William Sharp family: not there or not counted? 1860 U.S. census, Pope Co., IL - Part 1

William Sharp and his family have left a consistent record in the U.S. and Illinois state censuses, from 1840 to 1880. The only exception is their absence in the 1860 U.S. census. Careful scrutiny of the 1860 U.S. census for Pope County, Illinois [1], line by line, does not reveal a William Sharp household. Also, the 1860 agricultural schedule [2] does not list them. What should we conclude?

W.C. Sharp household, 1865 Illinois State Census, Pope Co.

This 1865 enumeration follows a decade after the family appeared in the 1855 Illinois State census. The census only gives the name of the head of household; the other members of the household are counted in several age brackets as shown below. A single census line spanning two pages (assigned a single page number) represents this family [1], and is rendered vertically below ...

W.C. Sharp household, 1855 Illinois State Census, Pope Co.

[Originally published: February 18, 2013]
This 1855 census enumeration [1] follows a few months after the family moved to their Pope County residence. The census only gives the name of the head of household; the other members of the household are counted in several age brackets as shown below. A single census line spanning two pages represents this family, and is rendered vertically below ...