CENSUS: Hardin County 1860 census review

Article / WINTER Issue 1997


"Additional information about the Hardin County 1860 census "
© 1997, Ancestral Trails Historical Society, Inc.

Article contributed by :
David Dick, Paris, KY


         "On my first reading of the review of the 1860 Hardin County Census book (Ancestral News, Spring 1997), I'm pretty sure that the S.T. Cralle was my great grandfather, S.S. (Samuel Strawn) Cralle. The Nellie, aged 4 months, must have been my grandmother, Nellie Cralle Dick, who married Coleman Woodford Dick with whom she had three children, including my father, Samuel Stephens Dick. 

    The "R. Jane" is probably the Ravy Jane for whom we named our daughter, Ravy Bradford Dick. 

    It's only a guess, but I would imagine that the missing wife (of Samuel Strawn Cralle) was Ann Briton Martin Cralle. They are buried in a country cemetery near Shepherdsville."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Editor's Note:
 The following is the original article referred to by Mr. Dick.
 For those who don't recognize the name, David Dick is a
 retired CBS-TV Correspondent and lives in Plum Lick, Ky
 he writes a monthly column for Kentucky Living magazine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

   I like reading census books, they don't have a lot of plot but there are many interesting aspects none the less. The large
families of yesteryear has always fascinated me. William Mount and Catherine is listed with 10 children in there household,
which makes sense to help till the fields. William is listed as a farmer. But one of Williams neighbors is Elbert Robenson, a
carpenter and his wife Dianna. They have 9 children ages listed are 19,17,15,12,10,9,7,2, and 3 months. Apparently they had
land to farm also. 
    In some families the family profession caries on. One example is in the household of Samuel and Ann Anderson. Samuel is
listed as a physician, as well as his first two sons Francis, and Samuel, Jr., ages 22 and 21 respectively. But son number 3,
William, aged 18 is listed as a medical student. I guess like father like sons applies here. 
    There are some professions that I never really understood, like S.P. Postin (aged 47) is listed as a "gentleman"; John M.
Downard is listed as a "river character"; and Jas. Dooley is listed as a "turn piker". A. K. Patterson, Jr. is listed as Pauper but
apparently less went further in those days because he lives with, and appears to be the sole support for his family which
includes his wife Caroline and 5 children. The attention to detail is amazing for those days. George Wiley (age 48) is listed as
Blind from knife being struck in eye & destroyed the sight of the other when 3 years old. 
    It's apparent that the census taker was very through in listing all the occupants of every structure. Take for example, The
jailor Of Hardin County in 1860 was S.T. Cralle (aged 37) , was living at the Hardin County Jail with what I assume is
daughters, Anna B. (aged 19); Mary (aged 13); R. Jane (aged 6), Eliza T. (aged 4) and Nellie (aged 4 months). There is no
wife listed in the family, but the prisoners in the jail at the time and their crimes are: H.S. Mandy (38, forgery); David Smith (24,
murder); Wm. Bunnels (28, challenge); Soloman Smith (37, manslaughter). 
    So as you can see, a census book can not only be valuable for genealogical research, but also handy reading on a Sunday
afternoon. I am sure the questions that come to your mind will probably be more interesting than the lives of the individuals
listed in this volume. 
    The book at hand was prepared by ATHS member Carolyn Wimp, and she just kinda fell into it. At a meeting last year
Carolyn walked up to me and ask, "Why hasn't Ancestral Trails, published the 1860 Hardin County Census?" My reply was
something to the effect "Because nobody has volunteered to type it, are you interested?" and probably before she thought
about it much she had volunteered to do the book under consideration. Thanks Carolyn.