WS
William Shaffer — 1940 US Census Record
Model Tree available1940 United States Federal Census · Wayne-County, Michigan
Our Model Tree links this William Shaffer across the 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Wayne-County, Michigan (XGBoost, ~Confirmed), with identified parents Benjamin & Blensian — first a son (b.~1914), then head of a 5-person household.
Age 26
b. ~1914
Male
Son
Born: Michigan
Single
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Wayne-County, Michigan |
| Surname | Shaffer |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 26 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Michigan |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Detroit City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Wayne |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Electrical Engineer |
| Industry | Electric Equipment |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 60 |
| Income (1939) | 18 |
| Highest Grade | C 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same House |
| Birth State | Michigan |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | michigan |
| Occupation | Electrical Engineer |
| Township / Ward | Detroit City |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1914 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Shaffer | Head | — | 48 | ~1892 |
| Roger Shaffer | Son | — | 24 | ~1916 |
| Fayde Shaffer | Spouse | — | 50 | ~1890 |
| William Shaffer | Son | — | 26 | ~1914 |
| Robert Shaffer | Son | — | 14 | ~1926 |
Census Appearances
1920
Wayne, Michigan
Son, age 6
Wayne, Michigan · implied b. ~1914 — 5 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Shaffer |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 6 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Michigan |
| Father's Birthplace | Michigan |
| Mother's Birthplace | Michigan |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Birth State | Michigan |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | michigan |
1930
Wayne, Michigan
Son, age 16
Wayne, Michigan · implied b. ~1914 — 5 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Shaffer |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 16 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Michigan |
| Father's Birthplace | Michigan |
| Mother's Birthplace | Michigan |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Birth State | Michigan |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | michigan |
1940
Wayne-County, Michigan
Son, age 26
Wayne-County, Michigan · implied b. ~1914 — 5 household members
| Surname | Shaffer |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 26 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Michigan |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Detroit City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Wayne |
| Occupation | Electrical Engineer |
| Industry | Electric Equipment |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 60 |
| Income (1939) | 18 |
| Highest Grade | C 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same House |
| Birth State | Michigan |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | michigan |
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 Shaffer across 3 US Census years (1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage. Identified parents: father Benjamin Shaffer (~0.92 confidence) and father Blensian Shaffer (~0.92 confidence) and mother Edith Shaffer (~0.92 confidence) and mother Fayde Shaffer (~0.92 confidence) and mother Talitha Shaffer (~0.92 confidence). The pedigree spans 1 generation with 5 identified ancestors.
Show:
Gen 1
Parents
confidence ≈ 0.92
Father
Benjamin Shaffer
b. ~1891
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
Blensian Shaffer
b. ~1892
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Edith Shaffer
b. ~1890
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Fayde Shaffer
b. ~1890
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Talitha Shaffer
b. ~1891
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
This person
Anchor record
William Shaffer
Son · 1940 · age 26 · b. ~1914 · Michigan
★ You are viewing this record
Sibling
Roger Shaffer
Sibling · 1940 · age 24
Source co-child of head (derived)
● Co-child · derived · ~0.88
Sibling
Robert Shaffer
Sibling · 1940 · age 14
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 — Wayne-County, Michigan
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Wayne-County, Michigan
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-01852-00480)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | David J. Katz | 12 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 42 | Harold L. Katz | 6 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 43 | Nachman Loewin | 46 | Roomer | Inspector | Russia |
| 44 | Berta Loewin | 47 | Roomer | — | Poland |
| 45 | Muriel Loewin | 13 | Roomer | — | Germany |
| 46 | Siegfried Keungelsauer | 40 | Roomer | Packer | Germany |
| 47 | Lina Keungelsauer | 41 | Roomer | — | Germany |
| 48 | Florence Keungelsauer | 7 | Roomer | — | Germany |
| 49 | Charles Downey | 50 | Head | Machine Repair Man | Michigan |
| 50 | Carrie Downey | 56 | Wife | — | Michigan |
| 51 | William W. Mcneill | 47 | Head | Paint Striper | Illinois |
| 52 | Helen Mcneill | 44 | Wife | — | Michigan |
| 53 | William R. Mcneill | 19 | Son | Machinist | Michigan |
| 54 | John Mcneill | 17 | Son | Gasoline Attendant | Michigan |
| 55 | Jean Mcneill | 15 | Daughter | — | Michigan |
| 56 | Benjamin H. Shaffer | 48 | Head | Insurance Agent | Michigan |
| 57 | Fayde Shaffer | 50 | Wife | — | Michigan |
| 58 | William Shaffer THIS PERSON | 26 | Son | Electrical Engineer | Michigan |
| 59 | Roger F. Shaffer | 24 | Son | Stock Clerk | Michigan |
| 60 | Robert Shaffer | 14 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 61 | Henry J. Harvey | 48 | Head | Mounted Policeman | Michigan |
| 62 | Ethel A. Harvey | 46 | Wife | — | Michigan |
| 63 | Wavrenah Harvey | 11 | Son | — | Michigan |
| 64 | Marian Harvey | 11 | Daughter | — | Michigan |
| 65 | Robert Davies | 27 | Son-in-law | Machine Operator | Ohio |
| 66 | Velma Davies | 22 | Daughter | — | Michigan |
| 67 | Wayne Davies | 1 | Grandson | — | Michigan |
| 68 | John D. Luke | 62 | Head | Mechanical Engineer | New York |
| 69 | Pearl Luke | 60 | Wife | — | New York |
| 70 | Frederic Luke | 36 | Son | Carpenter Maintenance | New York |
| 71 | Mary Louise Luke | 9 | Grand-daughter | — | Michigan |
| 72 | Henry Plante | 44 | Head | Proprietor | Rhode Island |
| 73 | Leota Plante | 56 | Wife | — | Ohio |
| 74 | Doris Plante | 15 | Daughter | — | Rhode Island |
| 75 | Lucille Plante | 13 | Daughter | — | Rhode Island |
| 76 | Edgar Plante | 12 | Son | — | Rhode Island |
| 77 | Gloria Mae Plante | 10 | Daughter | — | Michigan |
| 78 | John Pasanen | 73 | Head | Machine Worker | Finland |
| 79 | Maria Pasanen | 70 | Wife | — | Finland |
| 80 | George E. Pasanen | 35 | Son | General Clerk | Michigan |
Pedigree Summary
William + 2 siblings
Gen 1 · 5 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)