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 27-page edition of the Tioga County, New York, 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: Apalachin, Barton, Berkshire, Candor, Lockwood, Newark Valley, Nichols, Owego (County Seat), Richford, Smithboro, Spencer, Tioga, Tioga Center, and Waverly.
The information, probably gleaned from the pages of 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 townships and borough, 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 Tioga NY residents, this is a good place to start.
Wouldn't this make a unique gift? |
