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William Short — 1940 US Census Record
Linked across censuses1940 United States Federal Census · Vermilion-County, Illinois
Our Model Tree links this William Short across the 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Vermilion-County, Illinois (XGBoost, ~Confirmed) — first a head (b.~1889), then head of a 7-person household.
Age 51
b. ~1889
Male
Head
Born: Missouri
Married
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Vermilion-County, Illinois |
| Surname | Short |
| Given Name | William R |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 51 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Missouri |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Danville |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Vermilion |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Locomotive Fireman |
| Industry | Steam Railroad |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 48 |
| Income (1939) | 1800 |
| Highest Grade | H 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same House |
| Birth State | Missouri |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | missouri |
| Occupation | Locomotive Fireman |
| Township / Ward | Danville |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1889 |
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 William | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold Short | Son | — | 8 | ~1932 |
| Barbara Short | Daughter | — | 6 | ~1934 |
| Loretta Short | Daughter | — | 10 | ~1930 |
| Homer Short | Son | — | 22 | ~1918 |
| Leona Short | Daughter | — | 12 | ~1928 |
| William Short | Head | — | 51 | ~1889 |
| Stella Short | Spouse | — | 45 | ~1895 |
Census Appearances
1920
Vermilion, Illinois
Head, age 32
Vermilion, Illinois · implied b. ~1888 — 3 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Short |
| Given Name | William |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 32 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Missouri |
| Father's Birthplace | Missouri |
| Mother's Birthplace | Missouri |
| Occupation | Fireman |
| Industry | Locomotive |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Home Owned/Rented | O |
| Home Free/Mortgaged | M |
| Birth State | Missouri |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | missouri |
1930
Vermilion, Illinois
Head, age 42
Vermilion, Illinois · implied b. ~1888 — 5 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Short |
| Given Name | William R. |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 42 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Missouri |
| Age at First Marriage | 25 |
| Father's Birthplace | Missouri |
| Mother's Birthplace | Missouri |
| Occupation | Fireman |
| Industry | Steam Railroad |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Home Owned/Rented | O |
| Home Value / Rent | 2000 |
| Veteran | Yes |
| Birth State | Missouri |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | missouri |
1940
Vermilion-County, Illinois
Head, age 51
Vermilion-County, Illinois · implied b. ~1889 — 7 household members
| Surname | Short |
| Given Name | William R |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 51 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Missouri |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Danville |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Vermilion |
| Occupation | Locomotive Fireman |
| Industry | Steam Railroad |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 48 |
| Income (1939) | 1800 |
| Highest Grade | H 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same House |
| Birth State | Missouri |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | missouri |
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 Short across 3 US Census years (1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage.
Show:
This person
Anchor record
William Short
Head · 1940 · age 51 · b. ~1889 · Illinois
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Confirmed / household (~0.90+)
Probable / derived (~0.65–0.89)
Candidate (<0.65, unverified)
Original Census Page
1940 US Federal Census — Vermilion-County, Illinois
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Vermilion-County, Illinois
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-00897-00634)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | William R Short THIS PERSON | 51 | Head | Locomotive Fireman | Missouri |
| 42 | Stella A Short | 45 | Wife | — | Missouri |
| 43 | Homer Short | 22 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 44 | Leona Short | 12 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 45 | Loretta Short | 10 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 46 | Harold Short | 8 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 47 | Barbara Short | 6 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 48 | William A Farmer | 48 | Head | Locomotive Fireman | Illinois |
| 49 | Frances Farmer | 44 | Wife | — | Illinois |
| 50 | Vivian Farmer | 15 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 51 | Mildred Farmer | 13 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 52 | Merle Farmer | 10 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 53 | Paul Rhine | 26 | Head | Machine Operator | Illinois |
| 54 | Lucille Rhine | 26 | Wife | — | Illinois |
| 55 | Paul Rhine | 0 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 56 | Joseph Milburn | 59 | Head | Brakeman | Indiana |
| 57 | Edith Milburn | 39 | Wife | Teacher | Illinois |
| 58 | John Dewey | 46 | Head | Police Officer | Illinois |
| 59 | Daisy Dewey | 46 | Wife | — | Indiana |
| 60 | Lula Belle Dewey | 19 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 61 | Jack Dewey | 15 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 62 | Edward Dewey | 13 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 63 | Joe Grossman | 59 | Head | Locomotive Engineer | Minnesota |
| 64 | Chloe Grossman | 57 | Wife | — | Minnesota |
| 65 | Perry Meek | 56 | Head | Blacksmith Helper | Indiana |
| 66 | Flossie Meek | 54 | Wife | — | Illinois |
| 67 | Wayne Meek | 24 | Son | Electrician | Illinois |
| 68 | William Spiering | 45 | Head | Switchman | Illinois |
| 69 | Frances Spiering | 44 | Wife | — | Illinois |
| 70 | Dorothy Spiering | 19 | Daughter | New Worker | Illinois |
| 71 | Willetta Rollings | 22 | Daughter | Bookkeeper | Illinois |
| 72 | Ray Steele | 46 | Head | Machinist | Indiana |
| 73 | Ottilie Helen Steele | 34 | Wife | — | Illinois |
| 74 | Ray George Steele | 18 | Son | Machinist Apprentice | Arkansas |
| 75 | Helen Louise Steele | 13 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 76 | Elmer Brennin | 28 | Head | Foreman | Illinois |
| 77 | Freda Brennin | 24 | Wife | — | Illinois |
| 78 | Elmer Brennin | 5 | Son | — | Illinois |
| 79 | Shirley A Brennin | 2 | Daughter | — | Illinois |
| 80 | Geo Kammel | 57 | Head | Laborer | Ohio |
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)