CENTRE LINES

The GRAY Family

This column is part of a feature series which focuses on a different Centre County family each week. Five new columns will be released each month unless some technical difficulty enters the picture.

This column's focus is on GRAY. An effort has been made to identify all persons carrying that name in the 1890 U.S. Census, using the Centre County business directory which was formed from a preliminary review of that census before the larger set of 1890 U.S. Census records was destroyed by fire. (Sadly, the postal directory does not typically provide the ages of females, but it's the best record we've got).

No books in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte apparently deal with the Gray family.

There are 48 different first-name entries for Gray in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are 59 references to the name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898), with the following having full-length profiles: Isaac Gray, (b. 1834, s/o John and Mary (Mattern)); Samuel Russell Gray, (b. 1831, s/o Samuel and Isabella (Watson)); Samuel T. Gray, (b. 1824, s/o John and Mary (Mattern)); William E. Gray, (b. 1860, s/o Samuel T. and Harriet (Hutchison)); and, William Y. Gray, (b. 1833, s/o George and Susan (Keffer)).

And, now, your ancestors' GRAY neighbors in 1890:

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

Durbin L., 4--28 N. Spring Mary--28 N. Spring William E., 28, attorney--209 E. Linn Ellen G.

In COLLEGE Township:

Clara F.--State College Elmira M.--State College Sarah B. Lydia B. Julia Minnie E. Alanson 16 Frederick 20 Thomas S., 43, weaver--Oak Hall Annie M. Nellie M. Mary C. Margaret Mabel Y. Mease W. 8 Rebecca L.

In FERGUSON Towsnhip:

Samuel P., 36, farmer--Guyer Mary E. Myrtle 1 Thomas D., 26, farmer--Pinegrove Mills Anna

In HALF-MOON Towsnhip:

Bella--Stormstown Catharine--Stormstown Frances E.--Stormstown Juliet G. Maurice 7 George S. 61 Susan A. Annie George S., 61, farmer--Stormstown Susan A. Anna L. George W. 60, farmer--Stormstown Ada T. Eva Robert J. H. 7 Ethel C. Irvin G., 24, farmer--Stormstown John W., 53, farmer--Stormstown Nancy J. Anna J. John J. 27 Minerva S.--Stormstown George F. 5 Clyde G. 3 Ethel Robert J. P., 37, merchant--Stormstown Bella

In MILESBURG Borough:

George W., 69, forgeman Elizabeth Margaret James B., 32, forgeman Rebecca G. Lizzie A. Alice W. Sadie E. Edna C. Minnie K. Fird G. 3 Joseph B. 1 James L. 2 mos

In PATTON Township:

George L., 63, retired--Fillmore Harriet Meta Zane B. 23 Mary E. Anna L. William H. 8 Jacob G., farmer--Buffalo Run Annie B. Jessie V. Paul B. 13 Samuel T., 65, farmer--Benore Harriet Annie Minnie Nora Samuel 17 Sarah L.--Buffalo Run Alma S. Esther Ruth Sallie--Buffalo Run

In PENN Township:

John A., 23--Coburn Sarah C. Frederick E. 3 mos. Phoebe E.

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Isaac V., 54, merchant--3rd St. Mary K. Walter 25 Victor 23 Florence Marion Virginia John S., 53, salesman--3rd St. Emma T. Mary Myrtle Edith Esther Maggie--Spruce St. Miles G., 49--7th St. Emma G. Mary E. William Y., 57, merchant--10th St. Mary H. Josie A. Cora E.