CENTRE LINES

The IRVIN 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 IRVIN. 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 book in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte deals with this family although there is something on the Irwins.

There are 38 different first-name entries for Irvin in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are many references to the these names in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898) with one of them (with an identifiable Centre County connection) having a separate profile: J.G. Irvin (b. 1830, s/o John and Hannah Greene).

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

In BOGGS Township:

Roland C., 45, retired--Roland

In COLLEGE Township:

Joseph G., 60, manufacturer--Oak Hall Jane

In FERGUSON Township:

Daniel, 36, farmer--Rock Springs Alice M. Annie M. Clarence L. 5 James B., 29, farmer--Penna Furnace Virginia Kent M. Andrew G. Patterson, 73, retired--Penna Furnace Susan Julia G. Edward H. 9 Samuel P., 56--Penna Furnace Margery Edward L. 15 Ralph R. 14

In HUSTON Township:

Daniel, 69, merchant--Julian Eliza I. William N. 27 Edwin P. 24 Lewis 21 Alvina Alfred T. 12 Charles A. 10 Henry, 69, retired--Julian Susan Laura Bernice

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Frank, 19, clerk--Front St. Dorothy Hannah William, 56, insurance Susanna

In RUSH Township:

Patterson, 40, laborer--Sandy Ridge Rachael David H. 11 Oliver M. 7 Sheridan, 23, laborer--Philipsburg Barbara A. William T., 33, laborer--Philipsburg Sarah E. John A. 14 Edgar B. 12 Orvis 8 Harry 1

In SNOW SHOE Township:

Thomas, 28, miner--Snow Shoe

In SPRING Township:

James E., 28, engineer--Bellefonte Marion R. Hannah I. Mary E. John, 56, laborer--Bellefonte Maria Mary E.--Bellefonte William C. 23 Lucy J. James 19 Emma M. Mollie B. John B. 15 Elmira George W. 9 Annie O. William P., 33, laborer--Pleasant Gap Elizabeth Mary B. Charles F. 7 Archie T. Anna M. Wilbert W. 2

In UNION Township:

Mary R.--Fleming Orvis I., 16--Fleming Wilson, 64, farmer--Fleming Martha J.

In WORTH Township:

Archy, 34, farmer--Port Matilda Martie Mary Florence Mabel