Almshouse Register, Fulton County, IL Transcription by Genealogy Trails

Fulton County Home, Almshouse Register, 1877-1908
Transcription by ©2007 Donna Walton, expressly for ©Genealogy Trails,
from materials provided by Genealogy Trails

Miscellaneous Almshouse Info

The Prudential Insurance Company of America
Robert and Nora Enlow Insurance
May 15, 19?5

Fulton County Poor Farm
Canton, Illinois

Gentlemen:

For the purpose of making proper disposition of insurance benefits which have become due under one of our policies we are endeavoring to locate a Mr. George W. Woody.

We have been informed that prior to 1928 Mr. George W. Woody was an inmate of the Farm.

We shall appreciate your reviewing your records from 1925 until the end of 1928 for reference to George W. Woody. If a record is found all identifying details concerning this man would be useful to us such as his date and place of birth, the names of his parents, his residence just before he came to the Poor Farm, the date on which he left and Poor Farm, and the name and address of any other person appearing on your records in connection with this inmate.

We earnestly solicit your cooperation to the extent outlined above and enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope for your convenience.

Yours truly, Fred Ohl, manager

Recipe for Seasoning Sausage

100 lbs of meat
1 ¼ lb of salt
8 oz of pepper
2 ½ cup sage

Department of Commerce and labor
Bureau of the Census
Specimen Schedule and Instructions: Schedule 1 Paupers in Almshouse on January 1 1910

For Paupers in Almshouses on January 1, 1910

            Schedule 1—“Paupers in Almshouse on January 1, 1910,” is to be used in enumerating all paupers resident in your institution on January 1, 1910. Tramps and vagrants lodged only for the night and not regular inmates of the institution should not be included, nor should poor persons supported in whole or in part by the public authorities but not kept in the almshouse

To Be Returned Immediately

            Schedule 1 should be filled in at the earliest possible date and be returned at once to the Bureau of the Census by mail. Use the mailing tube in which these schedules were sent to you, pasting on the addressed label with which you have been supplied. This requires no postage.

General Instructions

            As many persons have to read these schedules and work over them, you are requested to make them as legible as possible by filling them in with black ink and by confining each answer to the space allotted to it.

            If you will observe carefully the following detailed instructions for each inquiry, you will greatly reduce the amount of work both for the Bureau of the Census and for you yourself. Care at the outset will obviate the necessity for continued correspondence.

The Several Inquires

            Inquiry 1 asks for the pauper’s name. The name should be given in full.

            Inquiry 2 calls for the sex of the pauper. Males should be reported by inserting an M in column 2; females by inserting an F.

            Inquiry 3 calls for race. Write “W” for white; “B” for black; “Mu” for mulatto; “Ch” for Chinese; “Jp” for Japanese; and “In” for Indian. For any other races, such as East Indians, Filipinos, etc., write “Ot”. For census purposes, the term “black” (B) includes all negroes of full blood, while the term “mulatto” (Mu) includes all persons not full-blooded negroes but having some proportion or trace of negro blood and regarded as negroes in the community in which they live.

            Inquiry 4 asks for the pauper’s age at his last birthday. If he is less than one year of age, indicate the number of months by 1/12, 2/12, 3/12 and so forth, as the case may be.

            Inquiry 5 calls for the pauper’s marital condition. Indicate single by S; married by M; widowed by Wd; and divorced by Dv.

            Inquiry 6 asks for the country of birth of the pauper. If the Paupers are a native, write U.S. If he was born in a foreign country, give the name of the country. Use England, Ireland, Scotland, or Wales, as the case may be, instead of Great Britain: and Denmark, Norway, or Sweden instead of Scandinavia. Distinguish between Austria and Hungary; between Canada (French) and Canada (English); and between Poland (German), Poland (Russian).

            Inquiry 7 asks for the place of birth of the pauper’s father. In filling in this column the general instructions under Inquiry 6 should be observed.

            Inquiry 8 asks for the place of birth of the pauper’s mother. In filling in this column the general instructions under Inquiry 6 should be observed.

            Inquiry 9 calls for the date when the pauper was first admitted to this institution

            Inquiry 10 which concerns only the foreign-born paupers, asks the number of years they have resided in the United States.

            Inquiry 11 calls for the occupation before admission of paupers at least 10 years of age and is to be used both for male and for female paupers. It is not to be used for children under 10 years of age. The occupations should be described as definitely as possible, and when you can get the information, the place in which the pauper was employed should be reported. The entry should read, for example, “Laborer in cotton mill,” “Waiter in hotel”, “Servant in private house” and so forth. The term “Laborer” without further description is unsatisfactory; it should always be accompanied by words to indicate where the labor is done.

            Inquires 12 and 13 concern the literacy of the paupers at least 10 years of age, asking under 12 whether he can read and under 13 whether he can write. They should be answered by inserting “Yes” or “No” in the column, as the case may be. Note that this question is not restricted to ability to read or write English. The answer should be “Yes” if the pauper can read or write some foreign language.

            Inquires 14, 15, and 16 deals with the capacity for work of the paupers at least 10 years of age. If the pauper is able-bodied, that is, capable of doing a full day’s work make a cross (X) in column 14. If the pauper is incapable of doing a full day’s work but is able to do something, place the cross in column 15 under “can do light work” If the pauper is wholly unable to work, place the cross in column 16 under “incapacitated”. Note that for any pauper only one of the columns 14, 15, and 16 is to be filled.

            Inquires 17 to 25, inclusive, concern only the paupers who are physically or mentally impaired. If the pauper is suffering from one or more of the mental or physical defects listed, place a cross (X) in the appropriate column or columns. Note, however, that a pauper can not be both insane and feeble minded.

            Inquires 26 and 27 concern only women who have had children. In column 26 enter the total number of children borne by the woman, and in column 27 the number of these children still living.

            Inquires 28 to 33 concern only children under 16 years of age.

            Inquire 28 asks whether the child was born in this institution. Answer by inserting “yes” or “no” as the case may be.

            Inquire 29 and 30 ask whether the child is legitimate (29) or Illegitimate (30). Answer by inserting a cross (X) in the appropriate column.

            Inquires 31 to 33, inclusive, concern the parental relation of the children. If neither parent is living, place a cross (x) in column 31. If the father is living, make a cross (x) in column 32, and if the mother is living, one in column 33. If it is not known whether the father is living or whether the mother is living, write “Un” (for unknown) in the appropriate column.

            Inquire 34 asks if this is a lying-in case, that is, whether it is a case in which the woman has resorted to the institution solely for the purpose of remaining during her confinement and not for the purpose of becoming a permanent inmate.