Alex Lenertz in the 1880 Mortality Schedule

Mortality schedules were included in the federal censuses for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Questions were asked regarding people who died in the last 12 months prior to enumeration. Information on these schedules includes a person's name, age, sex, color, marital status, place of birth of subject/father/mother, profession, month of death and cause of death.

My great-great-great grandfather, Alex Lenertz (indexed as Alexr Lenertz), is listed in the 1880 mortality schedule for Mankato, Minnesota:




Here is his name (Lenertz, Alex), age (56), sex (M) and color (W). Place of birth for Alex and his parents is blank. He was actually born in Luxembourg.

His occupation is listed as "stone mason." The quotes indicate he died in the same month as the person above him on the list, which was August (meaning August 1879). Cause of death is "gangrene."

At the time of Alex's death, six of his nine children were minors, ranging in age from about 17 to 3 years of age. John Lenertz, my great-great grandfather, is listed as 19 in the 1880 census, likely assuming the role of man of the house for his widowed mother.

I accessed this mortality schedule page via Ancestry.com. If you have a subscription go to the search page and follow the path: Search > Census > U.S. Census > U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 > Minnesota > Blue Earth > Mankato Ward 3 and 4.

(Cliff's notes for my family readers who need help keeping all these people straight: Alex Lenertz > John B. > John A. > Buster)