The US had their first census around 1790 and Lysander Mail was established in 1844. What make you think they didn't use the information available to develop the company?
They wouldn't have had "long form" census information that's for sure.
The 1840 U.S. Census asked:
Name of head of household
Number of free white males and females in the household in age categories (five years to age 20 and then 10 years from there to age 100)
number of deaf, dumb, blind and insane persons and also aliens living in the household Also the number in school, and the number in family over age twenty-one who could not read and write.
Town or district and County of Residence
Also it asked the the ages of Revolutionary War pensioners and the number of individuals engaged in mining, agriculture, commerce, manufacturing and trade, navigation of the ocean, navigation of canals, lakes and rivers, learned professions and engineers.
Number of slaves and free “colored” persons by age categories