I recently wrote two posts about two men whom I thought were brothers of my great, great grandmother, Elizabeth Bennett (1849-1914). The first was titled “Doing Time in the Missouri State Penitentiary” and the second was “Skeletons in the Closet: Rapist & Murderer.” I had uncovered some prison records which seemed to be her brothers. I hired a researcher in Missouri and received a package from her last night. The man who was found guilty of 2nd degree murder is actually Elizabeth’s brother. It’s a fascinating story that I’m still researching. But, the man who committed “assault to rape” was...

1900 census listing Ephraim Bennettt as an “prisoner” of a state prison Cole County, Missouri In my genealogy research, I have now come across the word “inmate” listed under “occupation” on a census twice. Neither person was a prisoner. The only time I had an actual prisoner on a census record, he was listed as a “prisoner.” (See image above.) RESIDENTS OF “OLD SOLDIERS’ HOMES” The first time I came across an “inmate” on a census, I was pretty surprised. But, as I read the census better, I realized that this individual was actually living in an “Old Soldier’s Home.”...