NEVADA

Census Reports

1860-1950

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UPDATED MARCH 24, 2024

In the 1940 census and especially now in the 1950 Census, the handwriting on the sheets is a bit better. But now that people are using Ancestry and Family Search and putting their family trees up on the sites, and the sites themselves have much better search engines and send you to a whole bunch of info docs and records. I now can find a family sheet on about everyone and many on the wife’s side. When I first started doing this in the very early 1970s, all that was available to see was up to the 1900. There was no such thing as on-line and the computers then were the size of a locker room. I had to drive out to Waltham, Massachusetts to the U. S. Library, beg for a film real of the dates and State I wanted and then look at it through a visual device in a back dark room and literally go page to page, county to county and write the info down on paper with a pencil. At that time, really the most people doing genealogy were older women, mostly retired school teachers in their 70s and 80s, who would send you hand written trees and info and stuff that they had back a couple of generations. Once in a while I would get an actual typewritten document. Wow! Got much better in the 1990s. Now it is soooo easy to get info you didn’t think was possible. Back in the 70s I tried calling folks and got a hold of a bunch of folks. Now just an e-mail brings in a thousand years’ worth of info. Anyway, really enjoy this and if you can add or correct, please let me know so I can help others.

NEVADA 1860 CENSUS

Nevada was part of the Utah Territory in 1860. This listing was found in the Utah census.

HENRY PUTMAN  Virginia City, Carson County

He is 30 GER living with John Rice also from Germany. They are masons.

NEVADA 1870 CENSUS

WILLIAM K. PUTNAM  Carson City, Ormsby County

He is 30 IL, Louise M. Williams, his wife, 30 IL, Corridon 5 NV and Lillie 1 NV. He is a blacksmith. He is a son of Simeon Walker Putnam and Rhoda Watson from Maine. William was born in Kane County Illinois January 1, 1840. In 1850, the family was in Sycamore, De Kalb County Illinois. That’s where Louise is from. He will die of Typhoid Fever here in Carson City on June 9, 1875. The son Corridon will be in San Jose, California in 1900.

A. A. (ANDREW APPLETON) PUTNAM  Gold Hill, Storey County

He is 40 MA and a carpenter. He is Andrew Appleton Putnam born November 2, 1829 in Worcester, Mass. He is a son of Charles Putnam (1506) and Sarah Bragg. He was in Nevada County, California in 1860, and will be here in 1880.

H. W. (HENRY WILLARD) PUTNAM  Reno, Washoe County

He is 41 MA his wife Minerva Stephenson is 41 OH. Also there are Mary Sloan 21 IN and Cornelia Sloan 19 IN. He is a teamster. He would be the son of Willard Putnam as shown in the family census in 1850 in Cavendish Windsor County Vermont. His dad Henry was born in Danvers, Mass. and moved with the family to Windsor County, Vermont. Henry Junior married Minerva Stephenson in Gold Run, Placer County California October 27, 1868. She was previously married to Thomas John Sloan and that’s where the daughters got their names. They are on the voter list in 1868 and 1871 in Placer County California and in 1878 they are in Reno, Nevada.

CHARLES C. PUTNAM  Shermantown, White Pine County

He is 30 ME (MA) and a merchant. He looks to be a son of James G. Putnam (3117) and Elizabeth Cleveland originally from Grafton, Massachusetts.

NEVADA 1880 CENSUS

These folks were in the full general census for the state.

S. C. PUTNAM  Eureka City, Eureka County

She is 24 ENG ENG ENG and a domestic.

CORRIE P. & LIlLIE A. PUTNAM  Carson City, Ormsby County

These are two children of William and Louise Putman who were all here in 1870. Bill died June 9, 1875, and Louise married John Galbreath September 27, 1876. The kids are with her. Corridon is 14 NV MO PA, Lillie is 11 NV MO PA. In 1870 dad stated IL not MO.

OBADIAH PUTNAM (PUTNEY)  Carson City, Ormsby County

He is a Putney not a Putnam. He is 49 NY NY NY and a laborer. Obadiah B. Putney was born in Jefferson County, New York in 1831. His family moved to Wisconsin before Obadiah went west, first to California and then to Nevada. Obediah B. Putney was here in Virginia City, Storey, Nevada in 1870. Not one of ours but leaving him here so that you don't get confused when you see him indexed as Putnam.

A. A. (ANDREW APPLETON) PUTMAN  Gold Hill, Storey County

He is still here and still a carpenter. He is 48 MA MA MA. Mary is 47 MA MA MA

C. (CHARLES) A. V. PUTNAM  Virginia City, Storey County

He is 56 ME ME ME, M. A. is 55 MA MA MA. He is Charles A. V. Putnam born May 28, 1824 in Rumford, Maine. He is a son of Samuel Putnam and Susan Poor Adams. The family was in Greenwood, Maine in 1850. According to Eben’s book, he was a newspaper editor here in Virginia City. He was married to Ella Harrington and was with her in Shrewsbury, Mass. They got divorced and he moved out here. He was married here in the 1875 state census. Ella has remarried to George Harvey and is currently living in Brooklyn, New York. His son Charles Harrington is in Brooklyn as well. Young Charles is a lawyer.

MINIA PUTNAM  Reno, Washoe County

She is 52 OH and the mother-in-law of William Coughlin. Minerva Stephenson was married to Henry Willard Putnam here in 1870.

JOHN W. PUTNAM  Wadworth, Washoe County

He is 34 NY MA ENG. He is a railroad conductor and boarding with Robert McNey.

NEVADA 1900 CENSUS

There were no Putnams or Putmans in the Soundex listing. Tried several searches.

NEVADA 1910 CENSUS

RAY PUTMAN  Hazen Pct., Churchill County

He is 27 WY and is single. He lives with his mother Rena Carr 59 CA. There is no husband listed, but she says this is her second marriage of 5 years. He is a baggage agent for the railroad. Rena J. Lane was the widow of Louis Putnam from New York. They were in Cerro Gorda County, Iowa in 1880. Rena and Ray were in Bannock County Idaho in 1900. He will be married to Norma Winans and will be in Crook County, Oregon in 1920, 1930 and 1940.

CLARENCE L. (LEE) PUTMAN  Manhattan Pct., Nye County

He is 28 KS UNK MO and has been married 1 year to Carrie Luce 21 OR UNK UNK. He is a miner in a gold mine. He would be the son of William and Lou Putnam as shown in 1885 in Dodge City, Kansas. But can’t find his dad before that so don’t know the line yet. He was in Harney County Oregon in 1900 and married Carrie there October 12, 1908 and then came here. He is ‘single’ here in 1920 and I don’t see Carrie around anywhere.

GRAHAM F. PUTNAM  Ely, White Pine County

He is 44 VT VT VT and a lawyer. His wife Gertrude is 38 PA OH MS and they have John F. 13 UT and Lawrence 11 UT. He is a son of Nathaniel French Putnam and Isabella Farr. He was born in St. Albans, Franklin County, Vermont. His dad was an Episcopal minister. He was home through 1880, and then in Salt Lake City, Utah. Graham was married to a Gertrude there in 1900 with two sons John and Lawrence. They are in Los Angeles in 1920.

NEVADA 1920 CENSUS

DANA G. (GOULD) PUTMAN  No Township, Churchill County

He is 42 WI and lives alone. He is a son of John Day Putnam. In 1880 he is in Pierce County, Wisconsin listed as a stepson of John Reynolds. In 1900 he was in San Francisco, California. He is a son of John Day Putnam, number 3273, a son of William H. Putnam (1631) and Eliza Day of Brooklyn, Windham County, Connecticut. Don’t think he ever married. He is here in 1930.

CLARENCE L. (LEE) PUTNAM  Tonopah, Nye County

He is 37 KS MI MO and lives alone. He is a miner in a silver mine.  No wonder he is alone, this is the County they will soon test the atomic bomb in. He would be the son of William and Lou Putnam as shown in 1885 in Dodge City, Kansas. But can’t find his dad before that so don’t know the line yet. He was married to Carrie Luce here in 1910. He will soon move to Los Angeles, California and marry Myra Harbert there in 1923. They are there in 1930 with a daughter Gloria. Then he is back here ‘widowed’ in 1940. Myra won’t die till 1956 in California so he is on his at least second divorce in 1940.

FRANK A. PUTNAM  No Township, Nye County

He is 50 MI and boarding with Alice Price. He looks to be the son of Theodore Putnam and Ann Currier. He was single at home in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan in 1900.

NEVADA 1930 CENSUS

DANA PUTMAN  St. Clair, Churchill County

He is 52 WI CT CT and single. He is living with his married sister Sarah 63 WI and her husband William Dunn 68 IL. He works on their dairy farm. They are children of John Day Putnam and Catherine Lovell from River Falls, Pierce County, Wisconsin. They were there in 1880, and in San Francisco in 1900. He was on the voter list in Tuolumne County in 1915.

WILLIAM P. PUTMAN  Las Vegas, Clark County

He is 32 IL IL IL and a ticket agent for the railroad. Doris Davis, his wife of less than a year is 18 UT. Her brother Harold Davis 9 UT is with them. Really looks like a Pittman.

And that's it pretty much for Nevada in 1930. I guess everyone took off when the silver ran out and won't be back till Sinatra opens in Vegas in a few years. There are only a couple of Putnam/Putman folks here in 1940, and several more in 1950.

NEVADA 1940 CENSUS

R. A. (REYNOLDS ALFRED) PUTNAM  Las Vegas, Clark County

He is 37 IA single and a lodger. He is a son of Charles Sylvester Putnam and Charlotte E. Reynolds. He was born when the family was in Sioux County Iowa and was at home with his folks in Oregon in 1910 and San Diego, California in 1920 and 1930. Charles was a son of Henry Putnam and Elizabeth Beaudette from Canada. They were in Sioux County Iowa. Charles was there with his widowed mother in 1900. His dad died there in 1893 and his mother in 1905. Now a little interesting stuff. Henry was born April 18, 1830 in St. Johns, Quebec just across the border from Vermont. He was born with the name Patenaude, and was listed as Henry Putnode in Westford, Chittenden County Vermont in 1850. Rose was living two houses away at that time. Probably because there were several Putnams in Westford, he changed or had Anglicized his name to Putnam sometime in the 1850s while in Vermont. From the California death Index, I find he was born March 12, 1903 and will die in San Diego February 26, 1955

CLARENCE PUTMAN  Beatty, Nye County

He is 58 KS and says he is widowed, but is just separated, as his wife Myra is in El Dorado County California now with their three kids. They never actually divorced, but he liked mining and especially Nevada. He is the son of William and Lou Putnam as shown in 1885 in Dodge City, Kansas. But can’t find his dad before that so don’t know the line yet. He was in Harney County Oregon single in 1900. He married Carrie Luce there October 12, 1908. They were in Nye County Nevada in 1910 and he was ‘single’ there in 1920. Then he came to California and married a much younger Myra Lee Harbert in 1923. They were in Los Angeles in 1930 and he states he was alone in Grass Valley, Nevada County in 1935. He is a miner in ‘metal mines.’ He was a miner in California as well. He will die in Tonopah, Nevada July 2, 1952. Myra won’t die till 1956 in California.

NEVADA 1950 CENSUS

ERNEST I. PUTMAN  Las Vegas Clark County

He is an airman in the Air Force and is 26 MI. His wife Jean B. is 26 MI and they have Barbara J. 6 MI. They are stationed at the Air Base here. In 1940 he is with his mother Genevieve Irene Platt in Plockton, Ottawa County Michigan. She was married to Ernest Ezra Putman. They were in Sherman, Isabella County in 1930. He is a son of John Henry Putman and his second wife Harriet Williams from there. He was born January 10, 1891 in Clinton County Michigan and will die in Orlando, Florida December 31, 1967. He married Genevieve in Isabella County October 15, 1919. She is a daughter of Charles Albert Platt and Flora May Wilcox and was born April 10, 1903 in Blanchard, Isabella County and will die in Cadillac, Wexford County April 1, 1990. Found a family sheet that Genevieve divorced Ernest, married some guy and they divorced February 3, 1942 and she married again. Dutch Family out of New York State.

KENNETH L. (LUTHER) PUTNAM  North Las Vegas, Clark County

He is 35 AZ, and his wife Marie Alice Hume is 27 CA and they have a daughter Valerie 2 NV. He married Philomena C. Hess in Los Angeles April 8, 1937 and they were divorced in 1974 and he married Marie in 1948. He is a salesman in a lumber company. He is a son of Lloyd Raymond Putnam and Elizabeth Ann Prout and was born in Pinal, Arizona July 11, 1914 and will die November 3, 2020 in Parowan, Iron County Utah. Lloyd was a son of Charles Frederick Putnam and Elizabeth Hutchinson. He was at home in 1900 in Redlands, San Bernardino County California. They were here in Arizona in the 1910 census. He will be widowed by 1922, and he and the kids will be in Los Angeles County California by 1930 and Ken is married in Downey, Los Angeles County in 1940. Line goes back to Joseph Washington Putnam from Stow, Massachusetts.

GEORGE PUTNAM  Douglas County

He is 15 CA and lives with his mother Evelyne Bradford 35 CA who is a hired hand with a Norse family. Evelyne was married to George B. Putnam in Los Angeles, and then Worcester, Massachusetts in 1940. His dad and his parents were in Los Angeles in 1920 and who knows where in 1930, but they are part of the New York Dutch family.

JACK PUTNAM  Elko, Elko County

He is 26 OH and works in a gambling hall. His wife Wanetta Pearl Walkey is 19 CANADA and works in a laundry. They have Cora Lynn 2 CAN and Valerie May born in January 1950 here in Nevada. Interesting. He first appears as and adopted son of Clarence and Rose Putnam in St. Cloud, Sterns County Minnesota at age 6 OH in the 1930 census. Clarence was a son of Ira H. Putnam and Louisa Guyette from Warren County New York. Clarence was born there. He had been married for 10 years in 1930. They were in Yonkers, New York in 1920. He then married a Lucille in Whittier, Los Angeles County California in 1935 and then in Salem, Oregon in 1940. Dutch family out of New York State.

SCOTT J. (JEREMIAH) PUTMAN  Winnemucca, Humboldt County

He is a superintendent in a Gold Mine and works for himself. He is 26 IL, his wife Lorraine Oreno is 27 CA and they have Jerry Scott 6 CA. His dad was Ira Jeremiah Putnam a son of Jeremiah Downer Putnam and Ida Barnes. Scott was born October 28, 1923 in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois. His dad died in 1926 and his mom remarried to Joseph Morgan in 1927. His mom is Ellemerie Rebecca Scott and was 43 IN in 1940 in Placer County He was listed with them in 1930 and 1940. He married Lorraine Oreno in the mid 1940s and they will live here in Humbolt County Nevada where he will die January 7, 2017.

GINGER M. & JEFFERY PUTMAN  Winnemucca, Humboldt County

She is 3 CA and Jeff is just born in July CA. They live as a daughter and son of John Goodwin 60 CA and his wife Grace 50 CA. Strange Listing. Jeffrey was born in January 1950 and lived in Goleta, California in 1994-2020. Ginger's birth record has her mom as Oreno. Therefore, she is a daughter of the above Scott Jeremiah Putnam and Lorraine Oreno.

IRENE L. (LAUREL) PUTNAM  Carson City, Ormsby County

She is 62 KS with no other info listed. But … Rand found her. YEY . She is Irene Laurel Smith and was married to Henry Jasper Putnam and they were in Saline, Kansas in 1940 and his whole life story is on that page. He married Irene in 1930 in Los Angeles when he was 67 and she only 42. He died in Los Angeles November 2, 1940. I found her 1967 obituary and put that in the 1940 Kansas, but here it is: “Dr. Laurel Irene Putnam, 80, founder of the Henry J. Putnam Scholarship program at K-State, died Aug. 4 in Manhattan.  In 1955, Dr. Putnam donated $100,000 in cash plus western Kansas farm property to the University in honor of her late husband. Dr. Putnam added to the memorial fund in 1955 by establishing K-State's first scholarship house, named Maitland Smith Scholarship House in honor of her brother.  Putnam Scholars are selected competitively from Kansas high schools students on the basis of merit.  The scholarships may be renewed for four years of undergraduate study.  K-State will have almost 200 Putnam scholars on campus this year with the incoming Putnam scholarship recipients.  In 1961 in recognition of contribution to education, K-State named one of its women's residence halls (formerly Southeast Hall) in honor of Dr. Putnam.  In explaining her interest in young people said, "If you help a youth make the step from high school to college so he can complete his schooling while he is young, you have provided a benefit that goes on through the years."  Dr. Putnam was born in the Haverville community of Mitchell County in 1887.  After graduating from the Beloit school system, she attended Kansas Wesleyan Business College in Salina.  After attending Kemper Hall, a school for women in Kenosh, Wisconsin, she returned to Salina to become a secretary with the Putnam Investment Co., founded by her husband.  Dr. Putnam earned her A.B. degree from Western Reserve University.  In 1927, she received her M.D. from Rush Medical College in Chicago.  She interned at Los Angeles General Hospital for two years before returning to Kansas.  After her husband's death in 1940, she returned to medical school.  Dr. Putnam was assigned to the Indian Service in Nevada.  In 1948 she retired and lived with her brother Maitland Smith on a farm near Atlanta in Cowley County.  She moved to Manhattan about 10 years ago. And From the dedication program of Putnam Hall, January 14, 1961:  A woman who, because of lack of funds, was unable to fulfill her early ambition to go to college, endowed at Kansas State University one of finest scholarship programs in the country. A gift by Dr. L. Irene Putnam as a memorial to her husband, the late Henry J. Putnam, provides scholarship assistance for as many as 100 of Kansas' finest young men and women every year.  She also gave the University the Maitland E. Smith house, K-State's first scholarship house for men. Dr. Putnam's ambition was to become a teacher, but as one of eight children, a college education was financially out of reach.  Upon completing high school she took a business course, became a stenographer, and started saving her money.  Eventually she put herself through medical school. Both Dr. Putnam and her husband had a deep interest in education, and she decided an investment in Kansas youth of exceptional promise would be the finest investment she could make.”  Not bad 

VERNON G. (GEORGE) PUTNAM  Reno, Washoe County

He is 36 MA born in Webster, Massachusetts and unemployed. His wife Helen Jenkins is 34 CO and also here is her mom Cora Jenkins 75 KS and widowed. He married Helen in Carson City, Nevada May 13, 1946. They will be in Los Angeles by 1952. He will die in San Diego, California in 1987. He is a son of Albro George Putnam and Alice Marie Cidleau and was shown at home in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1940. Albro George Putnam born in Westminster April 14, 1899. His folks were Ernest Edwin Putnam and Gertrude Jane Nichols and they were all in Westminster, Worcester County in 1900 and George was with his mother there in 1910. Ernest’s dad was Albro Putnam as seen in Rhode Island in 1850, Uxbridge Massachusetts in 1860 and then in McLean County Illinois in 1870 and 1880.