The following was extracted from federal agricultural censuses, which were surveys of a farm's holdings and output for the previous year. While they might not be of huge value for genealogy, they do offer an interesting glimpse back at farm life in the mid-19th century.
James Slavens, Eel River Township, Hendricks County, Indiana, 1850: 40 acres improved land, 40 acres unimproved, $1600 cash value of farm land, $20 farm implements, 5 horses, 2 milch cows, 2 working oxes, 2 other cattle, 20 sheep, 15 swine, total value of stock $240; 25 bushels wheat, 300 bushels Indian corn, 56 pounds wool, 150 pounds butter, $35 value of homemade manufacture, $20 value of slaughtered animals.
Henry Slavens, Monroe Township, Putnam County, Indiana, 1850: 14 acres improved land, 26 acres unimproved, $600 cash value of farm land, $10 implements, 2 horses, 1 milch cow, 5 other cattle, 10 sheep, 70 swine, total value of stock $225; 10 bushels wheat, 20 bushels rye, 335 bushels Indian corn, 5 bushels oats, 23 pounds wool, 2 bushels sweet potatoes, 80 pounds butter, $15 value of homemade manufacture, $15 value of slaughtered animals.
Reuben Slavens, Monroe Township, Putnam County, Indiana, 1850: 45 acres improved land, 35 acres unimproved land, $1600 cash value of farm land, $100 farm implements, 2 horses, 2 milch cows, 3 cattle, 22 sheep, 14 swine, total value of stock $200; 800 bushels Indian corn, 50 pounds wool, 10 bushels Irish potatoes, 3 bushels sweet potatoes, $25 orchard products, 80 pounds butter, 50 pounds cheese, $20 value of homemade manufacture, $20 value of slaughtered animals.
Phillip Slavens, Clinton Township, Putnam County, Indiana, 1850: 18 acres improved land, 75? acres unimproved land, $1200 cash value of farm land, $10 implements, 1 horse, 1 milch cow, 7 sheep, 12 swine, total value of stock $60; 500 bushels Indian corn, 20 pounds wool, 100 pounds butter, 90 pounds maple sugar, 4 gallons molasses, $8 value homemade manufacture, $10 value of slaughtered animals.
Isaiah Slavens, Clinton Township, Putnam County, Indiana, 1850: 45 acres improved land, 45 acres unimproved land, $1300 cash value farm land, $15 farm implements, 2 horses, 1 milch cow, 1 other cattle, 15 sheep, 16 swine, total value of stock $160; 30 bushels wheat, 600 bushels Indian corn, 30 pounds wool, 5 bushels Irish potatoes, 8 bushels sweet potatoes, 150 pounds butter, 30 pounds maple sugar, 6 gallons molasses, $20 value of home manufacture, $15 value of slaughtered animals.
Hiram Slavens, Clinton Township, Putnam County, Indiana, 1850: 55 acres improved land, 55 acres unimproved land, $1500 cash value of farm land, $100 implements, 3 horses, 2 milch cows, 11 other cattle, 8 sheep, 75 swine, total value of stock $315; 116 bushels wheat, 750 bushels Indian corn, 20 pounds wool, 1 bushel Irish potatoes, 8 bushels sweet potatoes, $6 orchard products, 150 pounds butter, 20 pounds beeswax and honey, $16 value of homemade manufacture, $30 value of slaughtered animals.
Sarah Slavens, Monroe Township, Putnam County, Indiana 1860: 155 acres improved land, $6200 cash value of farm land, $30 farm implements, 7 horses, 3 milch cows, 10 cattle, 50 swine, total value of livestock $765; 91 bushels wheat, 800 bushels Indian corn, 60 bushels oats, 20 pounds wool, 5 bushels potatoes, $25 orchard products, 150 pounds butter, 16 tons hay, $60 value of slaughtered animals.
Isaiah Slavens, Russell Township, Putnam County, Indiana 1860: $25 implements, 2 horses, 1 milch cow, total value of livestock $175; 300 bushels Indian corn, 30 bushels oats, 5 bushels peas and beans, 6 bushels Irish potatoes, 50 pounds butter, 1 ton hay, $20 value of slaughtered animals.
Hiram Slavens, Russell Township, Putnam County, Indiana 1860: 200 acres improved land, $5000 cash value of farm land, $100 implements, 11 horses, 5 milch cows, 2 working oxen, 7 cattle, 25 sheep, 75 swine, total value of stock $1340; 115 bushels wheat, 60 bushels rye, 1000 bushels Indian corn, 75 bushels oats, 100 pounds tobacco, 50 pounds wool, 1 bushel peas and beans, 50 bushels irish potatoes, 5 bushels sweet potatoes, $20 orchard products, 200 pounds butter, 16 tons hay, 100 gallons sorghum molasses, $85 value of slaughtered animals.
Isaiah Slavens, District 88, Montgomery County, Indiana, 1880: rents for share of products. 15 acres tilled, $500 value farm land, $25 implements, $150 stock, $100 farm products sold in 1879; 2 horses, 1 milk cow, 1 head cattle sold in 1879, 150 pounds butter, 5 swine, 30 poultry, 100 dozen eggs produced in 1879, 18 acres/100 bushels corn in 1879, 14 acres/400 bushels wheat in 1879, 1 acre orchard, $20 forest products consumed in 1879. Isaiah appeared to rent from Hiram Jolly.
Copyright © 2003 Larry Slavens. All rights reserved.