Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona – On Granny's Trail

Census, Church records, FamilySearch Wiki, Friday Finds, LDS Church Censuses, Research tips

New LDS Census images posted

Posted on July 10, 2012September 16, 2021 by Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail"

I recently posted about a little-used resource for researchers who had LDS church members in their family 1914-1960. This is the collection of LDS Church Censuses 1914-1960. The FamilySearch Wiki lists the contents of the censuses for each year. Each family in the worldwide church was counted beginning 1914, continuing every 5 years after 1920. 1945 there was no census taken because of the war.

I had known about this collection but never accessed it until this week. Here are images of the Franklin Thomas Pomeroy family in the 1914, 1925, and 1935 LDS Censuses.

F T Pomeroy LDS Church Census 1914 FHL film 245253 — Franklin Thomas Pomeroy family, 1914 LDS Census, FHL microfilm 245255

There are columns for age, gender, priesthood office, marital status, and church record number. There is a category for “where born” with columns for Utah, Arizona, Europe, Asia, Islands of Pacific, and Unclassified. The Ward and Stake is also identified, which can lead one to other LDS church membership records, such as records of ordinances, minutes of meetings, and genealogical surveys.

Since U.S. federal censuses were taken every 10 years–1910, 1920, 1930, 1940–the LDS Censuses falling in-between those years are nice to have. Here is the 1925 census:

F T Pomeroy LDS Church Census 1925 FHL film 245255 — Franklin Thomas Pomeroy family, 1925 LDS Census, FHL film 245,255

Notice that Sarah Matilda Pomeroy is enumerated with the family—she is Franklin’s mother—and the additional detail for “when born.” We also now have evidence of Sophia Isadora’s maiden name—Morris.

Here is the 1935 LDS Census:

F T Pomeroy LDS Church Census 1935 FHL film 245255 — Franklin Thomas Pomeroy family, 1935 LDS Census, FHL film 245, 255

Included in this census is the city or town of birth, and a street address. You might consider marking a map in Google Earth to show all the places where a family is known to have lived. Also, use the street view to take a walk around their neighborhood! It may have changed, but then again it may not have. At the bottom of each census for every year is, “checked with ward record by [signature].”

I am pretty enthused about this record group and plan to use them to launch into ward minutes and membership records next time I am in Salt Lake City. I expect to find details of my ancestors’ lives, such as service in callings and various ordinances received. If you have any LDS ancestry these church censuses might lead you down some interesting trails!

Obituaries, Photos

Today in our family history: 28 Mar 1953, Obituary for Sophia Isadora Pomeroy was published (she died 27 Mar 1953)

Posted on March 28, 2012March 30, 2012 by Dayna Jacobs - "On Granny's Trail"

Death Takes Mrs. Pomeroy, Mesa Pioneer

Dora Pomeroy, 79, resident of Mesa since 1883 and wife of former Arizona State Senator Frank T. Pomeroy, died yesterday afternoon at the Southside District hospital. She had been confined in the hospital for the past two weeks.
The Mesa pioneer was born in Rockville, Utah, on April 10, 1873. At the age of 10, she came to Mesa with her parents in a party of Mormon pioneers. She attended Mesa schools and the Tempe Normal School.

She married Frank Pomeroy in the Salt Lake Temple on March 28, 1893. [Note: According to their marriage certificate they were actually married in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona. They were later sealed in the Logan, Utah Temple 19 Apr 1893] The couple would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary today. Mr. Pomeroy had come to Mesa in 1877. He was a member of the Arizona House of representatives for two years, a State Senator from 1929-1937, and also a reading clerk in the House for a number of sessions. He is now secretary and treasurer of the Arizona Pioneers Association.

Mrs. Pomeroy was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and had held positions as teacher in both Ward and Stake Sunday School Relief Society and genealogical organization. She was chairman of the family history division of the latter.

Survivors include her husband; two sons, Col. F. Ivan Pomeroy of Phoenix, and Roland of Peoria; three daughters, Mrs. Adah Allen, Glendale; Mrs. Margery Stuck, Phoenix; and Mrs. Dorothy Fowler, Tucson; 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at the First Ward chapel, Monday at 3 pm, by Bishop Dale Vance. Friends may call at Meldrum’s mortuary Sunday, from 2-6 pm. Interment will be in Mesa cemetery.

[28 Mar 1953, newspaper not known, clipping in possession of Dayna Jacobs]