CENTRE LINES

The BECHTOL 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 BECHTOL and variant spellings BECHDEL and BEIGHTOL. 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).

Two books in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte deal at some length with the Bechdel family. They are Hugh Frederick's Direct Ancestors of the Fredericks: Hays, Hay(e)s and Glossner-Shaw-Bechdel and Montgomey-White Families and Samuel Schenck's Centre County Pennsylvania Schenck and Bechdel Family Lines.

There are 31 different first-name entries for Bechdol/Bechtel/Bechtol/Beichtol/Beightol in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are many references to the these names in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898) but no one of the BECHTOL spelling (with an identifiable Centre County connection) having a separate profile.

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

(Note all entries are for Bechtol unless clearly spelled otherwise.)

In BURNSIDE Township:

Amanda M. Beightol--Pine Glenn Edward B. Beightol, 32, laborer--Pine Glenn Sarah C. Thomas A, 7 Clyde G. 5 Albert G. 3 Charles B. 1 Jacob A. Beightol, 28, farmer--Pine Glenn Delia H. Celia G. Walter S. 16 Pearl Beightol--Pine Glenn Samuel Beightol, 42, laborer Julia A. Essie M. William N. 8 Chester A. 6 Thomas Beightol, 38, farmer--Pine Glenn Annie J.

In CURTIN Township:

Jacob H. Bechdel, 26, farmer--Romola Lydia M. Sarah E. Anna F.

In GREGG Township:

Isaac, 71, retired--Spring Mills Kate Peter, 42, laborer--Spring Mills Elizabeth William 7 Harvey 5

In LIBERTY Township:

Alfred Bechdel, 40, farmer--Blanchard Mary J. George E. 19 Mary E. Harriet E. Samuel R. 7 Harry R. 2 Mary David S. Bechdel, 50, farmer--Blanchard Ida A. Samuel 4 Lora E. John F. 45 Harry H. Bechdel, 17--Blanchard Richard 13 Thomas M. 13 Henry R. Bechdel, 4--Blanchard Isabella Bechdel--Blanchard Elizabeth A. Dora James Bechdel, 45, farmer--Blanchard Maggie A. Elsie M. Christian 13 Charles 10 Annie E. Burns C. 3 Joseph Bechdel, 39, farmer--Blanchard Emma J. Jacob C. 18 Bertha Anna B. Mary L. William A. 7 Lloyd W. 4 Lydia Bechdel--Blanchard Mary Bechdel--Blanchard Mary E. Bechdel--Blanchard Curtis E. 20 Sarah G. Alta E. Mary A. Susan E. John H. 3 Harry R. 2 Thomas J. Bechdel, 28, farmer--Blanchard Clara A. William H. Bechdel, 57, farmer--Blanchard Matilda S. Anna M. Edgar T. 18 Bonnie W.

In MARION Township:

David, 33, laborer--Walker Nancy E. Harry E. 13 Ellen E. John H. 3 Wailliam A. 3 Samuel T. 11 mos

In MILES Township:

Nathaniel, 34, laborer--Rebersburg Mary A. George C. 6 Harry M. 2

In POTTER Township:

John, 55, laborer--Tusseyville

In RUSH Township:

Anna M. Beightol--Sandy Ridge David E. Beightol, laborer--Sandy Ridge Jacob 17 Emanuel Beightol, 24, laborer--Retort Jacob Beightol, 17, laborer--Sandy Ridge

In SNOW SHOE Township:

Daniel W. Beightol, 40, laborer--Moshannon Martha John H. 17 Mary A. George E. 11 William W. 8 Blanche T. Ala M. 4 Edward Beightol, 31, miner Josephine Gideon Beighte, 38, laborer--Snow Shoe Sarah J. Rebecca William A. 8 Jacob E. Mary E. Jefferson Beightol, 42, laborer--Moshannon Hannah Lucy E. Alton B. Matthew B. Beightol, 30, laborer--Moshannon Camilla Alma G. Minnie W.

In WALKER Township:

Mary C. Beightol--Hublersburg George W. 18 Nathaniel, 34--Hublersburg Thomas P. Beightol, 35, farmer--Zion Harriet A. William D. 11 Ida M. Lula B. Annie A. Mabel C. Charles F. 4 Lewis A. 2 Harry D. 5 mos