From what I remember reading about the terms for the 1860 Census, the term Idiotic means what we now call Developmentally Disabled or mentally handicapped. It was used to describe the segment of the population that appeared to not have the ability to function "normally". It did not usually mean insanity. The polite euphemisms and politically correct phrases we currently use were not used in the 19th Century. Regards freedom has its price Support our Troops http://opbrightsaber.dizdame55.net ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 2:26 PM Subject: Re: [Busbee Busby] Stephen Busby - AL > Silas was 20 in 1860. The word "Idiotic" was written by the census taker > beside his name. > > Jean > > > ==== BUSBY Mailing List ==== > Busbee Busby and Variations Database > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~busby/ > Listadmin: Gaila Merrington [email protected] >

You also have to be careful that they put the remarks by the right person, they put deaf and dumb on the wrong girl on one of the cencus and on the right one the next it was through research that I found which was right. Sandra > From what I remember reading about the terms for the 1860 Census, the term Idiotic means what we now call Developmentally Disabled or mentally handicapped. It was used to describe the segment of the population that appeared to not have the ability to function "normally". It did not usually mean insanity. The polite euphemisms and politically correct phrases we currently use were not used in the 19th Century. > Regards > freedom has its price > Support our Troops > http://opbrightsaber.dizdame55.net