Samuel Morse in 1860

The man credited with developing Morse code is shown as a 69 year old "professor" in this 1860 census enumeration from New York City. He has several other family members living with him, including one who is termed an idiot.

You can search the 1860 Census at Ancestry.com for your relative---who may or may not have been listed as an idiot. If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

1860 Census Belle Starr

She's not really named Belle Starr--although that would have made her easier to find in the census.

Her real name is Myra Shirley as shown here in the 1860 census in Carthage, Missouri.

Search the 1860 Census at Ancestry.com for your relative---whose name hopefully is known to you. If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

Henry Thoreau in 1860

I learned a little something in locating Henry Thoreau in the 1860 census--his occupation was not what I expected. Admittedly, I knew little about Thoreau before I searched for him in 1860. We've posted the entire image which shows him living with other family members in Concord, New Hampshire.

Search the 1860 Census at Ancestry.com for your relative---whose occupation in 1860 may or may not be a surptise to you. If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

Gender Changing in 1860

The 1860 census taker listed him as a 12 year old male named Georgia Eastman--but it clearly George Eastman who later founded Eastman Kodak. The 12 year old is living with his family in Oneida County, New York.

Search the 1860 Census at Ancestry.com for your relative---who may have had his gender accidentally changed by a census taker--it's a little early for more permanent kinds of gender changes. If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

From Poor Leather Merchant to General

The 1860 census finds future US General U S Grant living in Galena, Illinois as a leather merchant with personal property valued at $200. He would shortly have a different occupation.

Search the 1860 Census at Ancestry.com for your relative---whose occupation in 1860 may or may not be a surptise to you. If you don't have a subscription, you can read our suggestions for a 14 day free trial here.

It Looks Like Stone-Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1860

Harriet Beecher Stowe (of Uncle Tom Cabin's Fame) is enumerated in 1860 with her family---but the last name certainly looks like Stone in the image shown in this post.

Think about how your ancestor's name might have been written when searching in the index for her. It might be that an incorrect spelling might not be as "obvious" as you think. Search the 1860 Census at Ancestry.com for your relative---who may also be hiding under an alternate surname.

More Money in Beer than in Soap

The 1860 census enumeration for Eberhart Anheuser (who was a forerunner of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company) indicates Anheuser was making soap not beer. Soap money may be clean, but apparently there was more money in beer, just as long as there's no soap in the beer. Search the 1860 Census for your ancestor and see if he was making soap, beer, or just earning a living in 1860.

1860 Census--Kit Carson--my wife's relative next door

Even when looking for famous people, it pays to keep your eyes peeled. Living next door to Kit Carson in 1860 is a Robidoux, a distant relative of my wife. Kit Carson is enumerated as Christoper Carson---a suggestion that searching for nicknames is not always a good idea either. Like many entries, this one is split over two census pages, always a good idea to page over and make certain you've got the entire entry (usually a new number for a new household is a good clue as to this). Carson's entry can be seen in full here; you can search the 1860 census for your own relatives as well.

1860 Census--Jefferson Davis

This is part of the entry for future President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. He is living with his family near Vicksburg, Mississippi. A likely relative (also surnamed Davis) is enumerated in the next household. Pay attention to neighbors when you search the 1860 Census for your ancestor (online at Ancestry.com)

1860 Census--Jesse James

The 1860 census finds Jesse James living in Clay County, Missouri. The partial image on the right shows him as twelve years of age, living with Reuben Samuel and family. The complete image can be viewed here. The the 1860 census has been indexed and is online at Ancestry.com

1860 Census--Frederick Douglass

Writer and anti-slavery activist Frederick Douglass is living in Monroe County, New York in the 1850 census. He is apparently listed with an occupation of Editor--at least that is what I think "E D ' R" stands for in the complete enumeration.

As a note to those using the 1860 index at Ancestry.com:

Douglass' place of birth is somewhat difficult to read. While the intent was Maryland, the indexer read it as "Mordland" and that is what appears as the place of birth in the index. Another reason to occasionally omit the birthplace when census searching.

1860 Census--Theodore Roosevelt

Future president Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt is enumerated in 1860 in New York City with his family. There has been a notation made by someone in the census department. Elliott Roosevelt (listed below Theodore) was the father of Eleanor Roosevelt Roosevelt, wife of FDR.

The family's complete enumeration can be viewed here.

1860 Census--Buffalo Bill Cody

Enumerated in Kansas with his mother and siblings as William F. Cody aged 14. The complete image along with citation has also been posted on our page. The father had died by the time of the 1860 census.

1860 census--John Wilkes Booth

The entry on the right is part of the 1860 census entry for John Wilkes Booth, who a few years later would assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. Booth's complete entry here, in Philadelphia, can be viewed on our site.