The Gettysburg Census of 1860 – Part 2

census1860As mentioned earlier, I’ve transcribed the 1860 U.S. Federal Census of Gettysburg and will include all of those people in a future version of Pocket Gettysburg.

In addition to the previous analysis of the census, here is some interesting financial data about the residents of the Borough in 1860…

Value of Real Estate
Males Females All People
White $799,500 87.9% $100,800 11.1% $900,300 99.0%
Black $3,500 0.4% $2,650 0.3% $6,150 0.7%
Mulatto $3,400 0.4% $0 0.0% $3,400 0.4%
All Races $806,400 88.6% $103,450 11.4% $909,850 100.0%
Value of Personal Estate
Males Females All People
White $545,335 91.2% $49,125 8.2% $594,460 99.5%
Black $1,210 0.2% $400 0.1% $1,610 0.3%
Mulatto $1,600 0.3% $0 0.0% $1,600 0.3%
All Races $548,145 91.7% $49,525 8.3% $597,670 100.0%
Value of Total Estate
Males Females All People
White $1,344,835 89.2% $149,925 9.9% $1,494,760 99.2%
Black $4,710 0.3% $3,050 0.2% $7,760 0.5%
Mulatto $5,000 0.3% $0 0.0% $5,000 0.3%
All Races $1,354,545 89.9% $152,975 10.1% $1,507,520 100.0%

If you look at just the heads of households….

Male Heads of Households
# % Average Real Estate Average Personal Estate Average Total Estate
White 347 82.4% $2,103.17 $1,356.08 $3,459.25
Black 17 4.0% $164.71 $55.88 $220.59
Mulatto 3 0.7% $1,033.33 $283.33 $1,316.67
All Races 367 87.2% $2,004.63 $1,287.08 $3,291.72
Female Heads of Households
# % Average Real Estate Average Personal Estate Average Total Estate
White 44 10.5% $1,165.34 $233.18 $1398.52
Black 9 2.1% $261.11 $33.33 $294.44
Mulatto 1 0.2% $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
All Races 54 12.8% $993.06 $195.56 $1188.61
All Heads of Households
# % Average Real Estate Average Personal Estate Average Total Estate
White 391 92.9% $1,997.63 $1,229.72 $3227.35
Black 26 6.2% $198.08 $48.08 $246.15
Mulatto 4 1.0% $775.00 $212.50 $987.5
All Races 421 100.0% $1,874.88 $1,147.08 $3021.96

Among other interesting conclusions here is that the value of the combined estates of all blacks and mulattoes in the Borough was less than that of four average households headed by white males.

The top 10 estates were owned by…

Given Surname Occupation Value of Total Estate
George Swope President, Gettysburg Bank $86,000
Samuel S. Schmucker Professor, Theological Seminary $32,800
Mary Myers $31,000
Samuel Fahnestock Merchant $30,000
Robert McCurdy President, Gettysburg R.R. $26,500
Joseph Wible Wagon maker $23,000
William A Duncan Attorney-at-Law $23,000
Moses McClean Attorney-at-Law $22,500
David Zeigler Merchant $21,000
Henry Rupp Tanner $20,500

And when looking at just real estate…

Given Surname Occupation Value of Real Estate
Mary Myers $30,000
Robert McCurdy President, Gettysburg R.R. $23,000
Joseph Wible Wagon maker $20,500
Henry Culp Farmer $18,000
Moses McClean Attorney-at-Law $16,500
William A Duncan Attorney-at-Law $15,000
David Zeigler Merchant $15,000
Andrew Polly Tinner $15,000
James Paxton $15,000
Samuel S. Schmucker Professor, Theological Seminary $14,300

That is, due apparently to a substantial inheritance, a woman, Mary Myers, was the single largest landholder and the third richest person in the Borough!

Abraham Cole, a 40-year-old Methodist clergyman, owned the most land ($1000) and had the largest total estate ($1100) among black residents of the Borough.

Here’s a list of the 25 most common surnames in the Borough as of 1860…

Culp 73
Little 62
Zeigler 61
Sheads 32
Tate 29
Myers 27
Gilbert 26
Buehler 25
Warren 25
McCreary 23
Martin 22
Jacobs 20
Tipton 20
Codori 19
Fahnestock 18
Kitzmiller 17
Scott 17
Snyder 17
Wisotsky 17
Devan 16
Minnigh 16
Stuck 16
Welty 16
Degroft 15
McElroy 15

Lastly, you can have your own copy of the 1860 U.S. Federal Census of Gettysburg. I’ve uploaded a fully-searchable PDF file with my transcription here.

Bob Velke
SegTours, LLC




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