2023 Prompt - Non-Population Schedule - Henry Larkins

Henry LARKINS – 1829-1903 my 4th great uncle

Nancy Simmons to Josephine Martin to Edward Martin to Francis Martin to Elizabeth Larkins to William Larkins to his brother Henry Larkins

 

The prompt is non-population schedule. And you say, WHAT?  Okay, so every ten years the federal government has taken a census starting with the year 1790. The number one reason the government takes a census is to calculate the number of representatives each state gets in the House of Representatives. The 1790 federal census asked for the name of the head of each household and tick marks for all other persons in the home based on sex and age. This continued till 1850 when the government finally asked for every name in the household, their sex, race, birthplace, and age. This of course continued every ten years with the government asking more and more questions pertaining to the census year.  For example, the 1930 census ask if you owned a radio.  These federal censuses were called population census and they counted the population of the United States. 

 

The government didn't stop at counting people. In 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 they had non-population census. These were agriculture, mortality, manufacturing schedules. The agricultural census asked number of acres developed and undeveloped, number of cows, horses, bushels of corn and so on. You get it! 

         

1860 Industry, Non-Population Schedule, Henry Larkins, brick yard.

 In 1860 most of our ancestors lived on farms and were listed in the agricultural census but my 4th great uncle owned a business. Henry Larkins owned the Larkins Brick Company and manufactured bricks in Detroit, Michigan. According to the 1860 Industrial and Manufacturing non-population schedule based on six months, he had $1,000 invested capital in his company.  He used 600 cords of wood for fuel at the cost of $750.00. His motive power was horsepower and he employed 13 men costing him an average $338.00 a month in wages. His company produced 1,500,000 bricks at the value of $5,250.00.[1]

 

Henry Larkins - Manufacturer if Bricks and Tiles, Michigan Ave., Detroit, Michigan

When you look at the 1850 census there were many brick-workers living in Springwells. The land was favorable to the brick-making industry, and many Larkins family members were in one way and another, connected with that business, in which they did very well. The "Larkins Brick Company" became a solid business in the Detroit area.

Henry Larkins and family - 1900 federal census Springwell, Wayne, Michigan

Henry operated the brick business for over 45 years. In the 1900 federal population census he is listed as 70 years old and not listed with an occupation so has obviously retired.[2] On his death certificate it listed his date of death as December 26, 1903, and cause of death is pneumonia.[3]  He was born June 12, 1829, in Detroit and lived most of his life in Springwells Township close to the Martin farm on Michigan Avenue and his lifetime occupation was a brick maker. The death certificate states he married at 28 years and had eight children of which 4 were living at this death. His father, William Larkins, was born in Ireland and his mother, Phoebe, was born in England. He was buried in Woodmere Cemetery on December 28 leaving his widow, Almira Larkins.[4] 

 

Henry Larkins - Michigan Death Certificate - Died 26 Dec 1903
Buried Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan

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[1] Ancestry, U.S. Selected Federal Census, Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880, 1860 Industry, Taylor, Wayne. Michigan, page 1, image 1, line 7, Henry Larkins.

[2] Ancestry, 1900 United States Federal Census, Springwells, Wayne, Michigan, ED 200, page 27A, line 11, Henry Larkins.

[3] Ancestry, Michigan, Death Records, 1897-1952, image 2563, certificate # 605, Hanry Larkins.

[4] Ibid.