In lieu of a standard system of death registration throughout the U.S., the Federal Government adopted 
the use of the Mortality Schedule to aid the compilation of certain death and health statistics.  This schedule 
listed only those people who died within the year prior to the beginning of the census enumeration.  For 1850 
deaths occurring between 1st of June, 1849 and 31st of May, 1850 were listed.  There are 11 columns headed as 
follows.  (Since there were no blacks or slaves in Scott County, columns 4 and 5 will be omitted in this reading.

1.	 		Name of Person who died before 1 June 1850, living with his Family
2.	 		Age
3.	 		Sex    (M = male; F=female)
4.	 		Color (White, black or mulatto)
5.	 		Free or Slave
6.	 		Married or Widowed   (M = married; w=widowed)
7.	 		Place of Birth, naming the state, territory, or country
8.	 		Month in which Person died
9.	 		Profession, Occupation, or Trade
10.	 		Disease, or cause of death
11.	 		Number of Days ill


	These Scott deaths were enumerated by N. M. Knapp.  Remarks: �The general health of this county has 
improved every year since 1844.  The cultivation of the soil, ditching & c. causes water to run off much more 
rapidly which causes a frequent overflow of the creeks & of consequence the Illinois river into which they empty.
This washed the drift out of the channels, fills up the sink holes with sand, gives activity to the waters which 
prevents Stagnation and relieves the country from the masma from which it has suffered so much heretofore.  
Illinois is destined in a few years to be a healthy state.�