McNAIRY COUNTY, TN 1860 FEDERAL CENSUS http://ftp.us-census.org/pub/usgenweb/census/xtn/mcnairy/1860/ ------------------------------- TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: ------------------------------- Prepared by Donald Robbins Transcription aid by Betty Hawley Checked by D. K. Robbins Jan 3, 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 (McNairy) 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 # 1268) 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 McNairy County consists of 325 pages. COUNTS There were 2309 family units in McNairy county. There were 2305 Housing Units in McNairy County. There were 79 Unoccupied Dwellings in McNairy County There were 83 multiple Families in a Dwelling in McNairy County There were 12,872 free individuals in McNairy County. Number of White Males 6897 Number of White Females 6559 Number of Black Males 12 Number of Black Females 13 Number of Mulatto Males 3 Number of Mulatto Females 3 Number of Students 3054 Number of Illiterates 1745 Number of Married 200 in the last year PLACES OF BIRTH Tennessee 9,234 North Carolina 1612 Alabama 524 Mississippi 436 South Carolina 344 Virginia 198 Georgia 157 Kentucky 116 Ireland 49 Arkansas 27 Maryland 13 Pennsylvania 9 Ohio 7 New York 6 Missouri 4 Scotland 4 Texas 3 Canada 2 England 1 Germany 1 California 1 New Hampshire 1 Unknown 6 OCCUPATIONS Alphabetically ?, 0003 Agent, 0001 blind, 0005 born blind, 0001 bound boy, 0001 Bapt Clergy, 0003 Black Smith, 0033 Brick Layer, 0002 Broker, 0001 clerk, 0017 convict, 0001 cook, 0001 C. P. Clergy, 0002 Cabinent Maker, 0004 Carpenter, 0038 Carriage Maker, 0003 Chancery Clerk, 0001 Clergy, 0009 Clock Seller, 0001 Confectioner, 0002 Congressman, 0001 Constable, 0003 County Clerk, 0001 Cristian Refrmr, 0001 deaf, 0002 deaf & dumb, 0003 dicher & driller, 0001 dumb, 0001 Day Labor, 0103 Dental Surgn, 0001 Dept Sheriff, 0001 Doctor, 0002 Domestic, 0207 Druggist, 0002 Engineer, 0001 Factory, 0001 Farm Labor, 0697 Farm Labor, 0001 Farmer, 1172 Gardner, 0001 Gentleman, 0002 Goods Peddler, 0001 Grocer, 0007 Gun Smith, 0001 Hatter, 0001 Hotel Keeper, 0001 idiot, 0014 idiotic, 0004 insane, 0004 JP & Mayor, 0001 Laborer, 0001 Lawyer, 0007 Machinist, 0001 Manufacturer, 0002 Mechanic, 0010 Medical Student, 0003 Merchant, 0040 Meth Clergy, 0011 Mill hand, 0006 Mill Owner, 0001 Mill Wright, 0002 Miller, 0006 No Occupation, 0001 Oculist, 0001 Officer, 0001 Overseer, 0005 pauper, 0005 Painter, 0001 Physician, 0025 Poor House Kpr, 0001 Post Master, 0001 Pres Clergy, 0001 Publisher, 0001 RR, 0004 RR hand, 0011 student, 0002 Sadler, 0018 Sawyer, 0001 Seamstress, 0016 Servant, 0003 Sheriff, 0002 Shoe Maker, 0005 Silver Smith, 0002 Spinster, 0002 Stage Driver, 0002 Steam Mill, 0001 Student, 0003 twin, 0077 Tailor, 0005 Tailoress, 0001 Tanner, 0001 Teacher, 0019 Teacher, 0001 Tenant Farmer, 0431 Tin Smith, 0002 Trader, 0004 Waggon Maker, 0001 Wagner, 0002 Weaver, 0001 Wheel Wright, 0008 Wheelright, 0002 Vocations by frequency 0001 Agent 0001 born blind 0001 bound boy 0001 Broker 0001 convict 0001 cook 0001 Chancery Clerk 0001 Clock Seller 0001 Congressman 0001 County Clerk 0001 Cristian Refrmr 0001 dicher & driller 0001 dumb 0001 Dental Surgn 0001 Dept Sheriff 0001 Engineer 0001 Factory 0001 Farm Labor 0001 Gardner 0001 Goods Peddler 0001 Gun Smith 0001 Hatter 0001 Hotel Keeper 0001 JP & Mayor 0001 Laborer 0001 Machinist 0001 Mill Owner 0001 No Occupation 0001 Oculist 0001 Officer 0001 Painter 0001 Poor House Kpr 0001 Post Master 0001 Pres Clergy 0001 Publisher 0001 Sawyer 0001 Steam Mill 0001 Tailoress 0001 Tanner 0001 Teacher 0001 Waggon Maker 0001 Weaver 0002 Brick Layer 0002 C. P. Clergy 0002 Confectioner 0002 deaf 0002 Doctor 0002 Druggist 0002 Gentleman 0002 Manufacturer 0002 Mill Wright 0002 student 0002 Sheriff 0002 Silver Smith 0002 Spinster 0002 Stage Driver 0002 Tin Smith 0002 Wagner 0002 Wheelright 0003 ? 0003 Bapt Clergy 0003 Carriage Maker 0003 Constable 0003 deaf & dumb 0003 Medical Student 0003 Servant 0003 Student 0004 Cabinent Maker 0004 idiotic 0004 insane 0004 RR 0004 Trader 0005 blind 0005 Overseer 0005 pauper 0005 Shoe Maker 0005 Tailor 0006 Mill hand 0006 Miller 0007 Grocer 0007 Lawyer 0008 Wheel Wright 0009 Clergy 0010 Mechanic 0011 Meth Clergy 0011 RR hand 0014 idiot 0016 Seamstress 0017 clerk 0018 Sadler 0020 Teacher 0025 Physician 0034 Black Smith 0038 Carpenter 0040 Merchant 0077 twin 0103 Day Labor 0207 Domestic 0431 Tenant Farmer 0697 Farm Labor 1172 Farmer Other convict 0001 Day Laborer - burglar 0001 in prison, 0001 pauper, 0016 Infirmities blind, 0008 deaf & dumb, 0008 idiot 0008 idiotic, 0006 insane, 0002 lunatic, 0003 Transcribers notes: It appears that the county was divided into two (2) parts. One was arbitrarily designated by "P" and the other by "S" by us. Frank S. Hall at P115-42 was the enumerator for the McMinn P-series. Thomas Rogers Clemons at S144-19 was the enumerator for the McMinn S-series. There was a centurion in McMinn County. Henry Brock @ P131-05. Person of note: Rowland Ware @S063-14. His age is 101, and the note says "Solder of 1776" There were 50 Unoccupied dwellings in McMinn County There are two Surnames, that match their vocation: Farmer - J. W. Farmer @ S012-14 Miller - John Miller @ P083-02 McNAIRY COUNTY HISTORY MCNAIRY COUNTY, TENNESSEE a brief history by Nancy Wardlow Kennedy In the latter part of the 18th century, Tennessee opened as a new frontier. An explosion, as the people passed over the mountains to a land of milk and honey, they came westward, to east Tennessee, then Middle Tennessee and last to West Tennessee. In 1818, the U. S. government paid 15 million dollars for a tract of land from Yazoo River in the south to the Ohio River in the north, bound on the east west by the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers. Part of this purchase was West Tennessee. By 1820, they were beginning to settle in to a place we now call McNairy County. They left their worn out lands in Virginia, the Carolinas and other parts of Tennessee, to a virgin land in search of fertile soil and a better place to rear their families. The land, we now call McNairy County, had been occupied by the Chickasaw Indians and was originally a part of Hardin County. As the area grew, the pioneers petitioned the General Assembly for a new county. On October 8, 1823, history was made, when McNairy County came into being, taking its name from Judge John McNairy. In 1824 the county was organized with an active militia and commissioned Justices of the Peace, who constituted the County Court. The County Court, then elected our first officials: Pressley Christian, Chairman of the County Court; Joseph Barrett, Clerk of the County; and Henry Wilson, Sheriff. The first trustee was Robert M. Owens, William Murray the first register and Benjamin Wright was the first county surveyor. The first Courthouse was held in a log house erected for that purpose, about four miles southwest of Purdy, two miles south of Bethel and 1/2 mile from the Mobile & Ohio Railroad that was laid about 1850. The farm later belonged to a A. V. Murry and today (Sept, 2000) belongs to the Rowland family. This Courthouse was used until the county seat of Purdy was selected. McNairy County was originally almost square in miles and Purdy was chosen as the county seat since is was the center of the county. During the years, McNairy County lost it's square shape and our distinct little shape developed. Originally Adamsville and Milledgeville were in Hardin County. In 1849, a strip on the complete western edge of Hardin County was annexed into McNairy County, which included Adamsville. In 1870, Chester county was formed from the northern part. The first courthouse built at Purdy, about August 1825, was a log house about 18x20 feet with clap board roof and puncheon floor. A more substantial building was erected about 1830. This was a brick building and stood until 1881, when it was destroyed by fire and was not rebuilt. This courthouse was built by James Reed and Reuben Walker with Henry Kirkland as brick mason. The first jail was built about the same time. In 1850 a more substantial brick jail and sheriff's residence was built with ample accommodations. Purdy, the little town among the hills, obtained a high level of social, educational, cultural and economic welfare. The courthouse was surrounded by general merchandise stores, saloons, livery stables, eating houses, shoe and saddle shop, stage stand, masonic lodge, offices of lawyers and doctors, at least one hotel and one or more taverns. On the west side of court square was a theater called Thespain hall where many masterpieces of Shakespeare was enacted. A. W. Stovall, in 1897, called Purdy beautiful and historic. He described the Purdy of his youth, in 1854, a place of beautiful streets, costly houses, rich gardens, aromatic flowers, brave men, noble women, pretty girls and playful boys. A picture of perfection. Purdy University opened in 1859, was considered one of the best facilities of higher education, with courses offered in Greek, Latin, science and philosophy. The University closed its doors during the War Between the States, never to reopen as a University. As the railroad tracked its way through McNairy County, little villages began to flourish near the better way of transportation. First known as stations, was Finger, McNairy and Bethel in the north, Falcon in the middle, Ramer, Guys and Chewalla in the south. Other villages were Montezuma (now Chester Co), Camden, later called Rosecreek, Gravel Hill, Adamsville, Stantonville and Monteray, later known as Michie. The Civil War divided the county. 1,318 voted for separation and 586 voted against it. The county furnished two brigadier generals: Marcus J. Wright and Mark Perrin Lowery who was born in McNairy County but had moved to Mississippi. After the war, talk began of moving the county seat to a point on the railroad. A twenty year struggle and at least twelve attempts were made before a successful move to Selmer was made in 1891. Bethel Springs, Falcon and New South bid for the county seat. Falcon won the bid by election once, in 1884, only to have the Supreme Court to knock down the results and the court went back to Purdy. In 1890 another election was carried to move the courthouse from Purdy to a place called New South by a margin of 2063 to 563. The postal officials in Washington would not recognize New South as a name so it was changed to Selma. When the papers came back from the authorities it was spelled Selmer. The first County Court held at the new county seat was April 1891. On June 16, 1891, ceremonies were held to lay the corner stone for the new courthouse. After 65 years of glory, Purdy died because it would not allow the railroad to come through the town. Death was almost immediate as many families moved to the new county seat. McNairy County sent her young to answer freedom's call. In WWI we sacrificed 29 lives for that call. WWII took 74 lives, 45 received Purple Hearts, and 26 were prisoners of war. We lost 6 in the Korean Conflict and 8 in Vietnam. Today, McNairy County is a small county. Population in 1990 was 22,422 and yet we try to stay abreast of technology. Our schools are A+, we have industry, farms, a hospital. We have ten incorporated towns but since they are small towns we are considered a rural area. With the railroad no longer king, McNairy County has two major highways winding through the county, Hwy 64 and Hwy 45. Many passed through the roads of McNairy County. Many went on in search of better land - but many stayed. The road goes on from here until the end of time. We must hold on to our heritage and pass it on to our children and our children's children. Just as we were influenced by those that were before, so will our lives, thoughts and deeds help those that follow as they tread the road of life. May we always be proud that we traveled the road through McNairy 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.