STEUBEN COUNTY

NEW YORK

USA

New Excerpt from Rare 1885 Book

In 1885 the Gazette Company of Elmira New York published a local history book as a premium for the subscribers of the Weekly Gazette and Free Press. This extremely rare book, An Outline History of Tioga and Bradford Counties in Pennsylvania, Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins and Schuyler in New York, is as meaty as its title. We've broken it into booklets for the benefit of those seeking genealogical clues or historic data on the various counties. Each booklet can be found from time to time on eBay.

The original book was in tiny print on newspaper stock. This 51-page edition of the Steuben County New York section section is printed one-sided on 60# bond. We've enlarged the print somewhat, although it's still fairly small. There were a few smudges and light spots in the original booklet that we couldn't clear up, however they do not effect readability. The spiral-bound booklet is on 8.5" x 11" paper with the cover protected with a vinyl sheet.

Communities mentioned in the booklet include: Addison Township and village, Avoca Twp, Bath (county seat), Bradford Twp, Canisteo Twp (formerly known as Williamsburgh) and village, Cameron Twp and village, Campbell Twp, Caton Twp, Cohocton Twp, Corning Twp and village, Dansville Twp, Erwin Twp, Painted Post village, Fremont Twp, Greenwood Twnship, Hartsville Township, Hornsby Township, Hornellsville Township, Howard Twp, Jasper Twp, Lindley Twp (formerly Lindsley), Prattsburg Twp, Pultney Twp and village, Rathbone Twp, Thurston Twp, Troupsburg Twp, Tuscarora Twp, Urbana Twp and Hammondsport village, Wayland Twp, Wayne Twp (formerly Frederickstown), West Union, Wheeler Twp and Woodhull Twp and village.

The information, probably gleaned from old newspaper files, includes hundreds of names -- for as journalists know, names sell newspapers! While many county histories list the names of county officials, this booklet has separate histories for each township, with the names of local officials and early settlers, and the founders or first officers of many local groups. There are also lots of dates to settle all those arguments about which came first: the tavern or the schoolhouse, etc.

There are no biographies and details are limited, but if you're searching for names of early Steuben County residents, this is a good place to start.

Wouldn't this make a unique gift?