CENTRE LINES

The MITCHELL 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 MITCHELL. 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 deals with the Mitchell family: Donald Tressler's The Family of James Harry Mitchell Jr. 1867-1931 and Delinda (Linnie) Rohrbaugh 1872-1917 (1996).

There are many different first-name entries for Mitchell 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' MITCHELL neighbors in 1890:

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

Isacc, 48, banker--148 N. Thomas Debrah D. Jacob L. 20 Joseph D. 17 Eleanor Grace D. Malcolm 4 James, 25, mechanic--212 E. Howard Nellie L. Clarence B. 2 Emma L. James H., 65, retired--113 S. Spring Jennie Olive John, 17--W. Curtin Mariah D.--11 W. Linn

In COLLEGE Township:

George, 24, farmer--Lemont Bruce 23 John H. 2 John H., 61, farmer--Lemont Nancy C. Maud Joseph E., 63, postmaster--State College Eliza E. Eliza L.

In FERGUSON Towsnhip:

John B., 68, farmer--Pinegrove Mills A. P.

In HOWARD Borough:

Mary A. Wm. P. 17

In MILESBURG Borough:

Joshua D., 75, retired Isabella

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Howard A., 36, painter--Beaver St. Mary Pearl B. Samuel R., 55, retired--11th St. Annie

In UNION Towsnhip:

Jacob D., 77, farmer--Fleming Edith A. Joseph B. 34 Hannah M. Elizabeth R. Jacob D. 8 Chester A. 5 Edward R. 2