WN
Walter Nelson — 1940 US Census Record
Model Tree available1940 United States Federal Census · Muskegon-County, Michigan
Our Model Tree links this Walter Nelson across the 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Muskegon-County, Michigan (XGBoost, ~Confirmed), with identified parents Charles & Kate — first a son (b.~1904), then head of a 5-person household.
Age 36
b. ~1904
Male
Son
Born: Illinois
Single
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Muskegon-County, Michigan |
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Walter |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 36 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Illinois |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Cedar Creek Township |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Muskegon |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Switchman |
| Industry | Railroad |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 30 |
| Income (1939) | 1000 |
| Highest Grade | No 8 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | Illinois |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | illinois |
| Occupation | Switchman |
| Township / Ward | Cedar Creek Township |
| 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.
5 people recorded at the same address in the 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to Walter | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eleanor Nelson | Daughter | — | 21 | ~1919 |
| Charles Nelson | Head | — | 62 | ~1878 |
| Stanley Nelson | Son | — | 23 | ~1917 |
| Walter Nelson | Son | — | 36 | ~1904 |
| Kate Nelson | Spouse | — | 61 | ~1879 |
Census Appearances
1920
Muskegon, Michigan
Son, age 15
Muskegon, Michigan · implied b. ~1905 — 6 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Walter |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 15 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Illinois |
| Father's Birthplace | Michigan |
| Mother's Birthplace | Germany |
| Occupation | none |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Birth State | Illinois |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | illinois |
1930
Muskegon, Michigan
Son, age 26
Muskegon, Michigan · implied b. ~1904 — 6 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Walter |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 26 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Illinois |
| Age at First Marriage | 21 |
| Father's Birthplace | Michigan |
| Mother's Birthplace | Germany |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Road Work |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Birth State | Illinois |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | illinois |
1940
Muskegon-County, Michigan
Son, age 36
Muskegon-County, Michigan · implied b. ~1904 — 5 household members
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Walter |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 36 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Illinois |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Cedar Creek Township |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Muskegon |
| Occupation | Switchman |
| Industry | Railroad |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 30 |
| Income (1939) | 1000 |
| Highest Grade | No 8 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | Illinois |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | illinois |
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 Walter Nelson across 3 US Census years (1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage. Identified parents: father Charles Nelson (~0.92 confidence) and mother Kate Nelson (~0.92 confidence) and father Nels Nelson (~0.92 confidence) and mother Agda Nelson (~0.92 confidence). The pedigree spans 1 generation with 4 identified ancestors.
Show:
Gen 1
Parents
confidence ≈ 0.92
Father
Charles Nelson
b. ~1878
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Kate Nelson
b. ~1879
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
Nels Nelson
b. ~1880
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Agda Nelson
b. ~1883
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
This person
Anchor record
Walter Nelson
Son · 1940 · age 36 · b. ~1904 · Michigan
★ You are viewing this record
Sibling
Stanley Nelson
Sibling · 1940 · age 23
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Eleanor Nelson
Sibling · 1940 · age 21
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 — Muskegon-County, Michigan
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Muskegon-County, Michigan
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-01794-00067)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Dorene Dolson | 24 | Daughter | — | Michigan |
| 42 | Lawrence Roberts | 37 | Head | Assembly | Michigan |
| 43 | Hazel Roberts | 36 | Wife | — | Michigan |
| 44 | Kenneth Roberts | 7 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 45 | Donald Roberts | 5 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 46 | Eugene Roberts | 5 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 47 | Katherine Gascher | 18 | Niece | — | Michigan |
| 48 | David Carlson | 30 | Head | Foreman | Michigan |
| 49 | Margret Carlson | 25 | Wife | — | Michigan |
| 50 | De Wayne Carlson | 5 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 51 | James Brechtline | 10 | Lodger | — | Michigan |
| 52 | Andrew Rolak | 48 | Head | Molding | Czechoslovakia |
| 53 | Anna Rolak | 50 | Wife | — | Czechoslovakia |
| 54 | Paul Rolak | 19 | Son | Farm Laborer | Michigan |
| 55 | John Rolak | 17 | Son | Farm Laborer | Michigan |
| 56 | Elizabeth Rolak | 12 | Daughter | — | Michigan |
| 57 | Karl Rolak | 10 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 58 | Frank G. Rolak | 9 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 59 | Howard R. Jones | 40 | Head | Farmer | Indiana |
| 60 | Frances I. Jones | 45 | Wife | — | Indiana |
| 61 | Loretta Jean Jones | 8 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 62 | Charles L. Jones | 29 | Brother | Truck Driver | Indiana |
| 63 | Frank Beebe | 74 | Head | — | New York |
| 64 | Irene Beebe | 46 | Wife | — | Canada English |
| 65 | George Beebe | 18 | Son | Farm Laborer | Michigan |
| 66 | Adam E. South | 45 | Head | Shipping Clerk | Indiana |
| 67 | Jane South | 47 | Wife | — | Michigan |
| 68 | Robert South | 17 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 69 | Charles Rayton | 67 | Lodger | — | Maryland |
| 70 | Charles Nelson | 62 | Head | Laborer | Michigan |
| 71 | Kate Nelson | 61 | Wife | — | Germany |
| 72 | Walter Nelson THIS PERSON | 36 | Son | Switchman | Illinois |
| 73 | Stanley Nelson | 23 | Son | Carpenter | Illinois |
| 74 | Eleanor Nelson | 21 | Daughter | — | Michigan |
| 75 | Herman Hayes | 44 | Head | Road Construction | Tennessee |
| 76 | Alma Hayes | 38 | Wife | — | Illinois |
| 77 | Elmer Hayes | 19 | Son | Carpenter | Illinois |
| 78 | Arthur Hayes | 17 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 79 | Ernest Hayes | 16 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 80 | Edith Hayes | 14 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
Pedigree Summary
Walter + 2 siblings
Gen 1 · 4 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)