Population of Wading River
The following data has been extracted from state and federal censuses regarding the population of Wading River:
In 1900, there were 19 occupied homes in the village. According the state census of 1905, 24 houses had occupants. This seems odd, that the number would go up by six from 1900 to 1905 and then drop by 7 in another five years. However, when dealing with such small numbers an error of one or two in either direction would lead to a confusion of this sort; if, for example one or two families were not home at the time of the census in 1900 or 1910, then the size of the difference in population totals could be altered. Suffice it to say, that in order to gain an understanding of the size of this village, there were usually around 20 families living in the village at the turn of the century.

By 1910, there were 17 occupied homes in the village. The census taker began on what he referred to as the 'county road' (Route 542 today maybe?); he also recorded the names of Rock Road and Neck Road as being part of Wading River Village. The residents in 1910 were:

1. McAnney Family: There were nine residents of this house, of which the head was Sehas or Jehas or something similar; the writing is very difficult to read. He was a 45 year old laborer and had been married to his wife, Laura F., for 21 years. He owned his own home, and worked in the carpentry industry in his capacity as a laborer. His wife was three years younger than he. He may have been blind in one eye; there is a mark in that column on the census but it is difficult to tell if it is an actual pen mark or dirt. The following children lived with them:
   • Elton L., age 20. He was a laborer in a sawmill
   • Elmira, age 18
   • Irwin A., age 15, also a laborer in a sawmill
   • Wilber, age 12
   • Albert W., age 9
   • Mary H., age 5
   • Elise F., age 2
2. Downs Family. Farmer James F. Downs lived here with his wife of 34 years, Amanda A., six children, and one grand child. James was 54, hiw wife 49 which would mean they were married when he was 20 and his wife only 15. He can be found on farm schedule #8 according to the census. The following children lived with them:
   • James W., age 33. He was employed as a bayman
   • Edward, age 28, also a bayman
   • Harry F., age 18 who gave his occupation as 'farmer.'
   • Winfield, age 15, also claiming to be a farmer.
   • Chester, age 10
   • Glada M., age 7
   • Stanley. He was five years old and grand son to James and Amanda, who his parents were is uncertain. He may have been born out of wedlock as he bears the same surname as his family, yet his father was born in Italy and all of James' children were born in New Jersey (Stanley's mother is listed as being born in NJ as well.) As no daughters old enough to be his mother are in the home, it may be that he was an orphan.
3. Maxwell Family Grover S. Maxwell rented a farm in Wading River, where he lived with his wife of 3 years, Dora B. Maxwell. She was only 18, meaning she wed Grover when she was only 15. They had a two year old son, Richard,living with them, as well as the Watson family listed below who shared the same house.
4. Watson Family Thomas s. and Mary C. Watson shared the same home as the Maxwell family, with their daughter Hilma, an adopted daughter named Maud, and a niece, Edith P. Vandergrift. (The children were 8 mos., 3, and 9 respectively). Thomas was 25, his wife 28. Thomas was a sawyer by occupation.
5. McAnney Family #2 Another McAnney family also resided in Wading River in 1910, that of Alvin B. and Ludella. He was 25, she 22 but the column indicating how long they were married was left blank. They had one young child, one year 9 mos. old named Irene A. McAnney.
6. McAnney Family #3 What the relation between this family and the other two families bearing that name is at this point uncertain. James S. McAnney and his wife, Lovina E., lived here with two of their children, plus one other from Lovina's previous marriage. James owned his own property and did not rent; his occupation was given as a teamster, and he and Lovina had been married for 9 years. Her son from that previous marriage was a 20 year old wood chopper by name of John R. Maxwell. The two children that resulted from her second marriage were:
   • Rebecca A., age 9
   • Lidia B., age 6
7. Maxwell Family #2 Samuel A. Maxwell was a 59 year old farmer in Wading River in 1910. He had married his wife Mary M., when he was 29 and she 24, and they had one child living with them in 1910, their 17 year old son, Ralph L. Also, a grand daughter, Helen A. Sooy, resided with them as well

The following marriage announcements were found in the New Jersey Courier:
On February 27th, at the bride's residence, by Rev. T. R. Stratton, Charles F. Allen of Lower Bank and Achsah A. Cramer of Wading River
(from NJC March 16, 1876)
March 5th, at the residence of the bride's brother, by Rev. T.R. Stratton, Lemeul Cramer of Bass River and Leah A. Maxwell of Wading River.
(from NJC March 16, 1876)
M.E. Wolvert of Weymouth married Hattie Cramer of Wading River
(from NJC Feb 10, 1876)

• Charles W. Leek (1842-1862)
• Josephine Leek (25 March 1846-14 March 1855)
• George W. Leek (1842-1862)