TERRE HAUTE — Over the past weeks, I have been discussing the tragedy of the 1890 census — what was lost and what was saved from the fires and the subsequent mismanagement of the damaged fragments.
Only 6,160 names out of a population of nearly 63 million on the 1890 census were saved. That is only about one-hundredth of 1 percent. Yet, if your ancestor was living in one of the counties recovered, the name is worth looking for because they are all indexed.
Many people aren’t aware, however, that much more of the 1890 census was saved — in the form of the Special Enumeration of Union Veterans and Widows.
This enumeration was requested by the U.S. Pension Office in order to locate Union Civil War veterans or their widows who were involved in pension claims and needed the testimony of former comrades to help prove their service record. Each schedule asked the veteran or widow for name; rank; company, regiment, or vessel; enlistment date; any disability incurred in service; and general remarks. The “general remarks” can provide some interesting and revealing information. In addition, if a disability was sustained as a result of military service, the veterans’ schedule can alert the genealogist that a pension record might be available through the National Archives.
Although this special enumeration was supposed to include only Union veterans of the Civil War, a funny thing happened. Some enumerators included all veterans in the questionnaire. Therefore, a researcher might just find a veteran of the War of 1812, Mexican War, or one of the Indian wars. In addition, many Confederate veterans of the Civil War were also enumerated.
Veteran schedules for the southern states often include large lists of Confederate veterans. These names might be crossed out, but still readable.
If a veteran was deceased, but had a surviving widow, her information was compiled as well as the data for her late husband. Many widows had remarried and their new name, as well as their current address, were listed. For genealogists looking for African ancestry, service in the “Colored Troops” is documented on the veterans’ schedule. It also is interesting to note that some persons deceptively claimed to be veterans, perhaps hoping to get an undeserved pension.
The original intent of the census office was to publish this veteran information and make it available to the public as well as to veterans’ organizations and associations. However, funding for the project was lacking and in 1894 the schedules were transferred to the Commissioner of Pensions to be used in the government Pension Office. In 1930 the schedules were delivered to the newly created Veterans Administration. In 1943 they were transferred to the National Archives, where they remain today. More than 1 million Union veterans were originally documented as well as more than 163,000 widows.
Although there is no evidence that the 1890 veterans’ schedules were involved in either fire that annihilated the actual census, a significant portion of these schedules is missing. Almost all schedules from the states of Alabama through Kansas (alas, this includes Indiana and Illinois) are missing. Nearly one-half of the Kentucky veterans’ schedules are missing. Surviving schedules include, alphabetically, part of Kentucky through Washington, D.C. They can be found in National Archives Publication M123 and consist of 118 rolls of microfilm. Bundle 198 on roll 118 titled “Washington, DC, and Miscellaneous” contains some fragments for California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois (Cook and Henderson counties), Indiana (Warrick and White counties), and Kansas.
History
GENEALOGY: Only 6,160 names saved from 1890 census tragedy
- History
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Deadly tornado devastates York in 1907
John T. Staff loved water and, particularly, the Wabash River.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
GENEALOGY: Peyton, Downey, Fifer queries and a plea for help from Scotland
This week, we have several queries.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
HISTORICAL TREASURE: A bottle of clove oil at the pharmacy
The Historical Treasure for today is a bottle of Clove Oil.
-
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.
-
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Fire up the jukebox for a great night
The jukebox existed long before Glenn Miller’s “Juke Box Saturday Night” swing version.
-
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.
-
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Terre Haute teenager arrested in Cincinnati brothel
A newspaper headline in the Terre Haute Gazette on Jan. 3, 1895, grabbed your attention: “A Terre Haute Girl Goes to Cincinnati to Lead a Life of Shame.”
-
BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Ford’s five dollar days increase productivity
This week (Jan. 5) in 1914, Henry Ford, the head of the Ford Motor Company, stunned the business world by announcing that, henceforth, Ford employees would not only share in the car company’s profits, they also would be paid the unheard of sum of $5 a day. That doubled their previous wage.
-
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Some events not given adequate attention
On May 25, 2011, a large white oak tree — one of the 2,000 or so numbered trees on 324 platted lots in “Edgewood Grove Beautiful” subdivision — fell on our residence.
-
LOOKING BACK: Carty, Skelly, Oxford celebrate with first baby of the year in 1962, 1987, 2002
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
-
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Greetings from the historical treasures
As we begin a new year, we feature greeting cards sent long ago to express good wishes for the New Year.
-
GENEALOGY: ‘Chronicling’ changes newspaper searches
One of the great resources for family historians is local newspapers.
- More History Headlines
-
GENEALOGY: Virginia Historical Society takes on ambitious project
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Romney Congratulates Santorum, Focuses on Obama
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Paul Says Results Help Him Rack Up Delegates
Foreclosures Down 34 Percent in 2011
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
The NY Giants Defend Gisele
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Beyonce Is Sexy in Sequins
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Model's Shocking 20-Inch Waist
Better than Tebowing, it's Bradying - 2/7
Maria Menounos in Giants Bikini After Losing Bet
Zip-Lining Man Slams Into Tree
TLC's 'Strangest Addictions Yet'?
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Snooki Admits She's Bisexual
Katharine McPhee Strips Down
Raw Video: 15 Lb. Baby Born in China
Ellen DeGeneres Slams One Million Moms
Vending Machine Dispenses 'Morning-After' Pill
Rihanna in Super Sheer Bodysuit
Entire staff removed at L.A. elementary school
Exclusive: Giants Players Talk About Excitement Around 2012 Super Bowl Victory Parade
