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 Dayton and Hardin Townships as full townships each with 36 sections.That map is in error.The north-south line that is shown as a township boundary is a range line that separates R27W and R28W not the township boundary. Hardin Township was established in 1853 when the short lived Yell and Risley counties were combined to become Webster County. (later, Webster county was downsized and Hamilton County was created out of the east half ).At that time Hardin was delineated to contain all of Township 86 which included what is now Dayton Twp.When Yell and Clear Lake (now defunct) came into being the westerly boundary was changed to the east side of the Des Moines River Dayton Township was organized in 1858 as being all of Township 86, Range 28 Westplus that part of Township 86, Range 27 West lying west of the Des Moines river, except sections 1,2, and 3.Therefore Dayton became a super township of some 55 sections and Hardin a mini township with the equivalent of some 13 section. 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. |