The 1865 New York State Census contains much interesting information in addition to lists of the individuals living here. I?ll be highlighting different parts of the census?in future posts.
Glenville had 3 districts which were enumerated separately in the census. The second election district contains the part which later became Scotia. Today?s section is:
Industry Other Than Agricultural
Reported from the 2d Election District of Glenville, in the county of Schenectady, N.Y., for the year ending June 1, 1865. These statistics were obtained be me, on the 10 day of June, 1865. E. Z. Carpenter Enumerator
F & AS Reese (line 7) ran a broom business, with $5000 of capital invested. They used 20,000 broom handles, 500 pounds of twine, and 1 ton of (broom)corn, with a value of $910, to produce 4300 dozen (51,600) brooms with a value of $12,900. They employed 9 men with an average monthly wage of $40.
(Frederick and Abijah were grandsons of Frederick, the first Reese to own the land around the Flint House. They had apparently taken over the business from their father, David, at this point. David died in 1867, age 71.)
There are 8 families involved with brooms?P.E. Sanders, H.F. Perry, C.H. Toll, the Reeses, Wm. Hasalo, Wm. Cramer, Robert McKay, and John Barhydt. Altogether, these farms reported investing $38,000 of capital; using 95,000 handles, 1120 pounds of twine, and 36.75 tons of broomcorn, with a value of $18,060 in raw materials; producing 32,550 dozen (390,600) brooms with a value of $128,475. They employed 57 men, and 14 boys under 18. These men earned a monthly wage of from $25-$40.
Also listed is George Campfield, who invented and manufactured broom machinery. He apparently never patented these inventions, and they were copied and produced throughout the country. He therefore received no income from their sales, which were extensive. In this census he reports his industry as Broom Machinery; capital invested as $100; raw material of 1500 pounds castings and 700 feet of lumber with a value of $163; 28 machines were produced with a value of $840, and he employed 1 person (himself, most likely).
The other industries listed were M.M. Howe?s Boots & Shoes and JH & R Shaw?s Rope & Twine.