1910 census: Walter Underwood household

Date: 1910 [unknown]
Location: Burley, Cassia, Idaho, United States

In the 1910 census, the Underwood family appeared divided. Both households were in Burley, Idaho, but Walter Sr. was alone on a farm while Flora and the children were in a house.^[1][2] The reason for this is uncertain, but it seems likely that Walter was getting the farm ready for the family. However, there is another possible reason. The child Vida appeared in this census, and her sister Elsie later recollected that

She only lived a few months. The Fremsteads took care of her but she passed away. We all came doun with “typhoid fever” except Dad and my oldest brother Walter. (Drinking water was the cause.) Mom always thought she could have saved Vida. ^[3]

Perhaps this census was taken at the time of this illness, and the family was in town in order to be treated for the typhoid fever while Walter Sr. kept up the farm.

On a farm in Burley, Idaho.^[1]

Underwood Walter: Head; male; white; age 32; married; married 9 years; born in England; father born in England; mother born in England; immigrated 1903; naturalized; speaks English; occupation: Farmer; industry: Own Farm; Emp; can read; can write; home owned; owned free; farm; no. 1 on farm schedule.

At a different location in Burley.^[2]

Flora UNDERWOOD: Head; female; white; age 28; married 1; married 8 years; mother of 4 children, 4 still living; born in England; father born in England; mother born in England; immigration 1902; naturalized; speaks English; occupation: Farmer Laborer; industry: General farm; employment type: W; not out of work on 12 Apr 1910; out of work 0 weeks; can read; can write; home owned; owned free; house.

Walter A UNDERWOOD: Son; male; white; age 8; single; born in England; father born in England; mother born in England; speaks English; did not attend school this year.

William G UNDERWOOD: Son; male; white; age 5; single; born in Idaho; father born in England; mother born in England; speaks English.

Elsie M. UNDERWOOD: Daughter; female; white; age 3; single; born in Idaho; father born in England; mother born in England.

Vida F UNDERWOOD: Daughter; female; white; age 8/12; single; born in Idaho; father born in England; mother born in England.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1910 U.S. census, Cassia, Idaho, population schedule, Burley Precinct, enumeration district (ED) 112, sheet 5B, dwelling checkmark, family 140, Walter Underwood; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 Feb 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll T624_223.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 1910 U.S. census, Cassia, Idaho, population schedule, Burley Precinct, enumeration district (ED) 112, sheet 10A, p. 258 (stamped), family 221, household of Flora Underwood; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : accessed 22 Oct 2006); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 223.
3. ↑ Crocker, Elsie. unpublished typescript. The relevant excerpt can be read at The Heritage Huntress.