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Willie Nelson — 1940 US Census Record
Linked across censuses1940 United States Federal Census · Richland-County, South Carolina
Our Model Tree links this Willie Nelson across the 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Richland-County, South Carolina (XGBoost, ~Confirmed) — first a head (b.~1893), then head of a 7-person household.
Age 47
b. ~1893
Male
Head
Born: South Carolina
Married
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Richland-County, South Carolina |
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Willie |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 47 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | South Carolina |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Columbia City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Richland |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Construction |
| Class of Worker | GW |
| Hours Worked | 40 |
| Income (1939) | 275 |
| Highest Grade | No 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same House |
| Birth State | South Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | south carolina |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Township / Ward | Columbia City |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1893 |
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 Willie | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joan Wilson | Other | — | 2 | ~1938 |
| Fannie Nelson | Daughter | — | 14 | ~1926 |
| Willie Nelson | Head | — | 47 | ~1893 |
| Earnest Nelson | Son | — | 18 | ~1922 |
| Addie Nelson | Spouse | — | 44 | ~1896 |
| Vivian Wilson | Other | — | 5 | ~1935 |
| Josephine Nelson | Daughter | — | 20 | ~1920 |
Census Appearances
1920
Richland, South …
Head, age 24
Richland, South Carolina · implied b. ~1896 — 8 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Walter |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 24 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | South Carolina |
| Father's Birthplace | South Carolina |
| Mother's Birthplace | South Carolina |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Saw Mill |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Home Owned/Rented | R |
| Birth State | South Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | south carolina |
1930
Richland, South …
Head, age 35
Richland, South Carolina · implied b. ~1895 — 9 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Willie |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 35 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | South Carolina |
| Age at First Marriage | 21 |
| Father's Birthplace | South Carolina |
| Mother's Birthplace | South Carolina |
| Occupation | Cook |
| Industry | Private Family |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read/Write | No |
| Home Owned/Rented | O |
| Home Value / Rent | 1000 |
| Birth State | South Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | south carolina |
1940
Richland-County, South …
Head, age 47
Richland-County, South Carolina · implied b. ~1893 — 7 household members
| Surname | Nelson |
| Given Name | Willie |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | Black |
| Age | 47 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | South Carolina |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Columbia City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Richland |
| Occupation | Laborer |
| Industry | Construction |
| Class of Worker | GW |
| Hours Worked | 40 |
| Income (1939) | 275 |
| Highest Grade | No 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same House |
| Birth State | South Carolina |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | south carolina |
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 Willie Nelson across 3 US Census years (1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage.
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This person
Anchor record
Willie Nelson
Head · 1940 · age 47 · b. ~1893 · South Carolina
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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 — Richland-County, South Carolina
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Richland-County, South Carolina
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-03833-00229)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellen Smith | 76 | Lodger | — | South Carolina |
| 2 | Willie Nelson THIS PERSON | 47 | Head | Laborer | South Carolina |
| 3 | Addie Nelson | 44 | Wife | — | South Carolina |
| 4 | Josephine Nelson | 20 | Daughter | Cook | South Carolina |
| 5 | Vivian Wilson | 5 | Grand daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 6 | Joan Wilson | 2 | Grand daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 7 | Earnest Nelson | 18 | Son | New Worker | South Carolina |
| 8 | Fannie M Nelson | 14 | Daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 9 | Sam Hinsley | 53 | Head | Hostler | South Carolina |
| 10 | Mammie Hinsley | 53 | Wife | — | Georgia |
| 11 | Albert Hinsley | 16 | Grand daughter | — | Ohio |
| 12 | — | None | — | — | — |
| 13 | Francis Fulk | 71 | Head | — | South Carolina |
| 14 | Thelma James | 16 | Grand daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 15 | Johnie James | 14 | Grand son | — | South Carolina |
| 16 | Rachael James | 12 | Grand daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 17 | Moses Fulk | 12 | Grand son | — | South Carolina |
| 18 | Hattie James | 44 | Daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 19 | India Williams | 58 | Head | Maid | South Carolina |
| 20 | Freddie Williams | 18 | Son | Maid | Florida |
| 21 | Dorothy Williams | 17 | Daughter | Delivery Boy | Florida |
| 22 | Elmer Williams | 14 | Son | — | Florida |
| 23 | Perry Jones | 60 | Head | — | South Carolina |
| 24 | Shelley Jones | 58 | Wife | — | South Carolina |
| 25 | Buck Jones | 30 | Son | Cabinet Maker | South Carolina |
| 26 | Perry Jr Jones | 21 | Son | Cabinet Maker | South Carolina |
| 27 | John Sumphina | 42 | Head | Porter | South Carolina |
| 28 | Marie Sumphina | 31 | Wife | — | South Carolina |
| 29 | Arthur J Simpson | 56 | Head | Porter | South Carolina |
| 30 | Carrie Simpson | 56 | Wife | — | South Carolina |
| 31 | Maggie Simpson | 26 | Daughter | — | South Carolina |
| 32 | James Collins | 35 | Head | Chauffer | South Carolina |
| 33 | Maria Collins | 28 | Wife | Cook | South Carolina |
| 34 | Lillian Collins | 26 | Sister | Cook | South Carolina |
| 35 | Elbert Green | 30 | Head | Chauffer | South Carolina |
| 36 | Casie Green | 22 | Wife | Cook | South Carolina |
| 37 | Irene Bowman | 38 | Head | — | South Carolina |
| 38 | Benny Bowman | 19 | Son | — | South Carolina |
| 39 | Ciruso Bowman | 18 | Son | — | South Carolina |
| 40 | Homezell Bowman | 17 | Son | — | South Carolina |
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)