Virginia
Page Contents
50 people indexed on this census page (ia:1920:14thcensusofpopu1963unit:0757)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | James Johnston | 23 | Lodger | Barber | Virginia |
| 52 | William Patrick | 22 | Lodger | Barber | Virginia |
| 53 | Doctor Poe | 30 | Lodger | Physician | Virginia |
| 54 | Macklin Nash | 22 | Lodger | Bell Boy | Virginia |
| 55 | Eddie Booker | 22 | Lodger | Survour | Virginia |
| 56 | Robert James | 26 | Lodger | Porter | Alabama |
| 57 | William Rideman | 24 | Lodger | Cook | Virginia |
| 58 | John Chapman | 42 | Head | Brakeman | Virginia |
| 59 | Annie Chapman | 32 | Wife | Laborer | Virginia |
| 60 | Roy Chapman | 14 | Son | Laborer | Virginia |
| 61 | John Jr. Chapman | 12 | Son | — | Virginia |
| 62 | Nora M. Chapman | 9 | Daughter | — | Virginia |
| 63 | Amous Chapman | 6 | Son | — | Virginia |
| 64 | Annie Crawford | 37 | Head | Waitress | Virginia |
| 65 | Albert Crawford | 18 | Son | Waiter | Virginia |
| 66 | John Stewart | 51 | Head | Waiter | North Carolina |
| 67 | Essie Stewart | 50 | Wife | Chambermaid | North Carolina |
| 68 | Jessie Sanders | 44 | Head | Laborer | Virginia |
| 69 | Ada Sanders | 40 | Wife | — | Virginia |
| 70 | James Sanders THIS PERSON | 16 | Son | Laborer | West Virginia |
| 71 | Louise Sanders | 5 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 72 | Jessie L. Sanders | 12 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 73 | Thomas Sanders | 8 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 74 | Lara Ever Sanders | 0 | Son | — | West Virginia |
| 75 | Sandy F. Wilson | 22 | Head | Laborer | Tennessee |
| 76 | Thelma W. Wilson | 19 | Wife | — | West Virginia |
| 77 | Conley Samuel | 21 | Lodger | Servant | Virginia |
| 78 | Meadow Haller | 35 | Head | Laborer | Virginia |
| 79 | Gay Haller | 23 | Wife | — | Virginia |
| 80 | Roboliter Haller | 1 | Daughter | — | Ohio |
| 81 | Henry Howard | 36 | Head | Laborer | Virginia |
| 82 | Mary Howard | 22 | Wife | — | North Carolina |
| 83 | Jennie Johnston | 29 | Head | Laborer | North Carolina |
| 84 | Thomas Johnston | 16 | Son | Apprentice | Virginia |
| 85 | Horace Johnston | 18 | Lodger | Porter | West Virginia |
| 86 | Sallie Hard | 30 | Head | Servant | North Carolina |
| 87 | Claud Brown | 21 | Brother | Laborer | North Carolina |
| 88 | John Griffin | 62 | Head | Laborer | North Carolina |
| 89 | Alice Griffin | 45 | Wife | — | North Carolina |
| 90 | Walter F. Griffin | 24 | Son | Laborer | West Virginia |
| 91 | Clarence S. Rodgers | 34 | Head | Physician | North Carolina |
| 92 | Esther M. Rodgers | 33 | Wife | — | North Carolina |
| 93 | Annie M. Rodgers | 4 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 94 | Julia M. Rodgers | 2 | Daughter | — | West Virginia |
| 95 | Lucinda Sprall | 40 | Head | — | Virginia |
| 96 | Rosa Sprall | 13 | Daughter | — | Massachusetts |
| 97 | William M. Washington | 47 | Head | Baker | Virginia |
| 98 | Malinda Washington | 37 | Wife | — | Virginia |
| 99 | Bird Charles | 27 | Lodger | Manicurist | Ohio |
| 100 | Ezra Johnston | 27 | Lodger | Barber | Virginia |
Pedigree Summary
James + 4 siblings
Gen 1 · 5 parents
~0.86
Max depth 4 (1900–1950 window)
About This Record & Model Tree
This record was independently indexed by YourRoots from the 1920 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)