John, Great question for many searching the 1930 census. The following is provided from the National Archives site: http://1930census.archives.gov/ What do the columns on the schedule marked "code" mean? Following questions 21 and 26, the Bureau listed codes. These codes provide no additional information. After the Bureau collected the census schedules, the staff, not the enumerator, coded the information on occupations and nativity using codes established for the 1930 census. The Bureau staff tabulated this data to create the statistical summaries for its reports to Congress. >From what you have stated, it would appear that your Uncle Joseph was a tombstone salesman by trade in 1930. Uncle Frank just appears to have been doing Odd Jobs at the time. The site linked above provides all kinds of information on the 1930 census. For other years and other data at the archives for the researcher, go to the National Archives Research Room at: http://www.archives.gov/research_room/index.html Dave Taft