Curtis Thornton and Alta Rivers Gilbert-Thornton Census Records
Neither Curtis nor Alta Rivers appear on a census record until 1910. Curtis is born shortly after the 1880 census is taken, while Alta Rivers Gilbert is not born until March or April of 1886 according to her death certificate, mother's obituary, and census records. They both appear to be missing from the 1900 census. Alta, who would be 14, is likely in the orphanage and I'm still looking for Curtis.
Nationally there are very few surviving census records from 1890 because of a 1921 fire in a Washington, D.C Commerce Department Building fire.
From Alta River's death certificate, we know her parents were Samuel Gilbert and Alice Babb. Additional research connects Alta to siblings Flora, Martha, Bertha, Robert, and father Samuel in later years - all names found on the below 1880 census for Vevay, Indiana.
A Closer Look
Alta is listed as the "sister-in-law" in the home of Jacob "Howager" (should be Holwager), his wife Flora, and their two daughters Eva and Emma. Alta is listed as "machine assistant" for "Chain Works" - presumably at Diamond Chain Company in Indianapolis, though this is yet to be verified.
Curtis is found at Fort Mackenzie in Sheridan Wyoming census taken on May 1910 - about 4 months before his 30th birthday and 5 months before he marries Alta Rivers Gilbert.
Curtis, Alta, and two children - Berneice (7) and Ralph (4 months) - are in the 1920 Jefferson County Indiana Census. According to this record, they were renting their home, Curtis was a general farm laborer, and Alta stayed at home.
By 1930 the couple has 3 more children living with them. In addition to Ralph (14), are "Lorie" (8), Marjorie (6), and Herold just 3 months shy of three (3). Berneice is still living with them, though she is now married to Glen Hoffer (23), who is also a farm laborer. Joe Hankins (or Hawkins?), a 75-year-old widower is also living in the household - this time in Switzerland County Indiana.
The family returns to renting in Switzerland County Indiana by the time of the 1940 census. Curtis and Alta are now 59 and 53, respectively. Still living in the home are Lorenzo (18), Marjorie (16), and Herold (12). Two interesting pieces of information about Alta are in this census: We see an initial "R" for Rivers, which is the only reference to a middle name in official documents, and in the education column we see a "C4" - which would indicate that she may have received advance education before marrying Curtis in 1910.
The 1960 census is not expected to be released until 2032, making this the last census record we see Curtis (69) and Alta (63). Living with them is their daughter Berneice and Granddaughter Fleeta Bell. Curtis is still listed as a farmer, though the marked a "4" for number of hours worked the previous week. Berneice worked 36 hours pressing laundry.