The Henry Milner Household in the 1880 U.S. Census

While the picture above was taken much later than 1880, four of the five individuals pictured were listed in the 1880 U.S. Census in Perkins Township, Erie County, Ohio. The twins in the back are my great grandmother Ada Steen and her sister Alpha Steen. Their parents were Sarah Steen and Charles F. Steen, and their little brother Rollin is in front of the twins. In the 1880 U.S. Census, the family lived in a big farmhouse on South Columbus Avenue, which was pictured in the 1874 Erie County Atlas.

Below is the listing from the U.S. Census in 1880.

A transcription of the Census is available at FamilySearch.org :

Household	Role	Sex	Age	Birthplace
Henry Milner	Self	M	60	England
Huldah Milner	Wife	F	50	Ohio, United States
Chas F Steen	Son-in-law	M	29	Ohio, United States
Sarah L Steen	Daughter	F	29	Ohio, United States
Harry M Steen	Grandson	M	4	Ohio, United States
Ada L Steen	Granddaughter	F	0	Ohio, United States
Alpha H Steen	Granddaughter	F	0	Ohio, United States
Louise Shorts	Other	F	22	England
Jno Hand	Other	M	19	Ohio, United States
Frank Griffin	Other	M	32	Louisiana, United States
Fannie Isaac	Other	F	15	England

So many people in one household! There were the owners of the farm, Henry and Huldah Milner. Then came their daughter and son-in-law, Charles and Sarah Steen. Children of the the Steens in 1880 included son Harry, age 4, and baby girl twins, Ada and Alpha. Besides three generations of family members, there were also four servants! Louise Shorto and Fannie Isaac worked as "house girls." John Hand was a hired man, and Frank Griffin was a farm laborer. You may think that Mr. and Mrs. Milner were wealthy. I think they were probably comfortable... In the late 1800s, many farmers had live-in help. The farmers benefited by having help around the house and farm, and the hired folks got room and board, and maybe a salary too! It was a different era...and how I would have loved to been a fly on the wall!!!