CENTRE LINES

The GARDNER 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 GARDNER. 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 apparently deal with the Gardner family. They are: Anita Wallace's Bailey and Gardner and Anita Wallace's Bailey History.

There are 25 different first-name entries for Gardner 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' GARDNER neighbors in 1890:

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

Mitchell I., 32, bookkeeper--112 N. Spring Clara

In CURTIN Township:

John D., 63, farmer--Romola Esther A. Clara C. Bertha M. Claton D. 11 Henry 9 Percy 5

In FERGUSON Township:

Frank M., 43, farmer--Penna Furnace Ellie M. John G. 6 Robert M., 65, farmer--Rock Springs Martha Mabel Mary A. Wilson, 49, farmer--Rock Springs Sarah William 24 Mary M. Robert B. 18 George F. 28

In HALF-MOON Towsnhip:

Maud--Loveville

In HOWARD Borough:

A.J., 68, carpenter Catharine P. ` W.R. 29 A.W., 62, carpenter Elizabeth

In HOWARD Township:

Alice--Howard Tamson Kate Clement, 38, laborer--Howard Margaret Frank 7 Samuel 5 Clarence 6 mos. Erwin F., 40, laborer--Howard Lillie Florence E. James, 65, farmer--Howard Elizabeth Harriet B. James E., 30, laborer--Howard Aralona Laura Ellen J. John, 40, farmer--Howard Eliza Edith Carrie Cora Bertha Foster 5 Lawrence 5 mos. John, 64, laborer--Howard Charles M. 24 Joseph L., 30, school teacher--Howard Amanda Elliott 7 Lula B. Milton B. 1 Thomas, 23, laborer--Howard Katie Maudie

In LIBERTY Township:

Edward N., 26, laborer--Blanchard Mary E. Harry 6 George T. 4 Ruby M. Ephraim, 25, laborer--Blanchard Lena E. Eva L.--Blanchard Mamie E. Orvis M. 20 Minnie E. James, 32, laborer--Blanchard Sarah M. Lloyd N. 5 Raymond McLalen 27, laborer--Blanchard William H., 34, farmer--Blanchard Harriet A. Gertie M. Harry C. 7 Clyde 2 William H., 53, farmer--Blanchard Emily P. Mary C. Bessie L. George W. 13 Mabel A. Willard F. 9 David C. 6

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Napoleon B., 31, liveryman--Laurel St. Terissa Harry L. 9 Daniel 7 George W. 5 Leon 3

In RUSH Township:

Samuel, 30, laborer--Philipsburg Jennie