1920 Census - Andrew & Ruth Soderstrom

219 Eighteenth Ave.
Moline, Rock Island, Illinois

Line #12 - Soderstrom, Andrew, head, renter, male, white, 31 yrs. old, married, immigrated in 1911, naturalized in 1918, can read and write, born in Sweden, native language Swedish, father born in Sweden native language Swedish, mother born in Sweden native language Swedish, able to speak English, working, occupation machinist in a plow factory, working for wages.

 Line #13 -  Soderstrom, Ruth, wife, female, white, 25 yrs. old, married, immigrated in 1914, naturalized in 1918, can read and write, born in Sweden, native language Swedish, father born in Sweden native language Swedish, mother born in Sweden native language Swedish, able to speak English, not working

Line #14 - Soderstrom, Edwin. brother, male, white, 29 yrs. old, immigrated in 1912, naturalized in 1918, can read and write,,  born in Sweden, native language Swedish, father born in Sweden native language Swedish, mother born in Sweden native language Swedish, can speak English, occupation benchwork in plow factory, working for wages

Note: Ruth automatically became a US citizen by her marriage to Andrew who was a naturalized citizen. In 1922 that law would change and a wife would be required to file for naturalization independent of her husband.

Edwin, Andrew's unmarried brother lives with them, a not uncommon practice particularly among immigrant families.

1920 US Census - Richard Kallman Family - Chicago

1920 The Richard Kallman Family has left the quad city area and is now living in Chicago, where they will remain.

• 3056 Clifton Avenue - the family is renting 

• Richard, head of household, white, age 32, immigrated in 1906, pending naturalization, can read and write, born in Sweden as were both parents, occupation blacksmith, working in a wagonshop.

• Lydia, wife, white, age 29, immigrated in 1892, alien, can read and write, born in Sweden as were both parents, occupation none

• Albin R, son, white, age 7, attending school, born in Iowa, both parents born in Sweden

• Eva L.D.,daughter, white, age 4 4/12, not yet in school. born in Illinois, both parents born in Sweden

• Carl M., son, white, age 3 4/12, born in Illinois, both parents born in Sweden

Noted: 

• The family is living in Lakeview which at this time was a predominantly Swedish immigrant area. Most of the adults on this page are foreign born. Today this is an upscale and expensive part of Chicago.

• Richard's job in a wagonshop will be soon no longer exist with the coming of the model T Ford and cars being made possible for the working man. He will soon translate his blacksmith skills into doing body and fender work on cars.

• 1892 is the incorrect year of immigration for Lydia (1911)

• Carl M is my Dad Melvin, who always went by middle name Melvin

• daughters Ebba and Laverne are not yet born although Ebba was born just 5 days after this census.

On a personal note, my Dad once told me that he could not speak English until he started school

*click on record to enlarge for easier viewing*