Alice Tibbitts of 1019 Maple Avenue in Los Angeles
Research note by Wesley Johnston, begun 21 May 2014, last updated 21 May 2104
The Problem
The 1930 and 1940 censuses of 1019 Maple Avenue in Los Angeles both show Alice TIBBITS. The 1930 census shows her as born in Kansas to a Kansas-born father and an Ohio-born mother. But the 1940 census shows her as born in England. Which one is right? Or were these two different women? There was a Kansas-born Alice TIBBITS of about the same age.
The 1930 Census
Frankly, the information in the 1930 census looks very dubious, apparently confusing her birthplace and those of her parents with the next person in the census, Veda, WALL, who lived next door at 1021 Maple. In addition, there is a great deal of correction by crossing out and over-writing.
Here is what the census shows for 1019 Maple, which begins on the last 4 lines of one page and ends with the first 3 lines of the next page:
Line 47 - Frank SAUNDERS - Head (replacing crossed out Lodger), Renting for $18, 81, widowed, age 40 at first marriage (crossed out). born Michigan to Michigan parents, occupation Retired (over-writes or is over-written by None), no Industry code, no worker class entry, veteran of Spanish War
Line 48 - George CREGG - Lodger, 45, widowed, first married at age Un (crossed out), born Kansas to Kansas parents, Clerk in Fire Factory, code 7X65, worler class W (wage or salary worker)
Line 49 - Fred HASTLE - Lodger, 45, married, first married at 28, born Illinois to Ohio parents, Shoe Maker in Shoe Factory, code 7739
Line 50 - Anna HASTLE - Lodger (replacing crossed out Wife), age 42, married, first married at 25, born Illinois to Illinois parents, occupation None, no Industry code, no worker class entry
Line 51 - Arthur TILLMAN - Lodger, Renting (no rent amount specified), age 25, Single, born Illinois to Illinois father and Ohio mother, Auto Mechanic in Public Garage, code 7673, worker class W
Line 52 - Eduard TILLMAN - Lodger (replacing crossed out Wife), Sex: Male, 33, Single, born Illinois to Illinois father and Ohio mother, Boiler Maker in Steam Railroad industry, code 9277, worker class W, veteran of World War
Line 53 - Alice TIBBITS - Lodger, Renting (no rent amount specified), age 65, widowed, first married at age Un (crossed out), born Kansas to Kansas father and Ohio mother, Manager in Apt House (over-writes or is over-written by ???????? in ??????), code 8286, worker class W
The confusion appears to continue into the next house, at 1021 Maple:
Line 54 - Veda WALL - Head (replacing crossed out Lodger), Renting for $35, age 60, Single, born Kansas to Kansas father and Ohio mother, Manager in Apt House (over-writes or is over-written by ???????? in ??????), code 8286, worker class W
Line 55 - Pearl SMITH - Lodger, Renting (no rent amount specified), age 65, widowed, born England to Eng;and parents, arrived in US 1887, Naturalized, Manager in Apt, code 8286, worker class W
Line 56 - Frank SHARKY - Lodger, Renting for $40, age 30, married, first married at 21, born Missouri to Missouri parents, Salesman in Clothing Store, code 4590, worker class W
It appears that these people were all listed by name and that the rest of their information was entered separately. In particular, it appears that the name information for Alice TIBBITS on Line 53 would accurately correspond with the birth, parental birth, arrival, Naturalization and occupation of Line 55, if this is the record of Alice Hannah (HALSALL BUTSON) TIBBITTS.
The 1940 Census
The 1940 Census of 1019 Maple Avenue definitely shows the Alice TIBBITS information corresponding with that of Alice Hannah (HALSALL BUTSON) TIBBITTS.
Of the ten people listed in seven households in 1940, hers is the only name that appears there in the 1930 census. She is shown as the head of her own household, with no other members.
Line 72 - Alice TIBBITS - Renting for $10, Head, age 76, widow, completed 8th grade, born England, Naturalized, lived same place (but not same house) in 1935, no occupation, earned $50 or more from sources other than money wages or salary
There are two people in the house who are shown as living in the same house in 1935: Herman and Jeanette HUTTMAN. He is a Laborer in Flood Control. No one in the house is shown as the manager. All are shown as renters.
So it appears that Alice lived there in 1930 and 1940 but not in 1935.
Other Records Connecting Her to the House
Two other records connect Alice Hannah (HALSALL BUTSON) TIBBITTS to 1019 Maple Avenue.
The earliest is a testimonial for pills. This appeared in the San Diego Evening Tribune in 1929 and 1931. It probably also ran in other newspapers. It includes her photograph, identifying her as Mrs. Alice H. TIBBITS, which is how she identified herself (opting for TIBBITS instead of TIBBITTS at some point after her husband's 1910 death). I do not have other photographs of her, so that I cannot compare this photograph to others.
The second record is the 1938 re-marriage of Alice Hannah (HALSALL BUTSON) TIBBITTS' daughter Annie (BUTSON VERBAUM O'BRIEN) MCKENNEY to John Michael BEDNAR. He gave his residence on the marriage license as 1019 Maple Avenue. (Annie was living at 636 East 89th Street in Los Angeles.)
Conclusion
The evidence of all four records supports the 1930 Alice and the 1940 Alice being the same person, who is the same as Alice Hannah (HALSALL BUTSON) TIBBITTS.