CENTRE LINES

The Swartz 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 Swartz. 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 deal with the Swartz family. It is: Clifford L. Stere's Families: Spotts-Way-Swartz-Davidson (1985).

There are 29 different first-name entries for Swartz 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' SWARTZ neighbors in 1890:

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

George M., 65, insurance--Fountain House

In BOGGS Township:

Elmer A., 23, laborer--Milesburg Neruda Harry C. 2 John, 48, farmer--Milesburg Ella John W. 9 Hannah E. Rhoda B. Clinton E. 2

In HOWARD Towsnhip:

P. B., 36, carpenter--Howard Mary E. Harry 11 Mettie Bessie Blanche

In LIBERTY Township:

Jacob B., 31, laborer--Beech Creek Amanda E. Nancy J. Adeline B. Maggie E. George E. 12 Minnie Flora R. Lizzie M. Frank 3 Joseph C., 50,laborer--Beech Creek Sarah E. Marian

In PENN Township:

Elmer, 19--Millheim Emanuel, 49, farmer--Millheim Caroline John F. 14 Michael H. 13 Katie Emma J. Henry M., 53, farmer--Millheim Susan William H. 20 Kate George E. 11

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Henry, 51, RR Watchman--Front St. Ellen John R. 21 Bessie S. John G., 58, laborer--3rd St. Martha J. Matilda H.

In POTTER Township:

Samuel M., 56, postmaster--Tusseyville Mary J. Ada J. Charles W. 21 Thomas S. 14 Susan E.--Tusseyville

In RUSH Township:

Benjamin, 36, laborer--Philipsburg Mollie E. Hubert 2 Myrtle Ida Frank 9 May

In SPRING Township:

Andrew J., 51, farmer--Pleasant Gap Phoebe R. Mary S. Maggie S. Della M.--Zion Elmer E., 28, farmer--Pleasant Gap Mary E. Edith B. Gertie Harry 3 mos.

In UNION Township:

Edward B., 19, farmer--Fleming

In WALKER Township:

Christ, 56, farmer--Hublersburg Susan George, 64, agent--Hublersburg Julia John A., 63, retired--Hublersburg Amelia A. Leslie G., 30, farmer--Hublersburg Mary R. Guy E. 8 Clyde G. 4 Lincoln E., 22, farmer--Hublersburg Mabel C. Benjamin F. 5 mos.