Published: October 06, 2007 11:37 pm         

Genealogy: Census of 1850 included agricultural, industry schedules

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.