CENTRE LINES

The WATSON 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 WATSON. 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).

Two books in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte apparently deal with the Watson family. They are: Mildred Croft Smith's William F. Brownell, Anzinetta N. Watson Family, Past to 1980 and The Watson Heritage.

There are 37 different first-name entries for Watson 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' WATSON neighbors in 1890:

In BOGGS Township:

Charles, 34, laborer--Milesburg Green, 37, laborer--Milesburg Jennie M. William O. 5 Jane--Milesburg John, 81, retired--Milesburg Thomas 19 Lucinda John 13 Catharine A. Sarah J. Austin P. 5 Thomas 1 Joseph, 41, laborer--Milesburg Martha V. Rosanna Frank 12 Abbie M. Lizzie Edna Henry 2 Katie--Milesburg Margaret Mary A.--Milesburg Stanley 7 John 26 Julia May--Milesburg Rebecca--Milesburg Rosanna--Milesburg S. K., 49, farmer--Milesburg Mary E. John T. 21 Ellen J.

In BURNSIDE Township:

Elsie--Pine Glenn Preston 9 Johnson, 38, laborer--Pine Glenn Anna Orra E. Henry C. 7 Jessie M. Reuben 2 Nelson, 30, laborer--Pine Glenn Mary R. Theodore C. 13 Maud E. Homer F. 9 Miles R. 5 Willis D. 1 William T., 47, laborer--Pine Glenn

In MILESBURG Borough:

Charles D., 40, retired Sarah O. Milfred L. 18 Edward P. 16 Maggie A. Louisa B.

In PHILIPSBURG Borough:

Charles H., 26, miner Sarah E.

In RUSH Township:

Elmer, 29--Munson Station Hannah Mary Harry 7 Grace

In SNOW SHOE Township:

Andrew J., 54, laborer--Moshannon Catharine A. George W., 27, teamster--Snow Shoe Ellen S. Louis E. 5 Charles W. 4 Elmer E. 3 Lester L. 2 Oscar 3 mos Harris L., 35, laborer--Snow Shoe Abigail Annie Edward M. 11 Benjamin 5 Harry H., 31, laborer--Snow Shoe Annie E. Clayton J. 3 Norman C. Irvin C., 47, laborer--Snow Shoe Margaret E. Frank J. 24 Mandie E. Harris J. 17 Alida A. William G. 11 George B. 9 James, 53, farmer--Snow Shoe Sarah G. Franklin J. 27 Theodore, 22, laborer--Snow Shoe Anna M. James F., 17--Snow Shoe Clara E. Ida M. Mariette Orvis M. 5 Chester G. 3 Florence B. Mitchell A., 40, laborer--Snow Shoe Robert, 47, laborer--Snow Shoe Henrietta Charles H. 16 Thomas, 45, laborer--Snow Shoe Sarah E.

In UNION Township:

James O., 38, laborer--Milesburg Hannah J. William H. 14 Alice Lemuel W. 10 James H. 8 Howard M. 6 Nora M. Oscar 2 Lewis H., 58, laborer--Fleming Ellen J. Annie Thomas, 62, farmer--Fleming Hannah S. Cyrus J.