Pike County Georgia Newspapers - Instructions for Census Takers 1890 ********************************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ********************************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lynn Cunningham lcunnin1@bellsouth.net Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/pike.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm The Pike County Journal Zebulon, Ga., Tuesday, April 1, 1890 How It Is Done An Outline of the Manner in Which The Census Will Be Taken Everything is now ready at the census department to begin counting the people of the United States. The manner of getting at the number of people will be simple. A supervisor has charge of each district. He appoints the enumerators, subdivides the districts and is responsible for their zeal and accuracy. No enumerator is to look after a subdivision of more that 4,000, and he must be a resident of the subdivision and personally familiar with a great number of the people. The enumerators are to start out on Monday, June 2. Those in cities of more than 10,000 inhabitants must finish in two weeks, while those in the country are given a month. These men will make from $50 to $100 each. Here is a list of questions to be asked. With these the enumerator must go to each family and get the answers to all the questions. 1. Give Christian name in full and initial of middle name, surname. 2. Whether a soldier, sailor, or marine during the Civil War (United States or confederate) or widow of such person. 3. Relationship to head of family. 4. Whether white or black, mulatto, quadroon, octoroon, Chinese, Japanese or Indian. 5. Sex. 6. Age at nearest birthday. If under one year, give age in months. 7. Whether single, married, widowed or divorced. 8. Whether married during the census year (June 1, 1889 to May 31, 1890). 9. Mother of how many children and how many living. 10. Place of birth. 11. Place of birth of father. 12. Place of birth of mother. 13. Number of years in the United States. 14. Whether naturalized. 15. Whether naturalization papers have been taken out. 16. Profession, trade or occupation. 17. Months unemployed during the census year (June 1, 1889 to May 31, 1890). 18. Attendance at school (in months) during the census year (June 1, 1889 to May 31, 1890). 19. Able to read. 20. Able to write. 21. Able to speak English. If not, the language or dialect spoken. 22. Whether suffering from acute or chronic disease, with name of disease and length of time afflicted. 23. Whether defective in mind, sight, hearing or speech, or whether crippled, maimed or deformed, with name of defect. 24. Whether a prisoner, convict, homeless child or pauper. 25. and 26. Is the home you live in hired, or is it owned by the head or by a member of the family? 27. If owned by head or member of the family, is the home free from mortgage incumbrance? 28. If the head of the family is a farmer, is the farm which he cultivates hired, or is it owned by him or a member of his family? 29. If owned by head or member of the family, is the farm free from mortgage incumbrance? 30. If the home or farm is owned by a head or a member of the family and mortgaged, give the post office address of owner. If anyone refuses to answer these questions, except, perhaps, as to age in case of females, they are liable to a fine of $100. Superintendent Porter expects to have a fairly correct estimate of the population of the states and territories ready in August. He will complete the tables necessary for the reapportionment of representatives in congress in time for use in the short session. (Transcribed 9/30/02 Lynn Cunningham) From previous article: Pike County, Journal Zebulon, GA., Tuesday, March 4, 1890 Home Affairs Among the applicants for census enumerator in this district we are glad to see the name of C.G. Driver. He is a man of eminent qualifications for this position, and will, if appointed, discharge the duties, faithfully, punctually, and in a business-like manner.