My grand aunt Edna Cornelia Walton (1906-1993) should appear in four publicly accessible census records. In family history research, one begins with the most recent information and works backward. The most recent census record available to us is 1940. Edna’s family is listed albeit a tad creatively:

34 year old Edna Hager’s marital status is unclear. There is a line drawn through the “M” in column 12. Edna lives with her mother Hannah Flood at 4307 N. Newcastle Avenue in Norwood Park Township, Illinois [1]. Lorraine McMahon and Carol Hager are identified as Hannah’s grandchildren and Hannah is identified as the head of household. A new researcher to this family might not be certain of the girls’ connection to Edna as census records only list the relationship of each person to the head of the household. Because this is my family, I know that both Lorraine and Carol are Edna’s children. Hannah’s marital status is listed as widowed. Sadly, she’d been widowed twice; James Walton died in 1911 and Harry Robert Flood died in 1936. James’ date of death makes it obvious he couldn’t have fathered Harry (born in 1920) or Richard (born in 1922). These young men should have been listed with their father’s surname – Flood.

Edna was elusive in the 1930 census despite calling in reinforcements to locate her. But, here she is on line 78 in 1920 [2]:

and on line 32 in 1910 [3]

I’ll just have to continue my search for Edna (and the rest of her elusive family!) in the 1930 census.

[1] Source Citation: Year: 1940; Census Place: Norwood Park, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T627_784; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 16-348.

[2] Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Chicago Ward 27, Cook (Chicago), Illinois; Roll: T625_339; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 1630; Image: 406.

[3] Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 25, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_268; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 1079; FHL microfilm: 1374281.