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1940 US Federal Census Data Old Town
Where one member of the family was an East European immigrant
Data extracted by DMJ consultants (2020)



Namedate of birthplace of birthmarriage statusrelation to head of householdaddressoccupationindustryresidence in 1935 highest gradedays worked in prior yearincome in prior year  
Bernard Ginzburg1873VilnaMarriedHead146 Maine Street LeftOwnerLunch RoomSameNone520 
Rose Ginzburg1880VilnaMarriedWife146 Maine Street Left  SameNone 0 
Katherine Carver1897RussiaMarriedWife245 Center StreetBookkeeperShoe FactorySameElementary school, 7th grade00 
Alex Carver1887MassachusettsMarriedHead245 Center StreetProprietorGarageSameHigh School, 2nd year520 
Mildred C Carver1930MaineSingleDaughter245 Center Street  SameElementary school, 6th grade   
Nathan Shiro1883RussiaMarriedHead30 FourthProprietor RetailHardware StoreSameElementary school, 5th grade520 
Fanney Shiro1888RussiaMarriedWife30 Fourth  SameElementary school, 5th grade00 
Samuel H Shiro1915MaineSingleSon30 FourthHelperRetail HardwareSameCollege, 4th year520 
James C Shiro1919MaineSingleSon30 Fourth  SameCollege, 3rd year00 
Maurice Kinkow1894RussiaMarriedHead15 Willow StreetTailor and MerchantRetail Mens FurnishingSameElementary school, 6th grade 1200 
Hester Kinkow1902MaineMarriedWife15 Willow Street  SameHigh School, 3rd year   
Rozanne Kinkow1936MaineSingleDaughter-in-law15 Willow Street   None   
Jacob Hoos1882RussiaMarriedHead OwnerGrocery StoreSameNone522500 
Rose Hoos1883RussiaMarriedWife HousewifeHomeSameNone   
Harold O Hoos1913BangorSingleSon ClerkGrocery StoreSameCollege, 2nd year52900 
Sara Green1882RussiaMarriedWife192 Brunswick StreetOwner? ShopSameElementary school, 7th grade52  
Barney Green1873Russia PolandMarriedHead192 Brunswick StreetOwner? ShopSameElementary school, 6th grade52  
Harry I Goldsmith1889RussiaMarriedHead174 Stillwater AveMerchantFurniture StoreSameElementary school, 7th grade522500 
Dora E Goldsmith1892RussiaMarriedWife174 Stillwater AveHousewifeHomeSameElementary school, 6th grade   
Joseph E Goldsmith1923BangorSingleSon174 Stillwater Ave  SameCollege, 1st year   
Natalie Goldsmith1826BangorSingleDaughter174 Stillwater Ave  SameHigh School, 2nd year   
Arthur Goldsmith1884RussiaMarriedHead21 Veazie StreetClothing StoreOwn BusinessSameElementary school, 8th grade521200 
Eva Goldsmith1885PolandMarriedWife21 Veazie StreetAt Home SameElementary school, 8th grade   
Samuel Goldsmith1910MaineSingleSon21 Veazie StreetClothing StoreClerkSameHigh School, 4th year521100 
Milton Goldsmith1924MaineSingleSon21 Veazie StreetAt Home SameHigh School, 3rd year   
Helen Goldsmith1920MaineSingleDaughter21 Veazie StreetAt Home SameCollege, 2nd year   
Samuel M Cutler1890RussiaMarriedHead50 Shirley StreetOwnerMens ClothingSameHigh School, 4th year522400 
Helen Cutler1899RussiaMarriedWife50 Shirley Street  SameHigh School, 4th year   
David Cutler1928MaineSingleSon50 Shirley Street  SameElementary school, 6th grade   
Rachel Cutler1937MaineSingleDaughter50 Shirley Street   None   
Israel R Cutler1885RussiaMarriedHead43 Oak StreetProprietorWomens ShopSameHigh School, 4th year520 
Alta Cutler1890MassachusettsMarriedWife43 Oak Street  SameHigh School, 3rd year00 
Louis K Sklar1891PolandMarriedHead144 Maine Street LeftOwnerMens ClothingSameElementary school, 8th grade525000+ 
Annie Sklar1891HomalMarriedWife144 Maine Street Left  SameElementary school, 8th grade 0 
Simon Sklar1921MaineSingleSon144 Maine Street LeftFinishingLeather Fact.SameHigh School, 4th year26438 
Gertrude Sklar1924MaineSingleDaughter144 Maine Street Left  SameHigh School, 3rd year   
Ben Sklar1901PolandMarriedHead11 Oak Street  MaineHigh School, 1st year   
Sara Sklar1906PolandMarriedWife11 Oak StreetClothingRetailMaineHigh School, 4th year520 
Eleanor Sklar1927MaineSingleDaughter11 Oak Street  MaineElementary school, 8th grade520 
Maynard Sklar1932MaineSingleSon11 Oak Street  MaineElementary school, 2nd grade  

Methodological notes :

This data was culled from the original U.S. census manuscripts, as found on www.ancestry.com.
Jews are understood to constitute an ethnic group of Eastern and Central European origin characterized by common names and occupational pursuits, as well as a distinctive language.
This definition lends itself well to analysis of the data preserved in census records.
Two primary methods were used to identify Jews:
1. Individuals born abroad whose mother tongue is "Yiddish," "Jewish," or "Hebrew" were automatically included in the spreadsheet, as were all members of their families.
2. For individuals born abroad whose mother tongue was another Eastern or Central European language (e.g., Russian, Polish, German), or individuals born in the U.S. with one or more parents from Eastern or Central Europe, we examined surnames, given names within a household, and occupations in light of common Jewish characteristics. This method of analysis is, of course, subject to inaccuracy, as we may have excluded Jews with uncommon names or occupations or included non-Jews whose characteristics appear Jewish. Individuals listed with the annotation "nj?" in the far right-hand column are those whose Jewish ancestry is plausible but questionable.
This method of analysis easily misses Jewish households whose members' parents were all born in the United States. In 1930 Maine, however, such households were quite rare. Special efforts were made to identify households of this nature in Portland, where they constituted less than 1% of identified Jewish households.
All members of a household containing a Jew are included in the spreadsheet, with the exception of Jewish lodgers and servants, who are listed individually. Household members who are evidently not Jewish (such as non-Jewish servants and some spouses or in-laws) are listed with the annotation "nj."
Information on place of birth
Some people replied with the name of the place when they left; others replied with the name of place when the census was taken; in other cases it just seems that it was easier for the census taker to write ‘Russia’ rather than Lithuania, Ukraine or other unfamiliar country names.
And there is another reason to be skeptical of the accuracy of the place of birth information. Immigrants from the Pale had a very justified fear of the Russian and often local governments. One way to manage this reality was to tell government representatives what they expected they wanted to hear or what they thought would bring them the least trouble. This may well explain why a number of family members, who were clearly from Eastern Europe, may have answered ‘Maine’ or ‘New York’.

Last Updated : Jan 2 , 2021

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