1016          BULLETIN OF THE BUREAU OF LABOR.

During the past year the latest immigrants may be described as
follows: Four families of 1 member, 3 of 2 members, 1 of 3 mem-
bers, 2 of 4 members, 2 of 5 members, 2 of 6 members, 1 of 7 mem-
bers, 1 of 9 members, 1 of 10 members, 1 of 11 members.  In these
families there is an excess of females. The method of migration
seems to have been that the father or brother or some male relative
received a letter from some one about the opportunities in Xenia and
came to the town.  After he had worked a few months he sent for
the rest of the family.(a)  The reasons given by these immigrants for
coming to Xenia invariably included the desire to get free from color
prejudice and to exercise the elective franchise. However, a study of
conditions shows that the kind of work best suited to these immigrants
was quite plentiful in Xenia, and the wages were good; therefore
there was special inducement here, added to the unrest and pressure
there, to cause the people to come to this city. This work was
offered by the building of a railroad, the erection of a court-house,
and the construction of a sewer.

      CONJUGAL CONDITION, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS.
  The table below shows that of the male population over 15 years of
age 200, or 31.60 per cent, were single; 363, or 57.35 per cent, were
married; 47, or 7.42 per cent, were widowed; 3, or 0.47 per cent, were
divorced by due process of law, and 20, or 3.16 per cent, were sepa-
rated without any legal process. Of the women reported, 177, or
25.14 per cent, were single; 359, or 50.99 per cent, were married;
129, or 18.32 per cent, were widowed; 7, or 1 per cent, were divorced
by law, and 32, or 4.55 per cent, were separated.
     CONJUGAL CONDITION OF NEGROES OF XENIA, BY SEX AND AGE PERIODS.

                           Males.                                  Females.
 Age periods.           Mar-  Wid-   Di-    Sepa-             Mar-   Wid-  Di-     Sepa-
                Single. ried. owed. vorced. rated.    Single. ried.  owed. vorced. rated.
15 to 19 years .. 78      2   ...................       85     9      1    .....    1
20 to 29 years .. 80     63     1     1       4         59    88      9      5      7
30 to 39 years... 26     69     3     1       5         28    82      9      2      8
40 to 49 years ..  8     92     6    .....    6          3    92     23    .....    7
50 to 59 years...  5     57    16    .....    2          1    55     38    .....    8
60 to 69 years...  3     53    10     1       2          1    27     22    .....    1
70 to 79 years ......    17     8    ......................    2     14    ...........
80 to 89 years.......     3     2    ......................    1      7    ...........
90 years or over ................................................     3    ...........
Unknown..............     7     1    .....    1       .....    3      3    ...........
    Total.......200     363    47     3      20        177   359    129      7     32

  For comparison, the following tables are given showing the con-
jugal condition, by sex and age periods, of Negroes in Farmville and in
Sandy Spring.
  a The migrations from North Carolina to Xenia began about 3 years ago, when
a woman who left there 36 years ago returned and told of her prosperity in Xenia
(she owned five lots in the (city), the opportunities for work, and the privileges of
her people in general in the State of Ohio.  A few came when she returned, and
since then the number has rapidly increased.




			

OHS Archives/Library Pamphlet Collection

"The Negroes of Xenia, Ohio: A Social Study (1830-1900)." Bulletin of the Bureau of Labor

R.

Issue Number:  48