PART 1
In obtaining a deed for homestead property it was necessary to establish residency and improvement of the land. Calvin Caston and family have been identified in the 1870 and 1880 population federal census living in Pike County, Mississippi. In the 1870 federal census, Calvin Caston occupation is listed as a farm hand who can't read or write. The value of his personal property is $100.00. One hundred dollars in 1870 is the equivalent of $1,769.55 in 2015. There is no value listed for real estate. Let's keep in mind that the 1870 census information was taken days before he filed his homestead application. The 1880 federal census does not list real estate or personal property value.
The census of agriculture is collected the same year as the decennial population census. I have located Calvin Caston in the non-population 1880 agricultural census for Pike County, Mississippi. This census identifies the inventory of the farm assets land improvements.
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| A portion of the 1880 Federal Agriculture Census for Pike County, Mississippi Calvin Caston is first name listed
This is a small chart of some of the information for Calvin Caston property on the 1880 Agricultural census. The 2015 monetary values have been included on the chart.
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Name
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Rents for Fixed Money
Rental
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Acres of Land Tiled
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Value of Farming Implements and Machinery
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Value of Live Stock
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Estimated Value of All Farm Productions for 1879
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Calvin Caston
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1
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74
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$15 (1880)
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165 (1880)
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400 (1880)
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$335.28
(2015)
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$3688.11
(2015)
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$8940.88
(2015)
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Calvin Caston was also taxpayer for his property in Pike County. I was able to locate a copy of the 1881 tax. On the tax form, a column to identify the individual's residence for previous year is printed but not recorded for any of the individuals listed.
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| "Mississippi, State Archives, Various Records, 1820-1951," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-21942-40530-1?cc=1919687&wc=9B48-3TY:211910201,212012101 : accessed 9 July 2015), Pike > County tax rolls 1881-1886, Box 3752 > image 4 of 400; Mississippi Department of Archvies and History, Jackson. |
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| Enlarged image of 1881 tax record Calvin Caston listed 5th from the bottom Summary of 1881 Taxes with 2015 valuation
Name Number of Value of Number of Value of Number of Value of Total of Aggregate State
Calvin Cattle Cattle Horses Horses Carriages Carriages Valuation Tax
Caston 2 30 1 35 1 10 75 22.5
2015 $670.00 $782.33 $223.52 $1676.41 $491.75
These documents establish Calvin Caston as a resident, taxpayer, and landowner who improved his property.
-----The Tree Gardener
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