In 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1885 (applicable state censuses), the census included inquiries about persons who had died in the year immediately preceding the enumeration. In general, the questions covered the following topics:

• Name
• Age at last birthday
• Sex
• Race
• Marital status
• Profession, occupation, or trade
• State, territory, or country of birth of person and parents
• Length of residence in county
• Month in which person died
• Disease or cause of death
• Place where disease contracted (if not at place of death)
• Name of attending physician