Comments on Union Parish Louisiana made by 1850 Census Enumerator

Submitted for the Union Parish Louisiana USGenWeb Archives by T. D. Hudson, 5/2006



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Comments on Union Parish Louisiana made by 1850 & 1860 Census Enumerators
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EXPLANATION:
Each of the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 censuses was divided into various parts, 
called "Schedules". The most well-known schedule, commonly referred to as "the 
census", was technically the "Population Schedule". Other schedules were the 
Agricultural Schedule (listed data on every farm), the Slave Schedule (listed 
slaveowners and numbers of slaves in 1850 & 1860), and the Manufacturing Schedule 
(listed names and products produced), and the Mortality Schedule (listed the names 
of those people who had died in the previous year. 

At the bottom of the 1850 and 1860 Mortality Schedules for Union Parish Louisiana, 
in the pre-printed form under "Remarks:", the enumerators wrote comments describing 
the overall health of the population, the soil, etc. Here are their comments:
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George A. Hammond's comments in 1850:
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Remarks: The small-pox and cholera raged to some extent in this Parish; they were brought 
here by immigrants who contracted them in New Orleans. The small pox extended over a 
large portion of the Parish but did not prove fatal in but few instances. The cholera 
was confined entirely to the immigrants and persons living on the OUachita river. The 
land is of a light grey color with a sandy foundation and very much broken, but is 
well adapted to raising cotton and corn. 

The water is free-Stone impregnated with Sulpher and iron. The principle growth on the 
Hills is pine and white Oak, and on the Bayous Sypress. The Rocks are composed of 
sand and iron. 

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A. C. Wade's comments in 1860:
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Remarks: Union Parish is well watered by many beautiful Springs and non-failing wells - 
the Soil is free and fertile and is mostly of a light grey Sandy nature. No disease 
has prevailed among the people, but with the Cattle the black Tong has proved fatal 
to many. Yet more fatal to the Deer causing many an old Hunter to resort to the plough 
for a Support 


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