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Genealogical Research Overview
Although this website is primarily concerned with the geography and history of Swede Bend, a discussion concerning genealogical research for the Swede Bend ancestors may be beneficial. Also, most immigrants were not Swedes but were from England, Ireland, Germany and other countries.
The easiest initial search is the U.S. Census 1850 through 1930.
These records should always be searched with several caveats however. The
U.S. Census done each ten years, is only a snapshot for the day of enumeration. Individuals can spend a lifetime in the United States and never be counted, timing is everything. Swedes had a propensity to change
their names when they arrived in the U.S. or to a particular community. The name could be Americanized in several ways, or just changed to whatever. Many Swedish girls and women also changed their given names. In
the early days, they were just changed without much. if any formality. The names were also changed by immigration officials or census takers which confuses name research. Generally this was a phonetic change by
entering the name the official thought the immigrant (who often spoke little if any English) said. I have an ancestor named Olof Ferlen who I
knew settled in Hamilton County in 1857. I could not find the family with
any name search. In researching for this website the original census
pages for 1860 were viewed looking for Swedish birthplaces. The name Ola
Flene appeared with a family of six. Yep, Olof Ferlen and family. In
one area there were no Erickson's enumerated, but many Arickson's. Say
Erickson with a Swedish accent.
Even though the census sheets are official documents the information, especially on the early census years must be taken with a large grain of salt. When theearly enumerator (whose qualifications generally were limited to knowing how to write) visited a household, the census form was
completed by getting the data from one person regardless of how many people resided therein. If the person was not completely conversant in English, or did not know the required information one did the best they could. The 1850 census asked thirteen questions, the 1930 censusasked
thirty-two questions. Well these were government forms and all blanks will be filled in.
The 1890 U.S. Census was very detailed. Unfortunately this census was almost completely destroyed and only fragments exist, non of which contain any Iowa information.
Ancestry.Com is the only online source of the U.S. Census that I am
aware of and it is only available by paid subscription. Most
Genealogical and some Historical Societies subscribe and the Census may be viewed
at their locations. The census are also available at Federal
Depositories (NARA)on microfilm,for free, or the microfilm may be ordered from a
LDS family History Center at a nominal cost.
In addition to the U.S. Census, the State of Iowa also took a periodic
census in the years 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, and 1925. These also
contain much information and help fill in the hiatus between the U.S.
census years. These are available for viewing (microfilm) at the Iowa
State Historical Society, Des Moines. The various county genealogical
or Historical Societies generally have the microfilm for their county.
The libraries in the three county seats (Fort Dodge-Webster County,
Webster City-Hamilton County, and Boone-Boone County) all have genealogical
material as well as the town libraries in the counties. Each county
has a genealogical and historical society in the county seats. The 1885
and 1895 Iowa census is on Ancestry.com but needs an additional paid
subscription to get anything meaningful. The three counties have Genweb
sites which are all useful.
When using the census to research Swede Bend, if the county and
township is not known for sure, all three counties and the townships should
be searched. Until the 1880's (when the railroads arrived) there were
few towns in existance (using the term loosely) in the Swede Bend area.
Post office locations (which came into being in the early 1850's) were
not necessarily in the same township, or even the same county that they
served.
There is a recent Webster county map that shows both
Some confusion may arise when locating a particular section. Both townships can have the same section number, one in R28W and another in R27W. also if looking for the location of a specific dwelling, the 1885 Iowa Census will give the location of a rural residence within a quarter of a mile
Swede Bend is pleasant area for a research vacation, ideally in August when the Swede Bend Rememberance Day is held in Stratford. Research can also be done there. A cornucopia of information can be obtained by visits to the county courthouses, genealogical or historical societies,
and libraries. Land records in the county recorders office's dating from the first patents to today can be easily searched using the grantor-grantee index. These will give a metes and bounds location of your
ancestors land. Old assessors records will tell you among other things how many animals your ancestor owned plus property valuation Assessor maps will show who and the location where your ancestor's land was located in a township. In old newspapers of the area (microfilm at the societies) you can find when your ancestor was naturalized or other noteworthy events. Birth and death records are also found in the county recorders office's. The personnel in all these offices and societies are very
helpful. The societies will ask for a very modest charge. Search is free in the county offices with a small fee for any copies of documents.
Research aside, there are many interesting attractions in the area. Lodging and meals are moderate in price. Visits during the winter months are discouraged unless one want's the experience of a winter in northern Sweden without leaving the United States.
