I was told about this interesting Internet site. It converts the dollars from past years to their present value by taking in consideration the inflation factor. For example my ggg-grandfather John S. Young according to the 1860 census was worth $1500 ($1200 property and $300 personal) and in the 1915 Iowa census he was worth $1600 (see picture). According to the calculation from this site his value in 1860 in 2008 dollars would be approximately $35500 and his 1915 value would be approximately $33600.  ¶ 11:06 AM