1883 Pensioners Census

United States., List of pensioners on the roll January 1, 1883; giving the names of each pensioner, the cause for which pensioned, the post-office address, the rate of pension per month, and the date of original allowance, as called for by Senate resolution of December 8, 1882., U. S. 47th Cong., 2d session 1882-83. Senate. Ex. doc. no. 84 (Washington: Govt. print. off., 1883).

 

Contains the names of those people who were receiving a Government Pension (including widows) in 1883.  Very useful for tracking down those who served but passed away before the 1890 Veterans Census.

The Michigan section has been transcribed and placed online in searchable form by the Michigan Family History Network.

The entire 5 volume publication can be found online through the Hathi Trust Digital Library. (Michigan can be found in Volume 4.)

1888 Special Michigan Census

A census taken of Civil War veterans in 1888 includes county, name of soldier, rank, military unit, and post office address in 1888. Occasionally dates of death are written in. Entry by regiment, then alphabetical by name of soldier. Located at the Archives of Michigan in the records of the Michigan Military Establishment.

• Soldiers from Other States, 1888 [Microfilm Reel 684]
• Soldiers from Michigan, 1888 [Microfilm Reel 684]

1894 Census of the State of Michigan

Michigan conducted state census enumerations approximately every 10 years between the Federal census years. In 1894, the state schedules included a question as to whether the person was veteran of the Civil war, or the widow of a Civil War veteran.

The data concerning veterans was compiled and published in book form:

State of Michigan, Census of the state of Michigan, 1894, Volume III (Lansing: R. Smith & Co., state printers, 1896).

The information is arranged by county, township, and then alphabetically by the soldiers name.

This book has been transcribed and placed online through the Michigan Family History Network. Digital images of the book are available through the Hathi Trust Digital Library

Unfortunately, the information regarding widows and the occasional confederate veteran does not seem to have been included in the original printed publication. Researchers searching for veterans who died before 1894 may wish to consult the original schedules if they are available. The Library of Michigan has a list of census schedules available in their holdings, as does the Bentley Historical Library.

1890 Veterans census

Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M123, 118 rolls); Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

 

Well known to most researchers is the Special Schedules of the Eleventh Census (1890) Enumerating Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans of the Civil War. This census does not exist for all state. It is available on microfilm through many libraries. Digital images are available online at Family Search.

1910 and 1930 US Federal Census

Less well known for Civil War researchers are the 1910 and 1930 US Census. The 1910 census schedule includes a column to record whether the person was a veteran of the Union or Confederate Army of Navy.

The 1930 census includes a column to record whether the person was a veteran, and of which conflict. Those who are veterans of the Civil War will generally have a “CW” recorded here. Other wars are record as “WW” for World War 1, “SP” for the Spanish American War, and so forth.

While they do not specifically list service information, the 1910 and 1930 Census Schedules can provide valuable clues as to whether (or not) person served in the military.