This column is fourth in a new feature series which focuses on a different Centre County family each week.
This column's focus is on SMITH. 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 directory does not typically provide the ages of females, but it's the best record we've got.)
Four book-length works on the Smiths can be found in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte. They include Peter and Barbara Smith of Potter Township Pennsylvania and some of their Descendants (1990) by Dorothy S. Levitt; Smith Family Chronicle Past to 1979 by Mildred Craft Smith, which traces the wherabouts of the Christian John and Edith (Royer) Smith family; Daniel Smith Pioneer Settler of Rockland Township Venango County (1961) by Mrs. Harold V. Linn, which traces a family of the son of Stephen Smith who died in Centre County in 1803; and, Smith-Ream (1930) which looks at families descended from George Yearick Smith (1813-1893) and wife Magdalena Ream of Miles Township.
There are 128 different first-name entries for Smith in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are 267 references to the Smith name in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898) with the following persons with an identifiable Centre County connection) having separate profiles: CHRISTIAN (b. 1827; s/o Abraham and Barbara Rossman); ELIAS E. Smith (b. 1848; s/o Joseph W. and Mary Armagast); JOHN Smith (1827; s/o John and Minerva Graham); PETER Smith (b. 1837; s/o Charles and Rebecca Trion); ROBERT Smith (b. 1841; s/o Charles and Elizabeth Schnure); S.W. Smith (b. 1863; s/o Peter and Mary Kopp); SIDNEY Smith (s/o James and Hannah Dale); W.H. Smith (b. 1840; s/o Henry and Anna Behl).
In BELLEFONTE BOROUGH:
Augustus V., 51, merchant--7 N. Thomas Emma H. Harry A. 12 Blanche W. James A. 4 Charles, 45, clerk--123 E. Bishop Adeline B. Myrtle M. Millie F. Lulu M. Charles Sr. 77 George L., 36, carpenter--249 E. Bishop Ellen Lloyd 14 Verona Earl 9 Guy 6 Amelia Della Jacob P., 36, carpenter--13 E. Bishop Hannah Allison C. 16 William H. 14 Marton 12 Gilbert W. 10 Clarence 7 Alice Frank R. 3 Lizzie--10 S. Ridge Peter, wagonmaker--10 S. Ridge Mary Lillie M. Sarah E. Charles 11 Luther 9 Thomas 6 John 4 Mary Sarah E.--22 W. Bishop Alice Bessie Frederick 20 Christ 17 William 15 Daisy Senickson, 66, retired--135 W. Linn
In BENNER TOWNSHIP:
Ezra, 56, laborer--Bellefonte Julia A. George W., 26, laborer--Bellefonte Ada M. Rose E. Edgar H. 2 Margaret--Fillmore Philip F. B., 53, laborer--Bellefonte Mary E. Andrew J. 14 William W., 56, laborer--Bellefonte Caroline Catharine George W. 22 Jennie E.
In BOGGS TOWNSHIP:
John M., 68, laborer--Milesburg Mary Ann T.J.--Milesburg Carrie Mary Walter, 48--Milesburg Harry 16 John 14 Frank 12 Emma Estella Lena Maud Barbara
In BURNSIDE TOWNSHIP:
George W., 40, laborer--Pine Glenn Mary A. Howard P. 14 Ethel M. Ruth V.
In CENTRE HALL BOROUGH:
Daniel M., 27, laborer Ida M. Harry W. 2 Hannah M. Mary William J. 17
In FERGUSON TOWNSHIP:
Annie--Gatesburg Charles, 42, coachmaker--Pinegrove Mills Viola Ella B.--Pinegrove Mills Catharine Frank 18 Mary H. Lizzie O. Cora M. Edward E. 9 Verna F. Emma M.--Gatesburg Bessie F. James H. 7 Henry R., 65, retired--Pinegrove Mills Mary A. Ellen R. William H. 26 Sarah C. Lowell A. 21 James B., 36, agent--Pinegrove Mills Clara K. Maurice M. 11 Mabel I. George H. 5 Beulah R. Walter M., 24, mason--Guyer Phoebe A. Mary Martin 40 Maggie L.
In GREGG TOWNSHIP:
David D., 56, cooper--Spring Mills Malinda William H. 24 Mary C. Louisa Andrew D. 7 Elmer W. 4 Howard, 35, laborer--Farmers Mills Mary Luella Blanche E. Henry W. 7 Charles A. 6 Maurice H. 3 Mamie H. Isaac, 45, farmer--Farmers Mills Mary A. Edith S. Sarah C. Jemima Catharine Lydia A. John, 50--Spring Mills Rebecca Sarah John C. 13 Joseph, 64, wagonmaker--Penn Hall Wilmina Maggie Lloyd P., 22, lumberman--Spring Mills Nettie Charles D. 2 Robert J., 56--Farmers Mills Susan C. Mervin F. 7 Arthur C. 4 Susanna--Penn Hall Harvey 32 Kate J. Charles 4 Clara L. William H., 60, laborer--Spring Mills
In HAINES TOWNSHIP:
Charles, 55, farmer--Woodward Ellen William 20 Warren 16 William 47 Henry 13 Eugene 13 Chester A.--Woodward Boyd 2 Thomas, 29, carpenter--Fiedler Elmeda James 9 Harry 7 Clara
In HALF-MOON TOWNSHIP:
Chester A., 17--Loveville Franklin, 18--Stormstown
In HARRIS TOWNSHIP:
Charles C., 15--Boalsburg Samuel F., 31, blacksmith--Linden Hall Mary E. William H. 8 Elizabeth M. John S. 3 Samuel F. 1
In HOWARD BOROUGH:
B.F., 30, carpenter Emma E. C.F., 25, physician Sadie B. Julia Henry R., 39, teamster Charles A. 8 George B. 6 Lena Florence John W., 35, agent Ella B. Olive Melvin J. 8 Arthur W. 7 Matilda M. Mary S. P.J., 31, laborer Ellen E. Charles V. 8 Harrison L. 6 Lucinda William, 62, puddler Mary M. Edward 23 William M. 18
In HOWARD TOWNSHIP:
Jacob C., 73, farmer--Howard Hannah J. Mitchell 43 Clara William 14 Ada M. John J., 55, farmer, Mt. Eagle Sarah L. Franklin 16 Elizabeth B. Ellen J. Ida M. Josie S. Joseph E., 33, laborer--Howard Mary A. Kate J. Orlando 13 Bessie Annie Maggie
In LIBERTY TOWNSHIP:
Ella--Blanchard James A., 44, laborer--Blanchard Fannie Anna E. Frank P. 13 Samuel T. 6 Joseph, 45, laborer--Blanchard Susan A. Harvey 17 Mary P. Thomas, 71, laborer--Blanchard Anna Emma Allen T. 28 Thomas B., 37, laborer--Blanchard Elizabeth Minnie George B. 8 John J. 4 Ida C. Mary E.
In MILESBURG BOROUGH:
Alfred S., 44, blacksmith Anna M. Claudie W. 20 Alvin R. 12 Alfred F. 9 Lee R. 4 William H., 24, blacksmith Dora S.
In MILLHEIM BOROUGH:
James C., 37, hardware merchant Lydia M. Robert J. 13 Thomas E. 12 Esta M. Harry M. 9 Minerva Rosie Paul J. 1 Michael, 78, farmer Catharine
In PATTON TOWNSHIP:
William L., 39, farmer--Fillmore Clara A. Sarah G. William B. 12 Bell Z. Fannie O. Florence William 1
In PENN TOWNSHIP:
Elias E., 43, farmer--Penn Hall Mary James W., 25, carpenter--Coburn Irene C. John B., 66, blacksmith--Millheim Amelia William F., 40, farmer--Millheim Margaret Anna William H., 49, farmer--Millheim Reuben 48 William E. 21 Michael H. 16
In PHILIPSBURG BOROUGH:
Aaron, 55, general agent--Presquile St. Beulah Alta Edward F. 17 Frank F. 15 Harry E. 14 Laura G. William H. 9 Fred 3 Bridget--Pine St. Charles S., 21, butcher--Spruce St. David L., 40, laborer, 10th St. Sarah E. Earl M. 13 Virgie C. Victor L. 8 Flora--Pine St. Hiram, 34, laborer--Front St. Joseph, 31, miner--Spruce St. Mary Hardley W. 12 Thressa Cornelia John H. 5 Joseph 2 Mary J.--Front St. Sarah--3rd St. Thomas, 40, miner--Pine St. William, 38, cigar manufacturer--Spruce St.
In POTTER TOWNSHIP:
Adam, 59, farmer--Centre Hill Eliza Susan M. George W. 17 Jennie B. Amelia F. Lloyd R. Esther E. Calvin J., 19, clerk--Tusseyville Emmanuel, 39, merchant--Potters Mills Nettie Henry G. 7 Mary R. Luther E. 1 Hannah--Centre Hall Annie Jeanie James 12 Jacob, 50, farmer--Tusseyville Charolette John F. 25 John W., 29, tanner--Potters Mills Letitia Infant Laura W.--Centre Hall Michael, 37, mail carrier--Potters Mills Lena Anna M. Lloyd J. 3 Peter, 56, farmer--Centre Hill Julia A. Robert M., 24, farmer--Centre Hill Laura M. Helen R. Sylvester W., 27, farmer--Centre Hall Jennie L. Lyman L. 20
In RUSH TOWNSHIP:
Frederick F., 30--Philipsburg Bertha Charles C. 6 Clarence F. 3 Barbara S. Elizabeth Isaac, 34, miner--Osceola Mary Elizabeth Thomas M. 9 Margaret Mary John W. 2 Isaac, 50, laborer--Philipsburg Lucinda John H. 11 Robert L., 31, miner--Philipsburg Thomas, 34, laborer--Philipsburg Susan L. Ellsworth C. 7 Myrtle M. William, 23, laborer--Philipsburg
In SNOW SHOE TOWNSHIP:
Andy, 45, laborer--Peal Bridget A.--Snow Shoe Margaret C. Sarah F. Anna Lydia C. Joseph S., 43, justice peace--Snow Shoe Eliza Gertrude M. Carrie Lydia William J., 36, miner--Snow Shoe Julia I. Anna H. 7 John H. 5 Grace Annie E.
In SPRING TOWNSHIP:
Benjamin, 44, stonemason--Bellefonte Eliza James A. 10 Maggie J. Franklin V. 6 Harriet P.--Bellefonte Isabella--Bellefonte Philip M., 30, laborer--Bellefonte Mary C. Salome--Bellefonte Jennie E. Chestie S. Flora M.
In UNION TOWNSHIP:
Nora I.--Fleming
Phoebe--Fleming
William H., 64, carpenter--Fleming
Emily R.
In UNIONVILLE BOROUGH:
John C., 41, carpenter Julia C. Grace A. Kate M. Clara F. Pauline W. Sarah W. John W. 28 Alice E. Anna M. Myra J.