CENTRE LINES

The HOUTZ 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 HOUTZ. 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 Houtz family. They are: Donavene Dee Brian Liggett's A Brian Family History (1989), and, Donald W. Martin's The Philip Hautz Family of Pennsylvania (Kokomo, Ind., 1957).

There are 6 different first-name entries for Houtz or Houts in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there is a separaete biographical profile of John Houtz (b. 1858, s/o Emanuel and Susan (Moyer)) in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898).

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

In BENNER Township:

John, 60, farmer--Bellefonte Julia A. Edward J. 23 Harvey W. 21

In COLLEGE Township:

Cornelius D. HOUTS, 50, farmer--Houserville Catharine Laura B. Harry F. 14 Minnie E. Christena--Lemont Mahala E. Christ A. 23 James E. 3 Clarence A., 27, laborer--Lemont Arabella Conelius B. 6 John L. 3 Jacob, 56, laborer--Lemont Rebecca J. Mary D. Lloyd 10 Thomas, 30--Fillmore Frances L. George W. 7 Oren S. 3 Ellen M. William H., 20, farmer--Lemont

In FERGUSON Township:

Oscar M., 30, laborer--State College

In GREGG Township:

Catharine--Farmers Mills

In HARRIS Township:

Henry HOUTS, 56, farmer--Oak Hall Rebecca Lizzie N. Elmer E. 17 Margaret L.

In MILES Township:

Thomas B. HOUTS, 16--Rebersburg William HOUTS, 20, laborer--Rebersburg Benjamin, 65, laborer--Rebersburg Sarah A. Gertrude M. Ira D. 10 Irvin R. 8

In POTTER Township:

Cora--Tusseyville