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 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.
The original book was in tiny print on newspaper stock. This 29-page edition of the Tompkins County section is printed one-sided on 60# bond, with the print enlarged. The spiral-bound booklet is on 8.5" x 11" paper with the cover protected with a vinyl sheet.
Communities mentioned in the book include: Brooktondale, Caroline, Cayuga Heights, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Etna, Freeville, Groton,
Ithaca (County Seat), Jacksonville, Lansing, Newfield, Slaterville Springs, Trumansburg and Ulysses.
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 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 Tompkins residents, this is a good place to start.
Wouldn't this make a unique gift? |
