CENTRE LINES

The Koons 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 Koons. 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 Koons or Koontz family. There is one book on the Kuhn family: Helen Dunkle's Peter Kuhn Family: 1748-1976.

There are three different first-name entries for Koons in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there is one reference to a name by a variant spelling with a separate full-length profile in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898): James Irwin Kunes (b. 1839, s/o Daniel and Mary (Bechdel) Kunes).

And, now, your ancestors' KOONS (or Koone, Koontz, Kuhn, Kunes as noted) neighbors in 1890:

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

Charles Koontz, 31, engineer--216 E. Logan Clara Anna Jennie Maud Edna

In BENNER Township:

Andrew J. Kuhn, 37, painter--Bellefonte Jennie John E. 18 Margaret J. Franklin V. 15 Flora B. Minnie R. Gatdner R. 9 William B. 6 George F. 4 Robert D. 2 Charles W. Kuhn, 9--Bellefonte

In BOGGS Township:

Lillie B. Koontz--Roland William T., 33, laborer--Milesburg Hannah Bellah Boyd J. 9 Zelin--Milesburg

In HARRIS Township:

Alexander Kuhn, 54, plasterer--Boalsburg Elizabeth J. Elsie Kuhn--Boalsburg Mervin E. 18 John Kuhn, 64, laborer--Boalsburg Isabel Annie William H. 20 John E. 14 Joseph Kuhn, 66, laborer--Boalsburg Blanche Charles 1 mo. Minnie Peter Kuhn, 86, retired--Boalsburg Emma William H. Kuhn, 4--Linden Hall

In LIBERTY Towsnhip:

Christ Kunes, 71, farmer--Blanchard Caroline A. Joseph 27 Charles 21 Daniel B. Kunes, 49, justice of the peace--Blanchard Mary D. Lloyd B. 16 Kosephine E. Daniel D. Kunes, 53, laborer--Blanchard Sarah E. Curtis 16 Clarence 13 Emma A. David Kunes, 43, laborer--Blanchard Elizabeth Maggie Charles B. 15 Cletus 12 Nora David Kunes, 78--Blanchard Elizabeth Kunes--Blanchard Nathan 36 Harvey C. Kunes, 38, laborer--Blanchard Susan A. George R. 8 Howard B. 6 Henry Kunes, 70, plasterer--Blanchard James Kunes, 51--Blanchard Margaret James A. Kunes, 25, laborer--Blanchard Mary A. May Blair 1 James A. Kunes, 45, laborer--Blanchard Mary C. Joseph B. 20 Franklin C. 17 Clyde W. 14 Idella L. Potter A. 8 Orie C. 5 Alva S. John C. Kunes, 50, laborer--Blanchard Jane Ward W. 12 Edith I. John I. Kunes, 42, laborer--Blanchard Matilda J. Martha Anna Elsie L. Ethel V. Helen L. John J. Kunes, 50--Blanchard Milford 19 Joseph B. Kunes, 54--Blanchard Susan E. Lida A. Kunes--Blanchard Flora A. Bertin J. 19 Nancy D. Nathan M. Kunes, shop keeper--Blanchard Catharine Samuel H. Kunes, 57, retired--Blanchard Clarrissa A. Frank A. 30 Mary B. Blanche E. Samuel R. Kunes, 38--Blanchard Ellen Carrie George L. 11 Elick 6 Maud James C. 1 Westley M. Kunes, 28, laborer--Blanchard Emma A. Daniel R. 4 Laone 7 mos. William Kunes, 56, laborer--Blanchard Fanny B. Edward 20 Sylvester 18 Percy C. 15 Harry C. 13 Rosa M. Milton 8

In POTTER Borough:

John C. Kuhn, 34, laborer--Centre Hall Susan A. Bella E. Joseph L. 3 David E. 9 mos. Julia Kuhn--Centre Hall Sidney Kuhn, 16--Centre Hall

In SPRING Township:

George Koone, 59, laborer--Pleasant Gap Sarah