TERRE HAUTE — The 1870 census counted 38.6 million people across the nation. Like the 1850 and 1860 census before it, the 1870 was carried out by enumerators under the direction of U.S. marshals. A special Census Office was designated by the Secretary of the Interior for this purpose. The census day was June 1, 1870, and anyone present in the household on that day was to be counted. The actual enumeration lasted five months. Three copies of the 1870 census were made — one for the county court, one to the state’s secretary of state, and one for the U.S. Secretary of the Interior in Washington, D.C.
The 1870 census asked for the following information: dwelling number in the order of visitation; family number in the order of visitation (note that more than one family could reside in the same dwelling); person’s name; age at last birthday (as of June 1, 1870); sex; color (W for white, B for black, C for Chinese, I for Indian, and M for mulatto. Indians not taxed, that is, living on tribal lands, were not included); profession, occupation, or trade of each male person over 15 years of age; age at last birthday and, if under one year, the age in fractions; value of real estate; value of personal estate; place of birth; if father was foreign born; if mother was foreign born; if born within the census year, if married within the census year; if attended school within the census year (the census year is the 12 months receding census day); if cannot read; if cannot write; whether deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper, or convict (these would be people the state might have to support in asylums, poor houses, or prisons); male citizens 21 years of age and upwards (these would be those eligible to vote); male citizens 21 years of age and upwards where right to vote is denied. There was also a separate Mortality Schedule which listed by name all who had died in the county in the previous 12 months.
Questions that were expanded or new to the 1870 census were: more specific information on age, the addition of Chinese and Mulatto, whether the parents were foreign born, and the citizenship and voting questions (the 15th Amendment had passed in 1869).
This is the first census to list the freed slaves by name, so it is one of the beginning points in identifying an ancestor who was a former slave. To investigate the origins of a slave ancestor, find the family on the 1870 census first, noting the first names, ages, and genders. Then go back to the 1860 census and look at the slave schedules for white slave owners in the area. The slaves will be listed by their gender and age only. Look for groupings that suggest your 1870 people. Then do research into the owner’s deeds and bills of sale that might list the first name of your ancestors. Working forward again, check courthouse records where freed slaves might have bought land, married, etc. Also check the records of the Freedman’s Bureau.
Since this is the first census after the Civil War, it will also show how your white ancestor’s family survived the war. Many families were displaced after the war and some male household members who were present on the 1860 census will be absent on the 1870 census — casualties of the war. Check for missing males and then search for them in military records. Compare the value of the 1860 and 1870 real estate and personal estate of white families in the south. A significant difference in real estate might mean that their land was confiscated by the Union forces. Look for lawsuits involving this land. A dramatic plunge in the value of the personal estate will reflect the loss of their slaves and also possible war-related damages to their home.
The 1870 exists on 1,748 roles of microfilm housed in the National Archives, series M593. The Minnesota census is available on microfilm series T132 and consists of 13 additional rolls. The microfilm reflects either a copy of the original or a copy of a copy. Missing counties include Kootenai, Idaho; Arapahoe, Kansas; Archer, Baylor, Concho, Edwards, Hardeman, Knox, Taylor, Wichita, and Wilbarger in Texas; and Benton, Columbia, and San Juan in Washington.
History
GENEALOGY: 1870 census first to list freed slaves by name
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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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