CENTRE LINES

The GUNSALLUS 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 GUNSALLUS. 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).

One book in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte apparently deals in part with the Gunsallus family. It is: Raymond Martin Bell's The Gunsalus Family also Gonsalus, Gonzales of Oliver Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania (1996).

There are 16 first-name entries for Gunsallus in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are several mentions of the name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898).

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

BELLEFONTE Borough:

Richard, 38, teamster--13 Railroad Mary E. Rhoda M. Birdie S. Richard H.

BOGGS Township:

Howard A. Gunsawlus--Milesburg

LIBERTY Township:

David, 57, farmer--Blanchard Lydia Emma Mary S. Anna M. Joseph T. 14 Walter S. 9 Ira, 52, farmer--Blanchard Abbie Zerritt, 21 Helen I. Montie P. 17 Henry 14 Wilbur 10 Alti M. Sadie M. Jesse B. Leander 3 James B., 40, cook--Blanchard Malissa Harry E. 14 Mary E. Westley E. 8 Viola James W., 56, farmer--Blanchard Margaret J. William L. 26 Charles E. 19 John M. 17 Mary E. George W. 13 Mary E. Thomas L. 7 Oda H. John, 66, farmer--Blanchard Martha Frank 34 Joseph 20 Hattie C. Elvey E. 10 Robert A., 29, farmer--Blanchard Jane E. Elizabeth M. William H., 30, laborer--Blanchard Blanche E. James D. 3 mos.

PATTON Township:

Simon, 28--Benore Mary

SNOW SHOE Township:

Lachary Gunsalius, 43, miner--Snow Shoe Eliza A. Michael N. Gunsalius, 19, miner--Snow Shoe Ottie S. 17 Franklin P. 13 John, 53, laborer--Snow Shoe Camellia Harry 17 Ruth Edith Ruth--Snow Shoe