WAIT! Social security numbers weren’t started till 1936 according to Wiki. So what h’ is going on with the author talking about 1890? Help?
1890 = The person was born in 1890, and if issued a SSN in 1936 - they would be 46 at the time)
They didn't start until 1936, but many adults (obviously) had to apply for them shortly thereafter. Someone born in 1890 would be 46 in 1936. Quite reasonable. Even if we assume they waited a few years, say 1942, we would be talking about someone 52 years old. Still quite reasonable.
As many others have pointed out, for years people only got SSNs when they went to work or registered for selective service. The idea of assigning them at birth is relatively new (and more than a little creepy, IMHO, like they want to barcode us all).
everyone working or earning enough to pay income tax in 1936 had to get Social Security numbers.
My parents as examples, my dad born in 1902 and my mother born in 1909 got their Social Security numbers in 1936.
I applied for mine when I was 8, the first year I earned enough to pay taxes.