Bentz Family - 1885 - the move from Penn to Nebraska

 Our family names consist of BENTZ, HALL, HOLLINGSWORTH, HERSHEY for the Pennsylvania and Nebraska area.

As I am researching the family, it's interesting to see how they all move around together.  That's on my "to do list" to document the movement.  It's a slow process but fun!

Today I am highlighting the Andrew and Catherine Bentz family. They are my Great Great Grandparents on my mother's side.

Both Andrew and Catherine were born in Pennsylvania, then some time between 1880 and 1885, they moved to Saunders County in Nebraska in the Clear Creek Prescient.  Clear Creek is located close to Ashland Nebraska.

Map showing the distance of 1,135 miles from PA to NB

Wonder how they traveled? This time period is the transition between covered wagons, trains and automobiles. Research needs to be done for the timeline of each to figure out the option that most makes sense for this family to travel that distance.

My ultimate goal is to find the parents of both Andrew and Catherine. Records were not kept the farther in time you go like they are today. 

The first time I have them located in Nebraska is in the 1885 Census. Another area to research is the newspaper where an article may show up to pin point the timeframe even better. 

1885 Census – dated 3 June (pg-7) – Clear Creek, Saunders, Nebraska, USA

Andrew (37) is listed as head of household and a farmer, wife is Catherine (35), a housekeeper.

 Children listed: (all born in PA)

Joseph 15 - attended school

George 14 – attended school

Peter 13 - attended school

James 11 – attended school

Allen 10 – attended school

Carrie 8 – attended school

Eliza 6 – attended school (my Great Grandmother)

Gertie 5 – attended school

On page 8, I found Oscar Hall. Did the Hall family and the Bentz family know each other in Pennsylvania?

1890 Census – Most of the census' for this year burned. 

Further research needs to be done

1900 Census – dated 4 June (pg-3) – Clear Creek, Saunders, Nebraska, USA

Head of household is Andrew (53) with wife Catherine (49). Farmer as his occupation, owning his land free and clear.  His birth date is July 1847 and hers is June 1850. By this time, all the Children have left home except James.

Their son, James O. (25) is living with them, along with his wife, Anna (24) and two children (Hazel, 2, Dolly, 3 months). James is listed as a student.

On one side of them is living William (23) and Eliza (22) Hollingsworth with two children. Eliza is Andrew and Catherine’s daughter. William is a Farmer, owning his land (mortgage)

On the other side of them is living Thomas (23) and Carrie (23) Colbert. Carrie is Andrew and Catherine’s daughter. Thomas is a Farmer, owning his land free and clear.

On the next page of the census (page 4) shows Joseph (30) and Mary (28) Bentz. Allen Bentz (Joseph’s brother) is living with them. Joseph is a Farmer and the son of Andrew and Catherine Bentz.

Next door to Joseph is Clem and Gertie Cooper. Gertie is Andrew and Catherine’s daughter.

The HALL Family is Eliza’s in-laws.

Page 6 shows Oscar Hall (23) and wife Harriett.

Page 1 shows Patrick and Cecelia Hall.

Research the land. Maybe Andrew sold part of his land to his daughters, Eliza, and Carrie? And James will own the land where Andrew is currently living?

Where did the rest of the children move to?

As you can see, there is much more that needs to be research in order to fully tell their story.