CENTRE LINES

The JONES 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 JONES. 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 deal with the Jones family. It is: Thomas Boob's Walizer-Jones Family Group Sheets.

There are 42 different first-name entries for Jones 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).

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

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

Bella M. Peter, 36, laborer--Decatur Alley William, 70, messenger First National Bank--285 E. High Hannah Ella Kate A. John P. 9

In BOGGS Township:

H. N., 32, carpenter--Milesburg Blanche Louisa William L. 2 Lizzie

In CURTIN Township:

Charles W., 43, farmer--Romola Lydia M. Lewis G. 18 Charles W. 15 David D. 13

In FERGUSON Township:

William H., 32, laborer--Penna Furnace

In MILESBURG Borough:

J. C. P., 57, merchant Bella Emma V. Grace T. Lester V. 13 Bella M. Phinetta M. Edna E. Clara M. Ida M. Sylvia S.

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Alfred, 49, hardware merchant--Front St. Rebecca Paul 24 Edward 18 Benjamin, 17--3rd St. Margaret A. Bridget--11th St. Lewis F. 24 Anna Mary Carrie--2nd St. Harry, 32--Laurel St. Louise C. Jacob W., 71, contractor and builder--Laurel St. Rebecca H. Jane--9th St. William John, 42, laborer--Water St. Mary Lewis P., 35, painter--Laurel St. Lot W., 37, supt. planing mill--Beaver St. Angelina Mary--Front St. Ellie Mary C.--3rd St. Draught M. 26 Oliver P., 42, banker--3rd St. Anna V. Margaret E. Thomas H. 51

In POTTER Township:

John E., 42, laborer--Tusseyville Clara William S. 17 Ira 15 Curtis 14 Elmer E. 12 James 10 Harvey W. 8 Oscar J. 6 Lewis J. 4

In RUSH Township:

John, 35, laborer--Philipsburg William H. 30 Martha

In UNION Township:

Johnson C., 38, farmer--Fleming Annie E. Zella F. Earnestine F. Vera L. Elwood 3

In WORTH Township:

Edward, 62, laborer--Port Matilda Margaret E. Budd 12 Maud Eli, 54, laborer--Port Matilda Henrietta John 31 George 29 Calder 19 Edith George I., 48, laborer--Port Matilda Frances Stuart 19 Blanchard 13 Verna Robert W. 8 Ogle C. 6 Roxie S. Grant, 25, laborer--Port Matilda Lula Earl 3 Goldie John G., 68, laborer--Port Matilda Margaret Margery Levi, 59, laborer--Port Matilda Nancy Albert 21 Cromwell 19 Blanche Orry, 23, laborer--Port Matilda Margaret Mary