JC
John Cowan — 1940 US Census Record
Linked across censuses1940 United States Federal Census · Buncombe-County, North Carolina
Our Model Tree links this John Cowan across the 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Buncombe-County, North Carolina (XGBoost, ~Confirmed) — first a son (b.~1910), then head of a 8-person household.
Age 30
b. ~1910
Male
Son
Born: North Carolina
Single
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Buncombe-County, North Carolina |
| Surname | Cowan |
| Given Name | John Jr. |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 30 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Asheville |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Buncombe |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | White Washer |
| Industry | Hotel |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 20 |
| Income (1939) | 100 |
| Highest Grade | No 2 |
| 1935 Residence | Same House |
| Birth State | North Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | north carolina |
| Occupation | White Washer |
| Township / Ward | Asheville |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1910 |
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.
8 people recorded at the same address in the 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to John | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walter Cowan | Son | — | 34 | ~1906 |
| Fredrick Ellis | Other | — | 6 | ~1934 |
| Horace Cowan | Son | — | 32 | ~1908 |
| Gladys Cowan | Daughter | — | 31 | ~1909 |
| John Cowan | Head | — | 63 | ~1877 |
| Vernon Cowan | Son | — | 33 | ~1907 |
| John Cowan | Son | — | 30 | ~1910 |
| Lillia Cowan | Spouse | — | 60 | ~1880 |
Census Appearances
1930
Buncombe, North …
Son, age 19
Buncombe, North Carolina · implied b. ~1911 — 4 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Cowan |
| Given Name | John D Jr |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 19 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Father's Birthplace | South Carolina |
| Mother's Birthplace | North Carolina |
| Occupation | none |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Birth State | North Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | north carolina |
1940
Buncombe-County, North …
Son, age 30
Buncombe-County, North Carolina · implied b. ~1910 — 8 household members
| Surname | Cowan |
| Given Name | John Jr. |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 30 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | North Carolina |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Asheville |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Buncombe |
| Occupation | White Washer |
| Industry | Hotel |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 20 |
| Income (1939) | 100 |
| Highest Grade | No 2 |
| 1935 Residence | Same House |
| Birth State | North Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | north carolina |
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 John Cowan across 2 US Census years (1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage.
Show:
This person
Anchor record
John Cowan
Son · 1940 · age 30 · b. ~1910 · North Carolina
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Sibling
Gladys Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 31
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Horace Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 32
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Vernon Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 33
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Walter Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 34
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 — Buncombe-County, North Carolina
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Buncombe-County, North Carolina
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-02877-00777)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | George Glymph | 67 | Head | — | South Carolina |
| 42 | Mary Anderson | 67 | Head | — | Arkansas |
| 43 | Eliza Lunk | 40 | Head | Cook | South Carolina |
| 44 | Ira Simpson | 58 | Head | — | North Carolina |
| 45 | Nora Jackson | 52 | Head | — | South Carolina |
| 46 | Estelle Jackson | 27 | Daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 47 | Lula Butler | 23 | Head | Cook | South Carolina |
| 48 | Herbert Kilgo | 37 | Head | Barber | South Carolina |
| 49 | Irene Kilgo | 36 | Wife | — | South Carolina |
| 50 | Louvine Mccraken | 65 | Mother-in-law | — | South Carolina |
| 51 | Jessie Mae Mccraken | 16 | Sister-in-law | — | South Carolina |
| 52 | Lydia Gidney | 73 | Head | — | North Carolina |
| 53 | Pauline Davis | 20 | Niece | Seamstress | South Carolina |
| 54 | Nora Thomas | 50 | In-law | Cook | North Carolina |
| 55 | Ada Dixon | 62 | Head | — | South Carolina |
| 56 | W. C. Allen | 40 | Son | Undertaker | North Carolina |
| 57 | Leola Allen | 37 | Daughter-in-law | Cook | South Carolina |
| 58 | James Lewis | 10 | Son | — | Unknown |
| 59 | James Greer | 40 | Lodger | Waiter | South Carolina |
| 60 | Martha Greer | 42 | Lodger | Cook | South Carolina |
| 61 | Clifton Rice | 56 | Lodger | Barber | South Carolina |
| 62 | John Cowan | 63 | Head | Minister | South Carolina |
| 63 | Lillia Cowan | 60 | Wife | Dress Maker | North Carolina |
| 64 | Walter Cowan | 34 | Son | Chauffeur | North Carolina |
| 65 | Vernon Cowan | 33 | Son | Math Teacher | North Carolina |
| 66 | Horace Cowan | 32 | Son | Dining Car Waiter | North Carolina |
| 67 | Gladys Cowan | 31 | Daughter | Teacher | North Carolina |
| 68 | John Jr. Cowan THIS PERSON | 30 | Son | White Washer | North Carolina |
| 69 | Fredrick Ellis | 6 | Adopted Son | — | South Carolina |
| 70 | Leola Murphy | 55 | Head | — | North Carolina |
| 71 | Julia Patton | 37 | Daughter | Maid | North Carolina |
| 72 | Nelson Hunter | 48 | Head | Orderly | South Carolina |
| 73 | Corrie Hunter | 49 | Wife | — | South Carolina |
| 74 | Izater Hunter | 21 | Daughter | Maid | South Carolina |
| 75 | Frank Gaines | 23 | Son-in-law | Car Washer | South Carolina |
| 76 | Doria Gaines | 2 | Daughter | — | North Carolina |
| 77 | Azalee Gaines | 19 | Daughter | Maid | Georgia |
| 78 | Leo Williams | 45 | Head | — | South Carolina |
| 79 | Margaret Williams | 44 | Wife | — | South Carolina |
| 80 | Randolph Williams | 23 | Son | Night Clerk | South Carolina |
Related Census Records
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)