William A. Dixon's Family in 1895

The New Jersey State Census - 1895

 Over 99% of the 1890 United States Federal Census records were destroyed by fire and flooding. This creates a 20 year gap in census records [1880-1900] that can be very frustrating to genealogical researchers. Fortunately for me, the state of New Jersey conducted it's own census every 10 years, beginning in 1855 and continuing through 1915.

The New Jersey State Census of 1895 offers a small [very small!] glimpse of the family of my great-grandparents, William A.  and Mary Elizabeth (Klein) Dixon. 

1895 Census record for William A. and Mary Elizabeth (Klein) Dixon and family.
Click on the image to make it larger. (1)

The first thing that jumps out is that my great-grandmother is called "Lizzie." This is the first time I've seen her referred to by that nickname.

The first set of tick-marks to the right of the names indicate gender. I think with a little study you'll be able to figure out who's what.

That blank bit next to it enumerates persons of foreign birth. Looks like everyone in the family was born in the United States.

The last two sets indicate the age group of each person, men in the first set of columns, women in the second. The family age groups break down like this:

• William Dixon is between the ages of 20 and 60. [b. 1863. 32 yrs old at time of census.]
• Lizzie Dixon is between the ages of 20 and 60. [b. 1866. 29 yrs old at time of census.]
• Minnie Dixon is between the ages of 5 and 20. [b. 1884. 11 yrs old at time of census.]
• William Dixon, ditto. [b. 1885. 10 yrs old at time of census.]
• Viola Dixon, ditto. [Clara Viola. b. 1892. 3 yrs old at time of census. Discrepancy.]
• John Dixon is less than 5 years of age. [b. 1895. Less than 1 yr old at time of census.]

[Spoilers: Yet to be born are George (b. 1897), my grandfather, Bernard Wallace (b. 1905), and Hazel (b. 1909)]

According to the Elizabeth city directory for 1895-1896 (2), the family was living at 63 Little Smith Street.  Or "Little Schmid Street" according to the birth record for the female child [Clara Viola] born to the family at the same address on 1 November 1982.(3)

Sources

 
1. New Jersey, State Census, 1895 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007), Ancestry.com, Record for William Dixon.

2. Cook & Hall's Elizabeth City Directory for 1895-96, Cook & Hall (1895), pages 126-127. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com).  

3. New Jersey State Archives, Birth Records, 1892. D13 [unnamed female child born to Willie Dixen and Luisa Dixen].