CENTRE LINES

The Shope 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 Shope. 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 that apparently deals in part with the Shope family. It is: David E. Richards' David Alexander Richards 1863 & Cecilia Esther Spotts, Ella Mae Richards 1903-1975 & Arthur S. Erickson, Lee Oscar Richards 1906 & Edith Roena Shope, Minnie Francis Richards 1908-1995 & Allen Perley Herritt (1997).

There are 11 different first-name entries for Shope in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are several references to the name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898).

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

In BOGGS Township:

Barnabas, 67--Roland Eva S. Thomas L. G. S. 24 D. F., 62, laborer--Milesburg Sarah F. Daniel P., 65, farmer--Milesburg Sarah J. Letta J. L., 57, farmer--Milesburg Mary A. Harry C. 16 C. L. 14 Dora E. Bertha J. Fred F. 5 Jacob B., 75, farmer--Milesburg Julian Martha James N., 36, carpenter--Milesburg Julia Effie Nelson 15 Samuel W. 13 Cyrus A. Benner W. 9 Christiana Nora E. James N. 4 Charles B. 2 Ellis W. 3 mos. Nanch--Milesburg Maudelia Clementine Fountain C. Thomas B., 28, laborer--Milesburg Jennie T. Ralph 1

In COLLEGE Township:

Joseph, 34, laborer--Lemont Susan A. Alfred B. 14 Mary M. Sarah G. John M. 8 Ellen L.

In HOWARD Borough:

Edward A., 37, foreman railroad track Mary E. Comer C. 8 Adah T. Mary J. Lula H. Lucy L.

In HOWARD Township:

John, 19, laborer--Mt. Eagle

In MILESBURG Borough:

Adam, 60, laborer Agnes E. Jefferson 24 Emanuel 21 Oscar 17 Joseph 15 Robert 13 Jacob P., 65, laborer Mary A. Eliza J. Charles F. 23 Edward C. 12 William A., 29, laborer Mary C. Harold L. 2

In SNOW SHOE Township:

John B., 33, carpenter--Snow Shoe Mary M. Stella M. Body C. Grace E. Harry 6 Clyde John 4 Gertrude John W., 36, miner--Peal Margerie E. Mary J. Charles W. 12 Joseph 10 Frank 1

In SPRING Township:

Christ, 67, laborer--Bellefonte

In UNION Township:

Daniel C., 29, laborer--Wingate Maudella Onessa Norris 2 Addie