Robert Garrett Stephens (1804-1881) and Edward Haney Ruffner (1820-1908) were both farmers in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. On August 8, 1871, Robert’s youngest offspring of twelve, Hulda Stephens, married Edward’s oldest offspring, James Alexander Chapman Ruffner, linking the two families. (1) We get some hint from Robert’s will probated in 1881 that he did not regard Hulda’s husband James as positively as his other sons-in-law. (2) And later events will justify his trepidation. [No footnote here; that story stands on its own!]
We have a comparative snapshot of the two future in-laws in 1860, thanks to Non-population Census Schedules, in this case the Agricultural Schedules. (3) The next research step will be to obtain the 1870 values and see how their relative fortunes unfolded in the decade that led up to the marriage of Hulda and James.
|
Agricultural Census Category |
Robert G. Stephens |
Edward H. Ruffner |
|
Improved Acres |
155 |
200 |
|
Unimproved Acres |
125 |
96 |
|
Cash Value of Farm |
$6,300 |
$1,000 |
|
Value of Farming Implements and Machinery |
$150 |
$50 |
|
Horses |
5 |
2 |
|
Milk Cows |
5 |
2 |
|
Other Cattle |
5 |
1 |
|
Sheep |
15 |
6 |
|
Swine |
15 |
5 |
|
Value of Livestock |
$595 |
$300 |
|
Bushels of Wheat |
57 |
8 |
|
Bushels of Rye |
12 |
12 |
|
Bushels of Indian Corn |
150 |
50 |
|
Bushels of Oats |
270 |
48 |
|
Lbs. of Wool |
55 |
8 |
|
Bushels of Irish Potatoes |
140 |
30 |
|
Bushels of Buckwheat |
105 |
75 |
|
Lbs. of Butter |
300 |
200 |
|
Tons of Hay |
25 |
2 |
|
Bushels of Clover Seed |
5 |
|
|
Lbs. of Beeswax |
5 |
|
|
Lbs. of Honey |
50 |
|
|
Value of Homemade Manufactures |
$35 |
|
|
Value of Animals Slaughtered |
$165 |
$42 |
NOTE: Categories that were blank for both farmers were omitted. For instance, neither raised tobacco or sweet potatoes, made wine or cheese. Overall, there were 45 data items — just on this schedule alone. Compare that to today’s 10 question census.
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(1) Civil War Pension File of James A. C. Ruffner, Sr., Co. A, 1st Battalion, Penna. Cavalry, 1925 Declaration for Pension. Record Group 15, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Archives, Washington, D.C.
(2) Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Wills, 1807-1917. Register of Wills, Indiana. Book 5: 65, will of Robert G. Stephens, 1879; FHL microfilm 128,595. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
(3) 1860 U.S. census, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, agriculture schedule, pp. 7-8, line 23, Robt. G. Stephens, NARA microfilm publication T1138, roll 14. 1860 U.S. census, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, agriculture schedule, pp. 71-72, line 30, Edward H. Ruffner, NARA microfilm publication T1138, roll 14.
Family Epic 