WB
William Best — 1940 US Census Record
Linked across censuses1940 United States Federal Census · Sangamon-County, Illinois
Our Model Tree links this William Best across the 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Sangamon-County, Illinois (XGBoost, ~Confirmed) — first a son (b.~1926), then head of a 10-person household.
Age 14
b. ~1926
Male
Son
Born: Illinois
Single
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Sangamon-County, Illinois |
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 14 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Illinois |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Springfield City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Sangamon |
| Additional Details | |
| Class of Worker | 0 |
| Highest Grade | No 7 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | Illinois |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | illinois |
| Township / Ward | Springfield 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.
10 people recorded at the same address in the 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to William | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William Best | Son | — | 14 | ~1926 |
| James Best | Son | — | 6 | ~1934 |
| Catherine Best | Daughter | — | 8 | ~1932 |
| Raymond Best | Son | — | 12 | ~1928 |
| Walter Best | Head | — | 41 | ~1899 |
| Stella Best | Daughter | — | 11 | ~1929 |
| Dorothy Best | Daughter | — | 16 | ~1924 |
| Walter Best | Son | — | 21 | ~1919 |
| Gertrude Best | Spouse | — | 43 | ~1897 |
| Mary Best | Daughter | — | 19 | ~1921 |
Census Appearances
1930
Sangamon, Illinois
Son, age 5
Sangamon, Illinois · implied b. ~1925 — 8 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 5 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Illinois |
| Father's Birthplace | Illinois |
| Mother's Birthplace | Illinois |
| Can Read/Write | No |
| Birth State | Illinois |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | illinois |
1940
Sangamon-County, Illinois
Son, age 14
Sangamon-County, Illinois · implied b. ~1926 — 10 household members
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 14 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Illinois |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Springfield City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Sangamon |
| Class of Worker | 0 |
| Highest Grade | No 7 |
| 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 William Best across 2 US Census years (1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage.
Show:
This person
Anchor record
William Best
Son · 1940 · age 14 · b. ~1926 · Illinois
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Sibling
Stella Best
Sibling · 1940 · age 11
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Walter Best
Sibling · 1940 · age 21
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Dorothy Best
Sibling · 1940 · age 16
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Catherine Best
Sibling · 1940 · age 8
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Mary Best
Sibling · 1940 · age 19
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Raymond Best
Sibling · 1940 · age 12
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
James Best
Sibling · 1940 · age 6
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 — Sangamon-County, Illinois
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Sangamon-County, Illinois
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-00884-00750)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Loren Cooper | 5 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 42 | Sharon Cooper | 3 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 43 | Frank Petruikis | 24 | Head | Laborer | Illinois |
| 44 | Julia Petruikis | 24 | Wife | Waitress | Illinois |
| 45 | Sophie Bartashius | 51 | Mother-in-law | Elevator Operator | Illinois |
| 46 | Charles Bradley | 45 | Head | Laborer | Illinois |
| 47 | Bessie Bradley | 43 | Wife | Maid | Kentucky |
| 48 | The Following Line In Block 302 | None | — | — | — |
| 49 | William Mikelsis | 64 | Head | Proprietor | Austria |
| 50 | Helen Mikelsis | 59 | Wife | — | Hungary |
| 51 | William Mikelsis | 32 | Son | Apprentice Printer | Illinois |
| 52 | Edna Mikelsis | 23 | Daughter | Stitcher | Illinois |
| 53 | George J. Etter | 38 | Head | Stock Clerk | Illinois |
| 54 | Opal Etter | 38 | Wife | — | Indiana |
| 55 | David Etter | 17 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 56 | Walter Best | 41 | Head | Laborer | Illinois |
| 57 | Gertrude Best | 43 | Wife | — | Illinois |
| 58 | Walter Best | 21 | Son | Office Boy | Illinois |
| 59 | Mary J. Best | 19 | Daughter | New Worker | Illinois |
| 60 | Dorothy Best | 16 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 61 | William Best THIS PERSON | 14 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 62 | Raymond Best | 12 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 63 | Stella Best | 11 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 64 | Catherine Best | 8 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 65 | James Best | 6 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 66 | John J. Lynch | 79 | Head | — | Illinois |
| 67 | Stella Lynch | 67 | Wife | — | Illinois |
| 68 | Gertrude Freeman | 64 | Sister-in-law | — | Illinois |
| 69 | Catherine Smith | 42 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 70 | Iffa B. Fade | 39 | Head | Funeral Director | Illinois |
| 71 | Jinnie Rachel Fade | 18 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 72 | Vernit L. Murell | 30 | Head | Housekeeper | Illinois |
| 73 | Emma Greer | 30 | Partner | Girl | Illinois |
| 74 | Elizabeth Christopher | 27 | Partner | Maid | Illinois |
| 75 | Ray Williams | 40 | Head | Night Watchman | Missouri |
| 76 | Minnie Williams | 36 | Wife | — | Missouri |
| 77 | Louis Alfones | 66 | Head | Blacksmith | Portugal |
| 78 | Orville Cho | 42 | Head | Laborer | Illinois |
| 79 | Albert Williams | 40 | Head | Barber | Illinois |
| 80 | Harry V. Duffigan | 43 | Head | Laborer | Illinois |
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)