Along with the mortality schedules, discussed in the Sept. 30 column, the 1850 federal census included agricultural schedules (found also in 1860, 1870, and 1880) and manufacturing/industry schedules (found also in 1820, 1860, 1870, and 1880). Although usually overlooked, these schedules are likely to be a great help for family researchers if they can be located and inspected. As a group, these are referred to as “nonpopulation” census schedules.
Agricultural schedules provide a wealth of information on every farm that produced more than $100 worth of products in a year. The schedules contain the name of the farm owner (or manager), the number of acres owned, both improved and unimproved, and the cash value of the farm, equipment, and livestock. These schedules also list an inventory of livestock and farm products (such as grains, vegetables, fruits, tobacco, hay, wine, dairy products, seeds, silk cocoons, cotton, wool, maple sugar, cane sugar, molasses, honey, and beeswax, to name a few).
The manufacturing schedules list the name of the owner, the kind of business operated, what was produced, the amount of money invested in the operation, the kinds and quantities of raw materials used, the annual quantity and value of the finished products, the kind of machinery used, the number of employees, and the average monthly cost of the laborers. Only manufacturing operations producing more than $500 worth of goods were included in the schedules.
When researching the agriculture schedules, remember that many farmers had operations “on the side” that were actually manufacturing businesses. Examples would be farmers who operated mills, did blacksmith work, made barrels, tanned hides, or sold dairy products, providing these services or goods to the public. These sideline operations of farmers would also be included on the manufacturing schedules, so check both. In addition, keep in mind that someone found on a census living in the city could still own land out of town that was farmed, and therefore would be listed on the agricultural schedule.
Finding an ancestor on either of these schedules can certainly help a researcher to “fill in the blanks” when it comes to the details of the ancestor’s life.
A third set of schedules called the social statistics schedules (1850 through 1870 census) can help researchers learn more about the community in which an ancestor lived. These statistics do not list any names, but itemize things like the value of the community’s real estate, the annual taxes of the community, the numbers of schools, libraries, churches, and newspapers, the numbers of paupers and criminals the community supports, and the average wages of various types of workers.
To find these special “nonpopulation” census schedules for Indiana, check the Indiana State Archives at 6440 E. 30th St., Indianapolis, IN 46219, phone (317) 591-5222. To find them for Illinois, visit the Illinois State Archives at Margaret Cross Norton Building, Capitol Complex, Springfield, IL 62756, phone (217) 782-3556. Both repositories have their state’s agriculture schedules for 1850-1880, manufacturing schedules for 1850-1880, and social statistics schedules for 1850-1870.
In addition, these schedules for Illinois have been microfilmed by the National Archives and are included in microfilm series T1133, rolls 1 through 57, and are available through the National Archives and Records Administration.
For more information, check out the National Archives Web site on nonpopulation census information at www.archives.gov/genealogy/census/nonpopulation.
History
Genealogy: Census of 1850 included agricultural, industry schedules
- History
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Terre Haute Works of Allis-Chalmers closes
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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GENEALOGY: BMD website great for tracing England, Wales
If you have ancestors who trace back to England or Wales within the past 175 years, then the Free BMD website at RootsWeb, at freebmd.rootsweb.com/, is the place to visit.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: WBOW introduced some fine Valley talent
When it first began broadcasting in 1927, station WRPI (Rose Polytechnic Institute) focused on educational programing.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Inventor John B. Deeds and highwayman William G. Murray
Among the many unsolved local history mysteries is the fate of master machinist and inventor John B. Deeds.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: This little-known compromise may have saved the union
When the Constitution was signed in September of 1787 and sent to the Congress that then existed under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was instructed to send that Constitution to the states to be ratified … or not. The message to the states was clear: Accept the Constitution or reject it, but don’t try to change it.
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Traveling Civil War exhibit makes history personal
Civil War history will come alive for visitors to the Sullivan County Public Library who experience “Faces of the Civil War,” a traveling exhibition created and managed by the Indiana Historical Society.
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GENEALOGY: Virginia Historical Society takes on ambitious project
Over the past few months, the Virginia Historical Society has launched an ambitious project to scrutinize more than 8 million 17th, 18th, and 19th century documents in order to identify the enslaved population of those times.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: The Legacy of ‘The Old Silkworm House’
In 1837, and for several years thereafter, a gray sandstone obelisk was installed next to a one-story frame residence at the northwest corner of Sixth and Eagle streets.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A blast from valentines past
Valentine’s Day — it brings to mind simple paper valentines and the elaborate, fancy store-bought cards with multiple verses and glittery covers.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Flu outbreak forces Schulte closed
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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Original copy of 13th Amendment at Lincoln Library & Museum
A fully signed and recently restored copy of the Congressional resolution for a 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the official act that would abolish slavery in the United States, will be on display in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum’s Treasures Gallery.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Freedom of religion — beliefs and actions
Because religious faith is, arguably, the quintessential example of our right to privacy, to say nothing of its prominent place in our First Amendment, throughout our history court cases involving the free exercise of religion have been handled with great trepidation and with particular care. One of the milestone “free exercise” religion cases, Davis v. Beason, was decided by the Supreme Court this week (Feb. 3) in 1890.
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GENEALOGY: SoCal Genealogical Jamboree coming up in June
The Southern California Genealogical Society announces its 43rd Annual Jamboree, to be staged for three days on June 8-10, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel in Burbank, Calif.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002: Disco Ernie featured on Maury
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Flashing the mayor's badge
This mayoral badge was presented to the Vigo County Historical Society by Elizabeth K. Schultz, the granddaughter of Samuel E. Beecher Sr., who served as mayor of Terre Haute from 1936 to 1940.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Deadly tornado devastates York in 1907
John T. Staff loved water and, particularly, the Wabash River.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Notorious Western desperado Ellsworth Wyatt captured in Clay County
In October 1892, Terre Haute police received a circular from the State of Kansas containing a description of Ellsworth Wyatt and offering a $1,200 reward for his capture.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002: ISU students honor Martin Luther King Jr.
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: News letter filled with wonderful local news
We recently received five bound volumes of copies of the “Terre Haute Onizette,” the Owen-Illinois Glass Company news letter for the Terre Haute Plant.
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GENEALOGY: Peyton, Downey, Fifer queries and a plea for help from Scotland
This week, we have several queries.
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Extension plans seminar on land use
The Purdue Extension Land Use Team is hosting a video seminar titled “Welcome to the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals” from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Kennedy, Camelot, and other myths
This week (Jan. 20) in 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as our 35th president, and his tragic death by assassination notwithstanding, his was a mediocre presidency that, undeservedly, became the stuff of legend — in part because of his assassination.
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Actor to portray Lincoln at dinner for historical society
A special program, “And Lincoln Wrote,” is coming to Harlan Hall in Marshall, Ill., with a featured presentation by Dick Benach as Abraham Lincoln and Chuck Hand as the publisher of the Prairie Beacon.
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GENEALOGY: Celebrate MLK Day with the Indiana Historical Society
On Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Indiana Historical Society will offer free admission to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Light Guards savor military and social experiences
Never during the Civil War was there a time when the City of Terre Haute was in danger of hosting an armed conflict involving one or more armies.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: 87 high school hoops teams compete in 47th annual Wabash Valley Tournament
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A bottle of clove oil at the pharmacy
The Historical Treasure for today is a bottle of Clove Oil.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: St. Mary’s Parish congregation celebrates 150th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Fire up the jukebox for a great night
The jukebox existed long before Glenn Miller’s “Juke Box Saturday Night” swing version.
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GENEALOGY: 1752 is one memorable year for genealogists
The year 1752 is one to remember if you have ancestors who lived in areas controlled by Great Britain; and this includes the American colonies.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Terre Haute Works of Allis-Chalmers closes
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