The theme for Week 6 is "Earning a Living." Knowing how our ancestors earned a living can give us insight into their lives. What occupations have you seen in your family? Is there an ancestor whose occupation wouldn't exist today or one whose job really resonates with you? Click here to check out all of the 2024 Prompts.
In my family, I have lots of farmers. I am sure I am not the only one who has lots of farmers in their family.
Looking at my eight 2x great-grandfathers in the 1880 US Census, 6 of them were Farmers, one was an Engineer, and one was a laborer. The Engineer most likely worked for the railroad and I have no idea what kind of laborer the other was. 4 of the Farmers lived in Dodge or Columbia County, Wisconsin, USA. The other two were farmers in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, USA.
Since I grew up in the city, I never really thought about farm life until I married my husband who grew up on a farm. Being a farmer is a hard life. Their livelihood depended on the weather. They also usually had large families, because the children became a valuable asset on the farm to help with chores.
Looking at my four great-grandfathers in the 1900 US Census, I was down to two farmers and two laborers. One was a day laborer and most likely worked on a farm, and the other was a Yardman for a Lumber Company.
Looking at my two grandfathers in the 1930 US Census, one was a Coremaker for an Iron Foundry and the other was a gardener at an Insane Hospital. I noticed that the size of families started to get smaller.
However, I am the youngest of nine children. My mother was a widow with six children when she married my father. My father was a mechanic for Kiekhaefer Mercury and Aeromarine. Which later became Mercury Marine a division of the Brunswick Corporation. My father worked his way up and became the International Service Manager for Mercury Marine and worked 35 plus years for them.
My family history seems to mirror America’s history, where the number of US farms are falling sharply with the increased of nonfarm employment opportunities. Even in my husband’s family, none of his siblings remained on the farm.
I didn't profile any of the women because most of them were homemakers. My maternal grandmother worked outside the home as a maid, housekeeper and cook. My mother was the first to obtain a college degree and earned her teacher’s certificate but stop teaching when she married her first husband. She did go back to school to get her accounting degree but never did get hired as an accountant. Instead, she took a part-time job for the Miles Kimball Company, a mail order company where she opened the mail and input the orders. She worked there in the fall months to help with Christmas Orders.
Remember to have fun and Just Do Genealogy!
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