CENTRE LINES

The FISHER 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 FISHER. 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).

Three books in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte apparently deal with the Fisher family. They are: Charles Fisher's A Biographical and Genealogical History of Michael Fischer (Fisher) (1724-1776), Mary Lontz's Centre County Ancestors, and Marcile Tressler's Fisher, 400 Years.

There are 40 different first-name entries for Fisher 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' FISHER neighbors in 1890:

(All entries are spelled Fisher unless otherwise noted)

In BENNER Township:

Ephraim, 42, farmer--Bellefonte Ellen L. Sarah M. Anna M. Harry T. 13

In BOGGS Township:

Carrie I.--Milesburg Blair 4 Raymond 1 Mary A.--Milesburg William E., 37, farmer--Milesburg Kate M. Lloyd 12 Edgar 10 Laura T.

In BURNSIDE Township:

Anna--Moshannon George W. 30 Susanna Sebastian 65 Henry, 45, laborer--Keating Annie James F. 18 Milrose Ellen Warren H. 12 Cordelia Carrie M. George 7 Hattie Zelda

In CENTRE HALL Borough:

William E. Fischer, 41, minister Judith A. Marion L. Ella P. William B. 7

In FERGUSON Township:

Phoebe--Pine Grove Mills

In GREGG Township:

Jared B., 60, merchant--Penn Hall Louisa L. Ella S. Mary C. Frank 25 Charles 25 Lola

In HAINES Township:

Jacob A., 60, laborer--Fiedler

In HALF-MOON Township:

George W.. 36, farmer--Loveville Hannah John J. Ira, 81, retired--Loveville Rebecca Hannah Mary James, 35, farmer--Loveville Margaret Elizabeth Franklin 8 Harry 5 Edith Samuel D., 32, farmer--Loveville Lillie J. Ira S. 6 Florence E. Sarah R.--Stormstown Nancy M.

In HARRIS Township:

Emma A.--Boalsburg Elizabeth William 18 Franklin H. 12 George Y. 9 Charles E. 8

In HOWARD Township:

Catharine--Howard William T. 2

In MARION Township:

George, 17, laborer--Walker

In MILES Township:

John, 13--Madisonburg John J., 42--Madisonburg Wilhelmina Martha Harry C. 5 Roy C. 2 Martha--Centre Mills

In MILLHEIM Borough:

Harry, 20 Jennie M. Alice E. George D. Jennie John W. 10 Annie M. Kate Nellie P.

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Lida--Laurel St.

In POTTER Township:

Nora I.--Tusseyville Ralph D., 4--Potters Mills Thomas F., 46, laborer--Tusseyville Susan A. Harry E. 19 Margaret E. Anna G. William A. 8 Myrtle R. Belva Tillie V.--Tusseyville

In SPRING Township:

Bond V., 31, laborer--Bellefonte Mary E.--Bellefonte Samuel, 32, laborer--Bellefonte Sarah J. Katherine Charles A. 2 Susan A. William H. 65 William 26

In UNION Township:

Elijah M., 74, farmer--Fleming Susanna Willard S. 28 Ezra 59 Harriet William E. 11 William P., 72, farmer--Fleming Elwood 34 James 8 Cora H. Thomas W. 39 Dora E. Harold 2

In WALKER Township:

Benjamin B., 42, laborer--Nittany Eliza G. William J. 15 Mary S. Katie E. Ida M. Agnes D. Lavina V. Emma Ida M.--Hublersburg Philip S., 44, physician--Zion Eliza B. Sarah V. Charles N. 13 Arthur B.