CENTRE LINES

The JOHNSON 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 JOHNSON. 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 in part with the Johnson family. They are Larry Boob's The Ancestors of Bernard and Lulu Stover (1977); and Percy Witchey's Captain John Johnson of Philadelphia: Genealogy and Descendants (Renovo, Pa., 1957).

There are 45 different first-name entries for Johnson in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are several mentions of the name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898).

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

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

Augustus A., 30, drug clerk--Crider's Exchange Curt, 36, drayman--365 E. Bishop Gustie Libbie George 9 Julia Annie Franklin C., 22, teamster--17 S. Thomas Flora B. Myrtle M. Clara C. Joel H., 59, laborer--326 E. Bishop Lidie C. Milton 27 Emma Ella Blanche Harry 17 Lydia--213 Pike Alley George 23

In BOGGS Township:

Hannah--Milesburg John 24 Harry, 33, farmer--Milesburg Ida B. Bessie Edward 30

In COLLEGE Township:

Anna--Linden Hall

In CURTIN Township:

Harry M., 33, laborer--Romola Maggie M. Eva E. Edward O. 12 Mertie H. Rachael L. Franklin 1 mo.

In HALFMOON Township:

Sarah--Stormstown

In HOWARD Township:

George D., 48, farmer--Mt. Eagle Martha Ella Bessie C. Lula C.

In MARION Township:

Amy--Walker Ira C., 46 Laura J. Nellie J. Frances Claude, 27, laborer--Walker Sallie Lula B. Everett E. 5 Clarence J. 5 mos.

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Aaron, 21, porter--Presquile St. Elmer, 35, mine supt--2nd St. Jennie P. Oliver B. 9 Earl R. 7 Ernest M., 13--7th St. James E., 25, merchant Jane Ruth B. Mary--Alder St. Annie Nellie Elizabeth Rachel J.--Pine St. Anna

In SNOW SHOE Township:

Charles, 25, laborer--Peal John C., 37, miner--Snow Shoe Anna C. John P. 14 William 4

In SPRING Township:

Celia E.--Zion Lotta--Bellefonte Thomas B., 43, laborer--Bellefonte Sarah A. May L. James R. 15 Lore A. Edward T. 9

In WALKER Township:

Austin L., 25, laborer--Zion Lizzie E. Roy E. Minnie James M., 44, farmer--Zion Mary A. Sarah E. William H. 17 John F. 13 Ida M. Anna M. Alice E. John W., 55, laborer--Hublersburg Harriet Ida James T. 10 Bertha B. Daniel 6 Charlotte Joseph, 71, farmer--Hublersburg Jennie M. Ida