Introduction to the Enumeration of Male Inhabitants

Starting in the year 1866, then in 1871, and at the end of each successive period of 6 years, enumeration of white and colored Males Inhabitants over the age of twenty-one years was required by the constitution of the state of Indiana.  This laws can be found in the Acts of Indiana 1865 (special session) Chapter 2, Section 1 page 41.

 When it was time for each Township Assessor to lists property for taxation, he was to list the names and age of every white and colored male inhabitants of his township over the age of twenty one.  The Township Assessor was to file this enumeration with the County Auditor in the spring of the year in which the Enumeration is to be taken.

 The County Auditor was require by law to give notice to the public, including the aggregate number of all white and colored male inhabitants in each township and the entire county. These enumerations are subject to inspection by the public with a view to the correction of any errors, mistakes or omissions. The County Auditor then would file this enumeration with the Auditor of the State of Indiana, before September 1. In 1937 this duty of taking the enumeration was transferred to County Assessor.

 Liberty Townships Enumeration for 1937 and Morgan Township for 1943 were acquired by the Porter County library.  An article in the May 1, 1937 Vidette newspaper in Porter County shows that there was and enumeration done 1931, however this one has not been located.

 The Vidette newspaper for July 24, 1937 shows that counties total voting males were 7,001. The total voters count in each township for 1937 shows Center 2,851, Westchester 1,296, Liberty 354, Pleasant, 419, Portage 601, Boone 240, Morgan 232, Union 296, Porter 261, Jackson 232 Pine 241 and Washington 218.

-contributed by Marlene Petty Polster