CENTRE LINES

The Runkle 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 Runkle. 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 Runkle family. It is Sketch of the Genealogy of the Runkles.

There are 5 different first-name entries for Runkle 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), but with no one by that name having a full-length profile.

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

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

J. P., 17, clerk--306 E. Bishop Jacob L., 40, agent--219 E. Bishop Maggie William 13 Joseph 10 Mary Lee 6 Charles 4

In CENTRE HALL Borough:

Elizabeth Elizabeth A. Samuel H. 28 William, 41, laborer Sarah M. Margaret Elmer M.

In GREGG Township:

Daniel, 76, farmer--Spring Mills Robert D. 30 Daniel F. 28 Lucinda--Spring Mills Sallie R. Laura F.

In HAINES Township:

Israel, 40, painter--Woodward Wertz Harry T. 17 Mertie Arthur J. 10

In POTTER Township:

Anna E.--Pleasant Gap Hugh, 20--Centre Hall James, 65, farmer--Tusseyville Catharine James H. 23 Calvin 21 Maggie J. James C., 44, farmer--Centre Hill Franklin J. 17 Irvin 11 James T. 7 Grace Laura Rosa A. James W., 44, farmer--Centre Hall Rosetta Laura S. John H., 34, farmer--Tusseyville Agnes A. Bruce E. 7 John L., 37, farmer--Tusseyville Fannie James M. 10 Lawrence 8 John P., 82, retired--Centre Hill William H., 28, stock dealer--Centre Hall Ada V. Pearl M.

In SPRING Township:

Mary J.--Pleasant Gap Mary R.