1850 census, Red River County, Texas

While looking for something else from the history of Red River County, I came across the 1850 Federal census. That census is important in Texas history, because it was the first census in the former Republic of Texas.

Some interesting entries from the census:

Daniel Remington, age 39, occupation gunsmith, born in Massachusetts, was listed as head of household. Remington Arms was founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York. There was no evidence Daniel Remington was associated with the arms company, but it was interesting to see that name in the 1850 census in Texas.

From the McKenzie Institute, 57 people were listed in the household, including John W.P. McKenzie, minister/teacher. Three students were 12 years old at the time of the census. Students were from almost all the Southern states, with two from the Cherokee Nation (ages 15 and 21) and one from England (age 21). The McKenzie Institute was just beyond the western edge of Clarksville. The school was the first co-educational institute west of the Mississippi River. McKenzie was also a circuit preacher, given the Clarksville Circuit, also called the Sulphur Fork Circuit. The circuit encompassed the area from the Red River on the north, east to the Sulphur River on the south, then west to the area of present day Dallas and Denison. “It took several months to make one trip around the circuit in those days.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKenzie_College_(Texas)

Also on the census is Valentine Day, 36, blacksmith, born in Kentucky. His parents had a sense of humor.

George Osburn, 22, born in Tennessee, listed his occupation as “mailrider,” an important job in the times of few roads, no railroads in the area and no post office letter carriers.

In addition to McKenzie’s college, the census also listed residents of the Clarksville Female Institute, which was headed by William S. Todd, district judge, 41, born in South Carolina. Josaphine Horn was the teacher, age 25, born in Ohio. The Institute had 20 residents, including farmer Thomas Hughins, age 61, born in Virginia.

There also was a Clarksville Female Academy, headed by Robert Weathered, 57, and Martha Weathered, age 44. The academy had 25 students, ages 9 to 21.

W.T. Montgomery, 42, born in Tennessee, listed his occupation as “gentleman.”

These days, the purpose of the census is to determine how much your local school will get in federal dollars. That’s what the TV ads say, anyway. Bureaucrats in D.C. believe we exist solely to receive federal dollars, with their permission and determining who gets what. Those federal dollars are tax dollars, from thee and me. Thank you for yours, and you’re welcome for my donation.