CENTRE LINES

The PETERS 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 PETERS. 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 Peters family. It is Flora Curtin's The Peters Family.

There are 32 different first-name entries for Peters in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are many references to the name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898).

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

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

Ivey Mary M.--135 Willowbank Laura F. Theressa David 19 William H., 40, Lion coffee salesman--34 W. Bishop Lucretia

In BOGGS Township:

Agnes--Milesburg Jennie Nancy Lewis 39 William 25 Bruce 21 Josh 25, laborer--Milesburg Blanche Lewis C. 1 Oscar C., 34, farmer--Milesburg Ellen May Edith Lola William F. 38, blacksmith--Milesburg Elvira W. Charles C. 14 Harry 11 Edward 10 Beulah Candis M.

In COLLEGE Township:

Emanuel B., 40, farmer--Oak Hall Susan B. James W. 18 Annie R. Minnie A. Luther G. 11 Mary D. Charles A. 6 Elsie M. Margaret E.

In HALF-MOON Township:

Martha--Stormstown Paul, 1 month Orris J., 24, laborer--Loveville Flora B.

In MILLHEIM Borough:

George, 70, farmer Margaret

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Kate--3rd St. Walter P., 22--Beaver St. Mary P.

In POTTER Township:

Sarah--Centre Hill

In RUSH Township:

Joseph, 50--Philipsburg Esther Esther James T., 13 William A. 12 Mary George 6

In SNOW SHOE Township:

Alfred L., 32, blacksmith--Clarence Emma Meshek 3 Clarence 2 Peters 1 month

In SPRING Township:

David, 39, laborer--Bellefonte Sarah J. Ira M. Willie L. 6 Harry B. 4

In UNION Township:

Benjamin F., 26, farmer--Fleming Maggie E. Albert L. 2 Daniel, 33, farmer--Fleming Mary A. Lloyd W. 8 Myra Martha Edward, 35, farmer--Fleming Julia Claudius 14 Ada Clara Wilbur 3 Bessie John C., 63, farmer--Fleming Catharine E. Adaline B.

In UNIONVILLE Borough:

Beulah Emily J. Milton, 44, laborer Charrilla William A., 43, laborer Sarah D. Ella F. Lawrence G. 17 Margaret B. Mary E. Roy G. 6 Howard 1

In WORTH Township:

John, 47, laborer--Port Matilda Lydia Joseph 18 William 12 Sarah