The following paragraphs are quoted from an article written by Dr. Jean Stephenson in the September 1943 issue of the National Genealogical Quarterly Magazine. "In 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 census enumerators were directed to secure, in addition to the usually required census data, information as to all persons dying within the twelve months preceding the taking of the census. These lists, which were duly filed in Washington, became known as “Mortality Schedules.” These schedules contain valuable information for genealogists and local historians. While details varied somewhat from state to state the example from the Georgia schedule is typical. The name of the person, his state of birth, date of death, as well as cause of death, are usually given. As these schedules antedate the establishment of vital records in the majority of the states, they are of especial value. This 31 year record is just when those born in the 1790-1810 decades were completing the normal life span. A number of years ago, when the Mortality Schedules had a served their purpose and the matter of their destruction as useless papers arose; the Daughters of the American Revolution requested them. After consideration by the appropriate committee of Congress, the Director of the Census was authorized to return each schedule to the state concerned by presentation to the State Library, Archives of similar department at the request of such state agency or historical society or in the absence of such request to give them to the Daughters of the American Revolution." MORTALITY SCHEDULES FOR GRANT COUNTY, INDIANA The State Library of Indiana welcomed these old records and they are now deposited with the Genealogy Department. The ink is faded and the old style S makes it difficult to decipher many of the names. Only a part of the data has been copied in this report. To all appearances the contributing cause of death was very loosely interpreted. Many of these returns were made by relatives and were as much by guess as by fact. In 1880 the instructions were more specific and are copied in part. The important point in this schedule is the question in column 14 headed “Disease or cause of death.” Especial pains must be taken in this column to make the answer full and exact and to this end attention is called to the following points: “Enter the name of the primary disease in all cases and when the immediate cause of death has been a complication or consequence of the primary disease either that also. For instance, enter all cases of death resulting either immediately or remotely from measles, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, smallpox, etc under the names of these diseases, but add also dropsy, hemorrhage from the bowels, pneumonia, etc. if these occurred as complications and were the immediate cause of death. In cases of death from hemorrhage, specify the origin of the hemorrhage, thus hemorrhage as from aortic aneurism, hemorrhage from ulcer of the intestines in typhoid fever, hemorrhage from the lungs, hemorrhage from wound in the neck etx. So also for abscess, aneurism, cancer, carbuncle, dropsy, tumor, ulcer, specify organ or part affected; as iliac abscess of liver, femoral aneurism, carbuncle of the hip, cancer of the breast, cancer of the uterus cancer of the face, dropsy on the chest, dropsy of the abdomen, inflammation of the brain, inflammation of the liver, tumor of the neck, tumor of the abdomen, ulcer of the face, ulcer of the groin etc. typhus, typhoid, typhoid malarial fever. Especial inquiry should be made for the cause of “still-birth” including infants born dead from whatever cause. As few deaths as possible should be reported under the general terms as disease of the throat, disease of the brain, disease of the liver, disease of lungs, disease of the bowels, disease of the spine etc. These should be as far as possible reported under special heads. Be sure that the difference between apoplexy, epilepsy, and paralysis is understood. Distinguish between acute and chronic bronchitis, acute and chronic dysentery, or diarrhea, acute and chronic rheumatism. Report cerebro-spinal meningitis as cerebrospinal fever. Do not report as the cause of death old age or intemperance or debility or paralysis of the heart or sudden death. In any case where it is possible name a definite disease. In reported suicide name the means. The enumerator should see in person every physician residing in the district and courtesy request him to inspect him to inspect the entries in regard to the cause of death, in his cases and to verify or correct them.” Page 102: The original copies are now in the possession of Indiana State Library. The age, sex, color, place of birth, married or single, occupation, cause of death, month of death are items in these schedules to which are added the name of the attending physician in the 1880 schedule. It is of interest to note that no occupation for women was given until 1870 and then not in all cases. The attributing cause of death is also of interest. Putrid sore throat, chills and ague, whooping cough, consumption, inflammation of the brain, bowels, spine or lungs, erysipelas, typhoid, fits, flux, black tongue, and a few cases of smallpox are named. In 1850 Isaac Vanderventer is named as Assistant Marshall and the one taking the census for the year ending June 30, 1850. CENTER TOWNSHIP NAME AGE MONTH OF DEATH OCCUPATION CAUSE OF DEATH Sarah C. Middleton 13 Jan lung fever Rosannah Campbell 2 July inflammation of brain Martha J. Whisler 6m Jan dropsy Hannah E. Patty 1m Jan diarrhea Evaline Pearson 10 Apr inflammation of brain Jesse Small 73 Dec lung fever Calvin Pegg 6m July inflammation of brain Rosetta Foster 1 May croup Martha Thomas 7 Aug worms Sally Wilcuts 18 Dec unknown Willaba Wilcuts 10m Apr inflammation of bowels Rosinah Elliott 39 Oct consumption John Hite 6m Mar inflammation of brain GREENE TOWNSHIP Susan Saine 76 Feb typhus fever William H. Turner 1m June diarrhea Laura J. Howell 2m Feb croup Mary Rush 4 Sept flux JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP Page 102-103 GILBERT carter 10m Sept typhus fever Elias Wright 5 Mar flux John R. Hollis 12 Sept typhus fever Nancy Richards 1m May unknown Moses McKeever 44 Feb lung fever Hugh McKeever 18 Feb congestive fever Mary McKeever 84 Feb congestive fever William A. Lucas 6m Feb scarlet fever Cynthia Lucas 3 Mar scarlet fever James Monroe 21 Mar lung fever Barbary E. Palmer 2 Mar unknown Mary Snyder 88 Oct flux James Collins 59 Mar piles LIBERTY TOWNSHIP Page 103 Aaron Peacock 19 Feb consumption Elam Scott 9 Aug pleurisy John Peacock 2m July flux Horenhapuch Gauntt 32 June bilous fever Abner E. Brown 9m Aug unknown Sophronia Brewer 2m Mar unknown John Radley 1m Sept unknown Mary Wilson 24 Aug consumption Jabez Wilson 1 Sept flux TOWN OF MARION Sophia Guensin 8m Apr inflam of brain Mary Hausley 72 Feb dis. Of heart Thomas Wall 45 Jan lung fever Tilghman H. Shively 9 June inflam of brain J.B. Stebbens 46 May lung fever Adelia M. Rodgers 1 Feb lung fever Alonzo Barley 1m June unknown William Scott 3m Dec inflam of brain Rosetta Shunk 26 May diarrhea Maria E. Cubberly 4m Mar measles Andrew J. Gregg 1 Aug unknown John Gilbert 42 Jan pleurisy Sarah A. Beatty 9m Dec croup Eleanor Bowman 45 Aug childbirth Alfred S. Wilcuts 10 Sept diarrhea Sarah J. Conner 1 Sept inflam of brain Elva Foster 6 Sept inflam of brain Ann E. Lomax 1 Sept inflam of brain MILL TOWNSHIP Page 104 John C. Wilson 3m Aug not known Daniel Ritter 88 Nov inflam of brain Mary A. Ritter 4 Jan inflam of brain David Weesner 36 July cholera Anna M. Bates 1m Sept unknown Enoch Druley 19 Oct conges. of brain Lewis Wooton 51 Mar typhoid fever Georgianna Horne 1 Oct not known Francis Reily 5m Sept dysentery John W. Spence 22 Sept congestive fever Elizabeth Dormel 53 Aug flux MONROE TOWNSHIP James Toben 50 Aug cholera Martha Harrison 77 July cholera Andrew Patterson 48 July cholera Elizabeth A. Jacks 4m July croup Joseph Oliver 1m Feb unknown Jesse Holliway 50 Nov dropsy Lydia Schooley 5 July croup Margaret Schooley 3 July croup PLEASANT TOWNSHIP Nancy Burson 17 June consumption Sarah Burson 19 Oct consumption Mary A. Mercer 1m May unknown James C. York 2m Aug unknown James Green 70 Dec fever PLEASANT TOWNSHIP (cont. page 104) NAME AGE MONTH OF DEATH OCCUP. CAUSE OF DEATH Joshua Hurley 27 Nov drowning RICHLAND TOWNSHIP Abner H. Grindle 1 Aug diarrhea Jacob Cline 1 Feb quinsy Mary E. Antrim 9m Mar croup Abram Pixler 6m Mar bold hives William Green 7 June dropsy Anna E. Powell 1 June croup Elizabeth A. Slagle 1 Feb worms Malinda Jellison 55? June fever Mary A. Maine 1m Aug croup E. J. Wingfield 4m Sept croup Harrison Herader 1 June croup SIMS TOWNSHIP Clark Knight 2m Sept fever James W. Miller 8m Apr cholic William Baker 3m Apr smallpox Francis Olinger 12 Apr accident Sarah J. Smith 5 Apr dropsy Sarah Pence 1 June drowned Alfred Thomas 18 Sept chills & fever VANBUREN TOWNSHIP M.W. Camblin 12 Jan typhoid John Long 5 Feb cold Mary Malcolm 27 May consumption Nancy A. Malcolm 3 Aug consumption Andrew C. Roush 2 Jan unknown Rob’t. L. Cloud 3 Aug flux Ann Kilgore 28 June unknown UNION TOWNSHIP George P. Wright 1 Aug flux Susannah Winslow 1 Aug inflam of brain David L. Stanfield 7 July inflam of brain Mary E. Stanfield 1 Sept flux Hannah Lee 56 Mar consumption Lewis L. Whitson 2m Sept croup Joseph Power 74 Mar not known WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP Alvina Thompson 32 Dec unknown Eli Gumnere 2 July diarrhea NAME AGE MONTH OF DEATH OCCUPATION CAUSE OF DEATH WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (cont. page 105) Maria westfall 40 Oct unknown Ann Barley 19 May childbirth Mary J. Smith 1m Oct unknown Geo. Bocock 22 Dec fits Samuel Turner 4m May unknown Sarah Marsh 6m Dec unknown PAGE 106: “In 1855 when a general re-organization was ordered by the County Commissioners, Richland, Pleasant, Sims, Franklin, Green, Liberty and Mill Townships were formed with the present boundaries. At the same time the name of Madison was changed to Monroe and Fairmount and Union were consolidated under the name Union. In September of that year Union was again divided into Union and Fairmount, but in 1858 they were re-consolidated under the name of Fairmount. The boundaries have not been changed since.” From a booklet issued by the Grant County Junior Historical Society of the Marion High School issued in 1937. In this copy of the Mortality Schedule for Grant County appears the names of the 13 townships as they appear today. To that of 1850 is added the place of birth and in some cases the occupation of the man is given. MORTALITY SCHEDULE OF GRANT COUNTY CENTER TOWNSHIP 1860 NAME AGE PL. OF BIRTH* OCCUPATION* MONTH* CAUSE OF DEATH John Moore 35 Ohio blacksmith May consumption Elizabeth Jones 2/12 Ind. Aug inf. Of stomach Martin V. Beshore 17 Ind. Farmhand Aug “ “ “ “ Thomas E. Zahn 2 Ind. Aug spinal affect- Josephine Bradford 5 Ind. Aug inf. Of brain Sarah J. Turner 33 Ohio Sep consumption Unis Wilcots 56 N.C. Oct cancer Ruth T. Parker 5 O Oct sore throat Catherine Snyder 71 Pa Apr palsy Emma M. Schooley 3m Ind Aug flux Clarissa E. Peck 1 Ind Nov inf of brain Malissa J. Tiams 9 Ind Feb sore throat Mary Burson 42 Va May consumption Matilda Stafford 8m Ind May scalding Isaah Futrell 8 Ind Feb sore throat Lilla McKinney 4 Ind Mar “ “ “ “ Daniel Mowerer ass’t Marshall enumerating. FAIRMOUNT TOWNSHIP 1860 D.P. Pulley enumerating. Sarah Willson 2d Ind Apr unknown Josiah Owens 9m Ind Sep infl. Of brain Eva Lucas 2w Ind Nov fits Jos. Winslow 81 N.C. farmer Oct old age Calvin Harvey 1d Ind July unknown FAIRMOUNT TOWNSHIP 1860 (cont. page 106) NAME AGE PL OF BIRTH* OCCUPATION* MONTH* CAUSE OF DEATH Catherine Harvey 1w Ind Jul unknown Thomas Powell 73 England farmer Dec typhoid fever Keziah Lyons 24 Ohio Feb childbed fever Sarah Dillon 2m Ind Feb whooping cough Sam’l Heavengidge 59 Va farmer Mar erysipelas Mary Patterson 52 Ind Apr putrid sore throat Levi N. Quinn 5 Ind Sept Scarlet fever Angeline Quinn 2 Ind Aug Scarlet fever Nancy J. Beeson 23 Ohio Sept Typhoid fever Rachel Adams 21 Ind May consumption Elizabeth Bull 65 England Oct inf. Of lungs David W. Leech 1 Ind Mar whooping cough Jane Brewer 2 Ind Oct chills & fever GREENE TOWNSHIP 1860 page 107 Daniel Mowerer - enumerating Hattie A. Stafford 1 Ind Apr measles Harry Stafford 3 Ind Apr measles Lucinda A. Young 1 Ind Mar typhoid fever Mary F. Kirkpatrick 11m Ind Nov brain fever George A. Clark 7 Ohio Sep scarlet fever Margaret E. Knox 12 Ind Dec fever Jacob Foster 2 Ohio Oct chills & fever Claritte Femmell 5 Ind Oct unknown Amanda A. Stilwell 7m Ind Mar inflam of brain Elizabeth Wilson 1m Ind Feb putrid sore throat Catharine Harper 25 Ind Apr fever Isaah Ware 7 Ind Jan falling on ice Catharine Heiser 43 Va Mar childbed fever William I. Bard 1 Ind Oct croup Aaron Mauler 53 Pa farmer May dropsy Martha J. Galbreth 1 Iowa Aug inflam of bowels Becky J. Miller 16 Ind Mar typhoid fever Eliza Miller 5m Ind Apr lung fever Wm. H. Bosler 9m Ind May sore throat Irene M. Lyons 30 Penn May scrofula Emily J. Barton 1 Ind Jan typhoid fever Amanda Myer 6m Ind Jan unknown Shedrick Elliott 50 N.C. farmer Jan black tongue Francis M. Smith 5 Ind Aug sore throat Charles M. Garten 65 Tenn farmer Apr consumption Jonathan M. Maxwell 5 Ohio Dec lung fever Vanwert Paswell 1 Ind Apr lung fever John Thrasher 8 Ind Nov sore throat James Thrasher 5 Ind Dec sore throat Hailor Thrasher 2 Ind Nov sore throat Owen Seabrial 65 Va farmer Aug consumption Sarah Farree 1 Ind Sep flux GREENE TOWNSHIP (cont. page 107) NAME AGE PL OF BIRTH* OCCUPATION* MONTH* CAUSE OF DEATH Alvira Olinger 21 Ind Oct consumption Malinda J. Olinger 1 Ohio Feb inflam of brain JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP 1860 D. P. Cubberly ass’t Marshall enumerating. Sarah Graves 40 Tenn Apr confinement Lucy M. Johnson 7 Ind Jan putrid sore throat Lydia Mareen 52 N.C. Jan dropsy MORTALITY SCHEDULES FOR GRANT COUNTY, INDIANA
1850 - 1860