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 ROYER. 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).

Four books in the Pennsylvania Room of the Centre County Library in Bellefonte deal at some length with the Royer family. They are Jay Gottwals Francis' Genealogical Records of the Royer Family in America: or More Especially Those of Sebastian Royer's Family; the same author's Selected Pages from the History of the Royer Family in America: Genealogical Records of the Royer Family in America: or More Especially Those of Sebastian Royer's Family; Aaron Gift's History of the Gift, Kern and Royer Families; and, Daniel Hester's History of the Royer Family: Genealogical Records of the Family from the Rheinland-Pfalz to America Especially Those of Georg Christoff Royer.

There are 25 different first-name entries for Royer in John Blair Linn's History of Centre and Clinton County (1883). In addition, there are many references to the these names in Beers' Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania (1898) with three of them (with an identifiable Centre County connection) having a separate profile: D.E. Royer (b. 1846. s/o Jefferson and Hannah Gramley); J.E. Royer (b. 1863, s/o Aaron and Mary B. Hertz); and, T.E. Royer (b. 1840, s/o Henry and Susan Wolfe).

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

In BELLEFONTE Borough:

William T., 23, printer--133 East Lamb
Bella Anna P.
Linnie M.

In FERGUSON Township:
Pinegrove Mills
Amos, 84, retired
Hannah J.
Elmer J. 18
Jennie A.

In MILES Township:
Madisonburg
Benjamin, 46, farmer
Ella B.
Ida
Elizabeth
Maggie
Kate P.
Jacob, 33, farmer
Alice I.
James S. 9 mos.
John F., 21, laborer
Rebersburg
Amanda
William 18
Clayton E. 15
John N. 13
Maggie I.
Kate R.
Allen C. 2
Cephas, 14
Daniel D., 42, farmer--
Sarah J.
Oscar N. 14
Eliza J.
Lizzie I.
Jefferson, 71, retired
Joel, 79, retired
John E., 27, laborer
Mary
Laura E.
Roland, 26
Annie Montessa
Helen F.
Thomas E., 49, farmer
Emma J.
Susan M.
Harry 16
Wolfs Store
Mary A.
Edwin L. 11
Kline H. 9
Almeda H.
Harry W., 49, farmer
Livonia
Lydia
Maggie
Lizzie E.
Henry G., 42, farmer
Bellefonte
Rebecca Isaac, 53, laborer

In MILLHEIM Borough:
Edward, 24, carpenter
Minnie A.
Elmira
Seymour 21
Aggie M.
Frank P. 12
Henry, 78, retired
Julian Franklin 45
Anna
John, 53, carpenter
Henrietta
Charles W. 28
William C. 20
Lotta L.
Lloyd J. 6

In PENN Township:
MillheimAnna R.
George, 45, farmer
Hannah F.
Samuel L. 12
John H. 10
Obea E. 8
Herman J.
Vernie S.
Minnie

In POTTER Township:
Tusseyville
Daniel E., 17, laborer
Frank B., 16
Amelia
Harvey E. 27
Eddie E.
Mary E.
John V. 14
Clyde 5 mos.
Jacob F., 42, farmer
Mary C.
John C. 11
Maggie J.
Elzie M.
John H., 32, farmer
Henry, 14
Centre Hill
Edith
Emma
Henry,54, farmer
Mary E.
Jacob 11
Susan R.
John 3
Ella F.
Jonas B., 53, farmer
Emma E.
Rhoda A.
Catharine
William L., 21, laborer
William W., 48, laborer
Sarah J.
Carrie M.

Potters Mills
Harvey R., 4
Mary J.
Elmer J. 22
Lettie J.
Sarah E.
Luther M. 13
Thomas F., 36, farmer

In SPRING Township:
Bellefonte
John B., 40, farmer
Mary J.
Susan J.
John 5
Samuel, 24, laborer
Susan

In WALKER Township:
Zion
John, 58, carpenter--
Louisa A.
William A. 30
Harvey 21
Ada E.

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