CENTRE LINES

The Hosterman 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 Hosterman. 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).

No books in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte apparently deal with the Hosterman family.

There are 13 different first-name entries for Hosterman 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) with three persons having full-length profiles: F.O. Hosterman (b. 1859, s/o Jacob and Anna (Boyer) Hosterman); John K. Hosterman (b. 1826, s/o George and Catherine (Kramer) Hosterman); and, T. W. Hosterman (b. 1845, s/o of Thomas and Hannah (Yearick) Hosterman).

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

In CENTRE HALL Borough:

George W., 35, dentist Catharine A. Samuel V. 14 John S. 7 Helen S.

In GREGG Township:

Adam F., 32, farmer--Penn Hall Susan T. Catharine R. Franklin D., 54--Penn Hall Catharine William P. 33 Emma C. John F. 23

In HAINES Towsnhip:

Allen O., 23, laborer--Aaronsburg Almerta J.--Woodward Charles W., 43, mail carrier--Woodward Selinda John W. 18 Thomas R. 16 Wesley S. 14 Ada S. Oliver 10 Verna D. Charles H. 6 Herbert S. 3 Bertha Frederick, 31, merchant--Fiedler Quilla John F. 2 mos.--Woodward Robert B., 42, farmer--Fiedler Sarah I. Anna George W. 11 Bessie C. Maud E. Warren E., 23, farmer--Woodward Susan Maud D. William L., 20, laborer--Poe Mills John C. 17 Keturah L. Susan A. Lina B. Eugene C. 10 Minnie E.

In HARRIS Towsnhip:

Adam, 45, farmer--Boalsburg Susan Henry 22 Mary S. George C., 11--Boalsburg

In MILES Towsnhip:

Edward G., 24, farmer--Wolfs Store Sallie Edna M. Harry 2 John K., 63, farmer--Wolfs Store Susan Lizzie V. Thomas 17 John W. O. Houserman, 40, carpenter--Rebersburg Emma J. Frank V. 14 Bertha A.

In MILLHEIM Borough:

John L., 18, laborer

In PENN Township:

Daniel, 52, laborer--Coburn Harriet Jennie V. Thomas W., 43, postmaster--Coburn Rachel Gertie J. Thomas 14 Nathan 11 Lizzie Mabel C. Bertha William, 14--Coburn William, 20, laborer--Coburn

In POTTER Towsnhip:

Alfred P., 49, farmer--Centre Hill Susan L. Eleanor S. Mary E. Thomas A. 9 Sophia Ellis B. 39 James K., 19--Centre Hill