RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN 1860 FEDERAL CENSUS http://ftp.us-census.org/pub/usgenweb/census/xtn/rutherford/1860/ ===================== TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: ===================== Prepared by Donald Robbins Transcription aid by Betty Hawley Checked by D. K. Robbins August 15, 2004 (revised November 18, 2005) Census Sheet's Format ------------------------------- Census Sheet Header Information ------------------------------- Each Census Sheet consists of 40 lines. The Header information contains a place for the Date of entry, Post Office, The County Name (Rutherford) and the name of the recorder of the information. ------------------------------- Census Sheet Detail information ------------------------------- Column 1 - Dwelling - houses numbered in the order of visitation Column 2 - Families, numbered in the order of visitation Column 3 - The name of every person whose usual place of abode on the first day of June, 1860 was in this family Column 4 - Age Column 5 - Sex Column 6 - Color, White, Black or Mulatto or Indian Column 7 - Profession, Occupation or Trade of each person, male and female, over 15 years of age Column 8 - Value of Real Estate Column 9 - Value of Personal Estate Column 10 - Place of Birth, Naming the State, Territory, or Country Column 11 - Married within the year Column 12 - Attended School within the year Column 13 - Person over 20 who could not read or write Column 14 - Whether deaf & dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper or convict In the interest of getting the information transcribed to an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet, some adjustments were made in the format of the transcription. A new line was created, which contains the Page Number and Line Number of the Microfilm reel (reel Series M653, Roll # 1271) that the information was transcribed from. The Surname is in Caps, along with the date of the census page, the census district, the Post Office, and the information from Column 1 and Column 2. The information from Columns 11, 12, 13 was encoded following the Column 10 information, Place of Birth. The encoding is: M, for married within the year, S, for attending school within the year, and I, for illiterate for a check in Column 13 for persons over 20 who could not read or write. The information from Column 14 is added, as is, to the person's line. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The information from the microfilm for the 1860 Census for Rutherford County consists of 382 pages. ======= COUNTS ======= There were 2464 family units in Rutherford county. There were 3453 free individuals in Rutherford County. Number of White Males 1693 Number of White Females 1745 Number of Black Males 1 Number of Mulatto Males 5 Number of Mulatto Females 9 Number of Students 763 Number of Illiterates 712 Number of Married 28 in the last year PLACES OF BIRTH Tennessee 2873 Kentucky 344 North Carolina 137 Virginia 77 Georgia 12 South Carolina 8 Missouri 5 Germany 4 Wales 4 Mississippi 2 Alabama 1 Texas 1 Ireland 1 Swiss 1 Arkansas 1 Unknown 2 ============ OCCUPATIONS ============ Alphabetically appt Lawyer 1 appt Printer 1 appt 1 artist 1 attendant on farm 1 Agent for 1 Artist 2 blind 1 B. & I. 1 B. Preacher 1 Baker 1 Bank Teller 1 Bar Keeper 1 Black Smith 42 Boarding House 2 Book Keeper 4 Book Merchant 2 Brick Layer 4 Brick Maker 1 Brick Mason 12 Brick Molder 1 Bridge Builder 1 Butcher 1 clerk 63 Cabinent Maker 8 Carpenter 97 Carriage Maker 11 CCAA 1 Chair Maker 1 Clergy, Meth 3 Clergy, Pres 1 Clock Maker 1 Coach Maker 1 Coach Painter 2 Coach Trimmer 5 Collar Maker 3 College Pres 1 Confectioner 4 Constable 9 Cooper 7 County Ct Clerk 1 Courier 1 deaf & dumb 1 deaf 1 Dentist 2 Dept Sheriff 1 Dept. Post Master 1 Distiller 1 Ditcher 1 Druggist 3 Editor 1 Engineer 5 Farmer 1674 Fisherman 1 Fmr & M. D. 1 Frmr & M. D. 6 Frmr & Miller 2 Frmr & Min 2 Frmr & Phys 1 Frmr & Trdr 1 Gardner 1 Gate Keeper 8 Gin Maker 1 Grocer 33 Gun Smith 4 Harness Maker 4 Horse Trader 1 Hotel Keeper 1 Hotel Prop 1 House Kpr 1 idiotic 6 in prison 1 insane 2 Jailor 1 Judge 1 lunatic 1 Laborer 878 Lawyer 15 Leather ? 1 Leisure 1 Livery Business 1 Livery Keeper 3 Livery Stable 1 Lumber Dealer 1 M. D. 22 Machinist 7 Magistrate 1 Mason 11 Mechanic 12 Medical Student 5 Medical Study 1 Merchant Taylor 1 Merchant Taylor 1 Merchant Taylor 1 Merchant 61 Meth Clergy 1 Miliner 1 Mill Right 1 Mill Rite 5 Miller 13 Minister C. P. 3 Minister Meth 1 Minister P. E. 1 Minister 3 Money Dealer 1 Money Trader 2 Mrchnt & Frmr 1 Music Teacher 1 Musician 1 Note Shaver 3 Nurseryman 1 Overseer 58 painter 4 pauper 3 Painter 1 Painter 16 Peddler 2 Physician 28 Plain Stocker 1 Planter 1 Plasterer 10 Post Master 2 Preacher 3 Register 1 RR Sup 1 RR Agent 1 RR Con 1 RR hand 2 RR Hand 1 RR Overseer 1 RR 2 Saddler 5 Sadler 8 Salesman 1 Seamstress 6 Shoe Maker 31 Shoe Merchant 2 Silver Smith 2 Smith 15 Snith 1 Stage Driver 1 Steno 1 Stone Cutter 2 Stone Mason 2 Student 6 Sup RR 1 Sup Stable 1 Supt Farm 63 Supt Mills 1 Surveyor 1 Tailor 11 Tanner 1 Teacher 35 Tenant 144 Tinner 3 Tobacconist 1 Toll Gate Keeper 3 Trader 12 Wagon Maker 13 Wagoner 1 Watch Maker 2 Weaver 7 Well Digger 3 Wheel Rite 12 Wool Carder 1 ============ OCCUPATIONS ============ by frequency Farmer 1674 Laborer 878 Tenant 144 Carpenter 97 clerk 63 Supt Farm 63 Merchant 61 Overseer 58 Black Smith 42 Teacher 35 Grocer 33 Shoe Maker 31 Physician 28 M. D. 22 Painter 16 Lawyer 15 Smith 15 Miller 13 Saddler 13 Wagon Maker 13 Brick Mason 12 Mechanic 12 Trader 12 Wheel Rite 12 Carriage Maker 11 Mason 11 Tailor 11 Plasterer 10 Constable 9 Cabinent Maker 8 Gate Keeper 8 Cooper 7 Machinist 7 Weaver 7 Frmr & M. D. 6 Seamstress 6 Student 6 Coach Trimmer 5 Engineer 5 Medical Student 5 Mill Rite 5 Book Keeper 4 Brick Layer 4 Confectioner 4 Gun Smith 4 Harness Maker 4 painter 4 Clergy, Meth 3 Collar Maker 3 Druggist 3 Livery Keeper 3 Minister C. P. 3 Minister 3 Note Shaver 3 Preacher 3 Tinner 3 Toll Gate Keeper 3 Well Digger 3 Watch Maker 2 Artist 2 Boarding House 2 Book Merchant 2 Coach Painter 2 Dentist 2 Frmr & Miller 2 Frmr & Min 2 Money Trader 2 Peddler 2 Post Master 2 RR 2 Shoe Merchant 2 Silver Smith 2 Stone Cutter 2 Stone Mason 2 RR hand 2 appt Lawyer 1 appt Printer 1 appt 1 artist 1 attendant on farm 1 Agent for 1 B. Preacher 1 Baker 1 Bank Teller 1 Bar Keeper 1 Brick Maker 1 Brick Molder 1 Bridge Builder 1 Butcher 1 CCAA 1 Chair Maker 1 Clergy, Pres 1 Clock Maker 1 Coach Maker 1 College Pres 1 County Ct Clerk 1 Courier 1 Dept Sheriff 1 Dept. Post Master 1 Distiller 1 Ditcher 1 Editor 1 Fisherman 1 Fmr & M. D. 1 Frmr & Phys 1 Frmr & Trdr 1 Gardner 1 Gin Maker 1 Horse Trader 1 Hotel Keeper 1 Hotel Prop 1 House Kpr 1 Jailor 1 Judge 1 Leather ? 1 Leisure 1 Livery Business 1 Livery Stable 1 Lumber Dealer 1 Magistrate 1 Medical Study 1 Merchant Taylor 1 Merchant Taylor 1 Merchant Taylor 1 Meth Clergy 1 Miliner 1 Mill Right 1 Minister Meth 1 Minister P. E. 1 Money Dealer 1 Mrchnt & Frmr 1 Music Teacher 1 Musician 1 Nurseryman 1 Painter 1 Plain Stocker 1 Planter 1 Register 1 RR Sup 1 RR Agent 1 RR Con 1 RR Hand 1 RR Overseer 1 Salesman 1 Snith 1 Stage Driver 1 Steno 1 Sup RR 1 Sup Stable 1 Supt Mills 1 Surveyor 1 Tanner 1 Tobacconist 1 Wagoner 1 Wool Carder 1 ============ Other ============ in prison 1 pauper 3 ============ Infirmities ============ blind 1 B. & I. 1 deaf & dumb 1 deaf 1 idiotic 6 insane 2 lunatic 1 ==================== Transcribers notes: ==================== A. W. Carter at P020-09 was the enumerator for the Rutherford Rural. M. T. Clemons at S083-14 was the enumerator for the Rutherford Cities. The Census takers of Rutherford County used many many initials for the given names. We feel this is too bad. There are very few people of Rutherford County listed as Illiterate. We believe the enumerator(s) did not collect this information. There is as centarian listed at S072-28. She is Shady Williams. This is the first one we have seen in our census transcription. RUTHERFORD COUNTY HISTORY History of Rutherford County From about 5000 BC until Uriah Stones navigated up an off-shoot of the Cumberland River in 1766, what is now Rutherford County was habitated by Native Americans. The last tribes in Middle Tennessee were the Chickasaw, Cherokee and Creek Indians. They used the area as their hunting grounds.When white settlers began the westward movement into Tennessee from places like North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the Native Americans were forced to find other areas to hunt and live. Most of these new Tennesseans held land grants from the Revolutionary War. They planted corn and built homes from logs. Lumber was shipped out of the area on flat boats, up and down the river. By 1803, the state legislature deemed there were enough people to justify forming a new county, Rutherford County. It was named in honor of North Carolina General Griffith Rutherford, and was formed from portions of the counties of Davidson,Williamson and Wilson counties. Murfreesboro, the current county seat, sits in the center of Rutherford County, along the Stones River. The first county seat was established in the community of Jefferson, near Smyrna, and in 1811 the town of Cannonsburough was established as the new county seat. After just 33 days, the name of the town was changed to Murfreesborough, now Murfreesboro, in honor of Hardy Murfree,a Revolutionary War friend of William Lytle, who donated the land. In 1834 it was determined that the center of Tennessee was located on Old Lascassas Pike, one mile from downtown Murfreesboro. The location was nicknamed "the dimple of the universe" by local residents, and the spot was later marked with an obelisk by the Rutherford County Historical Society. M. Byers 98 RUTHERFORD COUNTY (Chamber of Commerce) Rutherford County, Tennessee represents a unique blend of Civil War history and a thriving 21st Century community. Located in the "heart of Tennessee," it is the population and geographic center of the state. Just southeast of Nashville, the county combines the benefits of smaller-town living with the amenities of a major metropolitan area. Industry abounds in Rutherford County and represents a Who's Who of corporate giants, such as Nissan, Ingram, Whirlpool, General Mills, Bridgestone-Firestone, State Farm, and Verizon, just to name a few. The beautiful 500-acre campus of Middle Tennessee State University is located in Murfreesboro, the county seat. With over 21,000 students, MTSU is the focal point of education in the county. Graceful structures dating back to the early 1800's blend with the modern shopping, medical facilities, and amenities to lend a touch of Southern nostalgia to Rutherford County. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - THE STORY TELLERS We are the chosen. My feelings are, in each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know, and approve. To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called as it were, by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us: Tell our story. So, we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would be proud of us? How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say. It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do? It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family. It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are them and they are us. So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers. That, is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones. Author unknown The 1860 Census or Lots of Questions Answered The 1860 Census lists a dwelling number and family number and each sheet lists the county as well as town and post office name. Questions answered on the 1860 census include, name, age and sex of each individual; color, occupation, value of real and personal property; birthplace, whether married within the year (m.y.), whether attended school, can read or write and the date of the enumeration. Also included are boxes to indicate if an individual was a pauper or convict. Here is an article published in 1859 about the upcoming 1860 census: Friday September 23, 1859 Weekly Star THE NEXT CENSUS The year 1860 is the time appointed for taking the eighth census of the United States. From having been originally a simple enumeration's of persons, this Federal census has grown to be a decennial register of the number of inhabitants and their occupation, religious denominations & c, and also a statement of the commerce, manufacturers, arts and industry, and the wealth of the nation. The collection of these statistics has hitherto been attended with immense labor and difficulty. The inquiries of the census takers have not only been baffled by the stupidity and perverseness and ignorance of many to whom they were addressed; but it has been impossible to obtain accurate information upon important subjects because the parties; who alone are presumed capable of imparting it, have never taken the trouble to inform themselves. It often occurs that, in the absence of the head of a family no other member of it is able to give the information required; for instance as to the ages of the different members or it, or the amount of land in cultivation, the number of negroes and their ages, the quantity and value of horses, mules and oxen, etc., or of farming implements or farm products. In town and country similar difficulties are continually met with by the marshals appointed to collect these statistics, and the census is consequently returned incomplete. It is probably that while care will be observed to prevent any frauds or excess in the publication of the next census, it will be ordered by Congress to be taken so as to include all the most important items of information in regard to the progress of our population and our country. In view of this contingency the Nashville News very sensibly suggest that each farmer, this fall , as he gathers his crops, shall keep something like an accurate account of the quality and value of the same; and if he will take the trouble to make out a statement of the names and ages of his family; the number and ages of his servants, the number and value of his horses and mules; the number of bales of cotton, barrels of corn, bushels of wheat, oats, rye, barley, potatoes, etc., and leave it in some place where any member of thefamily, who may be at home when the deputy marshal shall call, can readily get hold of it, it will save time to all concerned, and very greatly assist to make the census return perfect, complete and satisfactory.