JC
John Cowan — 1940 US Census Record
Linked across censuses1940 United States Federal Census · Davidson-County, Tennessee
Our Model Tree links this John Cowan across the 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Davidson-County, Tennessee (XGBoost, ~Confirmed) — first a son (b.~1926), then head of a 7-person household.
Age 14
b. ~1926
Male
Son
Born: Tennessee
Single
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Davidson-County, Tennessee |
| Surname | Cowan |
| Given Name | John |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 14 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Tennessee |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Nashville City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Davidson |
| Additional Details | |
| Class of Worker | 0 |
| Income (1939) | 0 |
| Highest Grade | No 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | Tennessee |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | tennessee |
| Township / Ward | Nashville City |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1926 |
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 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to John | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addie Cowan | Spouse | — | 45 | ~1895 |
| John Cowan | Son | — | 14 | ~1926 |
| Ray Cowan | Son | — | 16 | ~1924 |
| Floyd Cowan | Son | — | 20 | ~1920 |
| Frank Cowan | Son | — | 8 | ~1932 |
| Floyd Cowan | Head | — | 55 | ~1885 |
| Dorothy Cowan | Daughter | — | 12 | ~1928 |
Census Appearances
1930
Davidson, Tennessee
Son, age 5
Davidson, Tennessee · implied b. ~1925 — 6 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Cowan |
| Given Name | John |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 5 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Tennessee |
| Father's Birthplace | Tennessee |
| Mother's Birthplace | Tennessee |
| Occupation | none |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Birth State | Tennessee |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | tennessee |
1940
Davidson-County, Tennessee
Son, age 14
Davidson-County, Tennessee · implied b. ~1926 — 7 household members
| Surname | Cowan |
| Given Name | John |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 14 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Tennessee |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Nashville City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Davidson |
| Class of Worker | 0 |
| Income (1939) | 0 |
| Highest Grade | No 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | Tennessee |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | tennessee |
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 14 · b. ~1926 · Tennessee
★ You are viewing this record
Sibling
Frank Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 8
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Dorothy Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 12
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Ray Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 16
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Floyd Cowan
Sibling · 1940 · age 20
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 — Davidson-County, Tennessee
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Davidson-County, Tennessee
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-03974-00664)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Lennie Hadley | 40 | Head | Ls | Tennessee |
| 42 | Lonie Hadley | 33 | Wife | — | Tennessee |
| 43 | Lelay Johnson | 17 | Daughter | Maid | Tennessee |
| 44 | Charlie Johnson | 25 | Son-in-law | Laborer | Tennessee |
| 45 | Lennie Jr. Hadley | 15 | Son | — | Tennessee |
| 46 | Therain Hadley | 10 | Son | — | Tennessee |
| 47 | Nannie Lee Hadley | 5 | Daughter | — | Tennessee |
| 48 | Charles Hadley | 1 | Son | — | Tennessee |
| 49 | Hallie Hadley | 42 | Brother | — | Tennessee |
| 50 | Sam E. Stutt | 52 | Head | Laborer | Tennessee |
| 51 | Will Neal | 45 | Head | Laborer | Alabama |
| 52 | Dollie Neal | 40 | Wife | — | Tennessee |
| 53 | Robert (Ab) Bartley | 17 | Step-son | Laborer | Tennessee |
| 54 | Floyd Cowan | 55 | Head | Janitor | Tennessee |
| 55 | Addie Cowan | 45 | Wife | — | Tennessee |
| 56 | Floyd Jr. Cowan | 20 | Son | Porter | Tennessee |
| 57 | Ray Cowan | 16 | Son | Porter | Tennessee |
| 58 | John Cowan THIS PERSON | 14 | Son | — | Tennessee |
| 59 | Frank Cowan | 8 | Son | — | Tennessee |
| 60 | Dorothy Cowan | 12 | Daughter | — | Tennessee |
| 61 | Will Thomas | 80 | Head | — | Tennessee |
| 62 | Walter Bostick | 67 | Son-in-law | — | Tennessee |
| 63 | Anna Bostick | 52 | Daughter | Laundress | Tennessee |
| 64 | Jessie Benson | 45 | Daughter | Housework | Tennessee |
| 65 | William Roper | 28 | Head | Laborer | Mississippi |
| 66 | Stella Roper | 29 | Wife | — | Mississippi |
| 67 | Dorothy Roper | 12 | Daughter | — | Mississippi |
| 68 | Bob Roper | 8 | Son | — | Mississippi |
| 69 | Forrest Roper | 6 | Son | — | Tennessee |
| 70 | Charles H. Roper | 3 | Son | — | Tennessee |
| 71 | George Roper | 1 | Son | — | Tennessee |
| 72 | James Taylor | 33 | Head | Laborer | Tennessee |
| 73 | Rena Bill Taylor | 27 | Wife | Laundress | Tennessee |
| 74 | George Hume | 41 | Head | Laborer | Tennessee |
| 75 | Mary Hume | 75 | Mother | — | Kentucky |
| 76 | Lonzo Barksdale | 47 | Lodger | — | Tennessee |
| 77 | Sherman Barksdale | 45 | Lodger | Plumber'S Helper | Tennessee |
| 78 | William Buchanan | 87 | Head | — | Tennessee |
| 79 | Katie Buchanan | 80 | Wife | — | Tennessee |
| 80 | James Tucker | 27 | Head | Carpenter | Tennessee |
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)