Lewis P. Johnson & the 1910 Census

     In 1910 the Lewis P. Johnson family resided in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, where they were enumerated as Lewis P. Johnson (head, white, 49, first marriage, married 30 years, born in New York, father born in England, mother born in New York, salesman, stationery), Ethel E. Johnson (wife, white, 48, first marriage, married 30 years, mother of 4 children, 2 still alive, born in New York, parents born in New York, no occupation), Ethel M. Baird (daughter, white, 25, first marriage, married 4 years, born in New York, parents born in New York, no occupation), and Ira B. Baird (son-in-law, white, 30, first marriage, married 4 years, born in New Jersey, parents born in New Jersey, adjuster, bank).¹

     Ancestry.com's index indicated in parentheses “Mulatto” for all four members of the Johnson household. The census is very legible and clearly has “W” in the “Color or race” column for each of them. The reason for the error is obvious; the individual enumerated on the line immediately before Lewis P. Johnson was marked “Mu.” Buffalogen reported the inaccuracy in the index to Ancestry.com on 19 June 2015 via “Report issue,” but no correction had been made as late as 27 August 2015.
    Buffalogen will continue to monitor this record.
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     ¹1910 U.S. census, Hudson County, New Jersey, population schedule, Jersey City, Ward 9, ED 180, p. 159 (sheet 1A), dwelling 7, family 9, Lewis P. Johnson; digital image, Ancestry.com (accessed 19 June 2015); citing FHL microfilm 1,374,905.