TX Ellis County 1850 Federal Census - notes This Census was transcribed by Charles Horner and proofread by Ellen Horner for the USGenWeb Archives Census Project, http://www.usgenweb.org/census. Copyright 1999 by Charles Horner ************************************************************************ USGENWEB 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 File Manager with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Formatted by USGenWeb Census Project File Manager Ellen Horner ************************************************************************ Census_Year 1850 Microfilm # 432-910 State TX County Ellis ************************************************************************ In order to understand the 1850 Ellis County census, one must have some knowledge of the creation of not only Ellis county, but also of Tarrant and Johnson counties. Navarro County was the parent county of Ellis and Tarrant counties. Ellis County was created in 1849 and organized in 1850 from Navarro County, which lies to the southeast of present-day Ellis County. Tarrant County, which lies northwest of Ellis County was also created from Navarro County in 1849 and organized in 1850. Parts of Ellis and Tarrant counties would later become Johnson county, but, at this time, Johnson County had yet to be created. All of this area was known as the 'Navarro District'. These areas were very sparsely settled in the mid-1800s. Mr. Hogan, Asst Marshal, began his enumeration of Ellis County on 21 October 1850, and completed it on 30 October of that year. One can imagine him on horseback, travelling through the countryside calling on settlers. After 30 October, several of his census page headings are labeled 'Ellis & Tarrant', and several are labeled 'Tarrant & Ellis'. This is an indication that Mr. Hogan was acquainted with the area and knew 'who lived where'. For unknown reasons, Mr. Hogan chose not to number the households consecutively. Each new family on a census page was numbered #1. Adding to the confusion is the fact that the pages in question were microfilmed out-of-order. John Schunk, owner of SK-Publications of Wichita KS and publisher of census records, has analyzed the 'Ellis/Tarrant' and 'Tarrant/Ellis' census pages. Following is Mr. Schunk's analysis: "Page 140A/Handwritten p279, enumerated 31 October: I think Ellis County goes down through household #3/3. Notice the wavy line drawn under Emily Millsapp's name (on line 13) at the end of this household. I think the census-taker was indicating that this is where Tarrant County begins (with household #4/4). Notice that the county-order listed at the top of the page by the census-taker is Ellis & Tarrant. (Notations at bottom of page: Ellis Co. 7 M, 10 F; Tarrant Co. 13 M, 12 F. These numbers match the enumerations on this page.) Page 140B: I believe it's all Tarrant County. Page 91A/Handwritten p181, enumerated 5 November: I believe this is Tarrant County through household #1/1. The Schoonover children at the top of thepage are a continuation of a household at the bottom of page 90B in the Tarrant County Book. Notice the line drawn under Perry Walker's name at the end of household #1/1. I believe this indicates that Ellis County begins with household #2/2. Notice that the county-order listed at the top of the page by the census-taker this time is Tarrant & Ellis. (Notations at bottom of page: Tarrant Co. 10 M, 3 F; Ellis Co. 19 M, 10 F. These figures match theenumerations on this page.) Page 91B/Handwritten p182, enumerated 6 November: Even though the top of the page says Tarrant, I believe that this is Ellis County through household #1/1. In the left-hand margin, you will see 'lisCo', on the paper copy of the microfilm page 'El..' of Ellis is cut-off. I believe this is Ellis Co. Notice the line drawn below the name of John Little at the end of household #1/1. I believe this indicates that Tarrant County begins again with household #2/2. (Notations at the bottom of this page say: Ellis Co., 4 M, 5 F and Tarrant Co, 19 M, 14 F. These figures match the enumerations on this page.) Page 92A/Handwritten p183: I believe this is all Tarrant County Page 92B/Handwritten p184, enumerated 6 November: The county-order at the top of the page is Tarrant & Ellis, and I believe this is Tarrant County down through household #4/4. Notice the line drawn under Nancy Anderson's name at the end of this household. I believe this indicates that Ellis County begins again with household #5/5 and goes to the bottom of the page."