CENTRE LINES

The Homan 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 Homan. 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 Homan family. It is: Beverly Brooks' Clyde and Alice Savilla (Homan) Dutrow and Their Descendants (1992).

There are 10 different first-name entries for Homan in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are nine references to the name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898).

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

In COLLEGE Township:

Benjamin, 36, farmer--Oak Hall Margaret E. Gertrude Mary Waldo 3 Alma R. Henry E., 30, farmer--Oak Hall Anne E. Cora L. John D. 2

In GREGG Township:

Daniel, 54, farmer--Farmers Mills Rebecca Jacob, 68, retired--Farmers Mills Sophia Jacob F., 34, farmer--Farmers Mills John C. 30 Samuel, 36, retired--Farmers Mills Sarah William R. 10 Sarah--Spring Mills Susanna--Farmers Mills William 60 Susanna

In HAINES Towsnhip:

George, 27, farmer--Coburn Sarah C. Harry 9 mos. William H., 23, laborer--Fiedler Ida Philip 4 Clyde R. 3 Bruce C. 1

In MILHEIM Borough:

George R., 27, laborer Rebecca Clara B. Archie C. 1

In POTTER Township:

George H., 38--Centre Hall Emma Albert 12 Franklin V. 10 Elsie E. Charles 5 Arthur E. 2

In RUSH Township:

John Honan, 37, miner--Osceola Ellen Mary Ellen Patrick 7 Elizabeth John 3 Thomas 1