WB
William Best — 1940 US Census Record
Linked across censuses1940 United States Federal Census · Northampton-County, Pennsylvania
Our Model Tree links this William Best across the 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Northampton-County, Pennsylvania (XGBoost, ~Confirmed) — first a head (b.~1870), then head of a 5-person household.
Age 70
b. ~1870
Male
Head
Born: Pennsylvania
Married
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Northampton-County, Pennsylvania |
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 70 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Bethlehem City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Northampton |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Industry | Own Farm |
| Class of Worker | O |
| Hours Worked | 50 |
| Income (1939) | 0 |
| Highest Grade | No 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | Pennsylvania |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Township / Ward | Bethlehem City |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1870 |
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 William | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floyd Best | Son | — | 47 | ~1893 |
| William Best | Head | — | 70 | ~1870 |
| Sarah Best | Spouse | — | 75 | ~1865 |
| Herbert Best | Other | — | 22 | ~1918 |
| Mabel Best | Other | — | 46 | ~1894 |
Census Appearances
1910
Northampton, Pennsylvania
Head, age 40
Northampton, Pennsylvania · implied b. ~1870 — 5 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | Wm. H. |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 40 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| Years Married | 20 |
| Father's Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| Mother's Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Retail merchant |
| Industry | Department Store |
| Birth State | Pennsylvania |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | pennsylvania |
1920
Northampton, Pennsylvania
Head, age 51
Northampton, Pennsylvania · implied b. ~1869 — 3 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William B |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 51 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| Father's Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| Mother's Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Repairman |
| Industry | RR Shops |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Home Owned/Rented | O |
| Home Free/Mortgaged | F |
| Birth State | Pennsylvania |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | pennsylvania |
1930
Northampton, Pennsylvania
Head, age 60
Northampton, Pennsylvania · implied b. ~1870 — 5 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William H. |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 60 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| Age at First Marriage | 20 |
| Father's Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| Mother's Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Retail Merchant |
| Industry | Groceries |
| Class of Worker | O |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Home Owned/Rented | O |
| Home Value / Rent | 2500 |
| Radio Set | R |
| Veteran | No |
| Birth State | Pennsylvania |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | pennsylvania |
1940
Northampton-County, Pennsylvania
Head, age 70
Northampton-County, Pennsylvania · implied b. ~1870 — 5 household members
| Surname | Best |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 70 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Pennsylvania |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Bethlehem City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Northampton |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Industry | Own Farm |
| Class of Worker | O |
| Hours Worked | 50 |
| Income (1939) | 0 |
| Highest Grade | No 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | Pennsylvania |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | pennsylvania |
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 4 US Census years (1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage.
Show:
This person
Anchor record
William Best
Head · 1940 · age 70 · b. ~1870 · Pennsylvania
★ You are viewing this record
Confirmed / household (~0.90+)
Probable / derived (~0.65–0.89)
Candidate (<0.65, unverified)
Original Census Page
1940 US Federal Census — Northampton-County, Pennsylvania
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Northampton-County, Pennsylvania
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-03589-00417)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | John D. Laman | 39 | Head | Farmer | Pennsylvania |
| 42 | Kathryn Laman | 42 | Wife | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 43 | John Jr. Laman | 14 | Son | Student | Pennsylvania |
| 44 | Dorothy Laman | 12 | Daughter | Student | Pennsylvania |
| 45 | Henry Laman | 11 | Son | — | Pennsylvania |
| 46 | Theresa Laman | 9 | Daughter | — | Pennsylvania |
| 47 | Irene Laman | 7 | Daughter | — | Pennsylvania |
| 48 | Margaret Laman | 3 | Daughter | — | Pennsylvania |
| 49 | Emma Ganssle | 69 | Mother-in-law | — | Pennsylvania |
| 50 | Heart Habel | 35 | Head | Helper | Pennsylvania |
| 51 | Florence Habel | 34 | Wife | Clerk | Pennsylvania |
| 52 | Heart Jr. Habel | 13 | Son | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 53 | Robert Habel | 10 | Son | — | Pennsylvania |
| 54 | Marion Habel | 8 | Daughter | — | Pennsylvania |
| 55 | Robert Smith | 56 | Head | Farmer | Pennsylvania |
| 56 | Laura Smith | 54 | Wife | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 57 | Elsie I. Smith | 30 | Daughter | Clerk | Pennsylvania |
| 58 | George Moyer | 66 | Head | Salesman | Pennsylvania |
| 59 | Cora Moyer | 66 | Wife | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 60 | William Best THIS PERSON | 70 | Head | Farmer | Pennsylvania |
| 61 | Sarah E. Best | 75 | Wife | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 62 | Floyd R. Best | 47 | Son | Farm Hand | Pennsylvania |
| 63 | Mabel A. Best | 46 | Daughter-in-law | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 64 | Herbert W. Best | 22 | Grandson | Laborer | Pennsylvania |
| 65 | Russell Edelman | 40 | Head | Laborer | Pennsylvania |
| 66 | Elizabeth Edelman | 43 | Wife | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 67 | Charles A. Jacoby | 45 | Head | Rate Clerk | Pennsylvania |
| 68 | Beulah Jacoby | 34 | Wife | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 69 | Frances Mae Jacoby | 5 | Daughter | — | Pennsylvania |
| 70 | Robert William Jacoby | 1 | Son | — | Pennsylvania |
| 71 | William H. Moyer | 73 | Head | Millwright | New Jersey |
| 72 | Lizzie E. Moyer | 72 | Wife | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 73 | William Clarken | 25 | Roomer | Laborer | Pennsylvania |
| 74 | Irene Clarken | 25 | Roomer | Factory Worker | Pennsylvania |
| 75 | William Sinnott | 47 | Head | Superintendent | Pennsylvania |
| 76 | Catherine Sinnott | 43 | Wife | Housewife | Pennsylvania |
| 77 | William Sinnott | 22 | Son | Apprentice | Pennsylvania |
| 78 | Veronica Sinnott | 20 | Daughter | Clerk | Pennsylvania |
| 79 | John Sinnott | 19 | Son | Student | Pennsylvania |
| 80 | Joseph Sinnott | 18 | Son | Student | Pennsylvania |
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)