Census Records
Census records from 1830 to 1940 may be viewed at the FamilySearch.org website with a free account. The 1950 census will be available on 1 Apr 2022 but it will take some time to transcribe and index it.The 1850 Federal Census gives names, ages, places of birth, values of real estate, color (white, black or mulatto) and occupations but also has columns for married within the year, attended school within the year, persons over 20 who cannot read or write and "Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper or convict", which can make interesting notes. The USGenWeb Project Archives for DeWitt contains a surname index.
In 1860, the Federal Census, in addition to the 1850 columns, asked for value of personal property.
The 1870 Rusk County Federal Census added columns for born within the year (asking for the month), whether parents were foreign-born and two questions about men over 20 (voting information). Folks with a free account can search and view this census at FamilySearch.org.
The 1880 census is the first to include relationships. Folks with a free account can search and view this census at FamilySearch.org.
The 1890 Federal Census was destroyed in a fire before it was copied. There are no remnants for DeWitt County.
The 1900 census is the first census that asked for number of years married, number of children borne by females and number of living children. Folks with a free account can search and view this census at FamilySearch.org.
The 1910 is the second census that asked for number of years married, number of children borne by females and number of living children. Folks with a free account can search and view this census at FamilySearch.org.
The 1920 census offers very little in the way of extra information except for the names of the roads on which the people lived. Folks with a free account can search and view this census at FamilySearch.org.
The 1930 Federal census offers addresses for folks in town, age at first marriage and veteran status. Folks with a free account can search and view this census at FamilySearch.org.
The 1940 Federal Census offers addresses for folks in town, education level, residence in 1935, employment status and total income for 1939. Folks with a free account can search and view this census at FamilySearch.org.