DEAR ANCESTOR 

YOUR TOMBSTONE STANDS AMONG THE REST

NEGLECTED AND ALONE

THE NAME AND DATE HAVE WORN OFF

THE WEATHERED MARBLE STONE

IT REACHES OUT TO ALL WHO CARE.

IT'S NOW TOO LATE TO MOURN

YOU DID NOT KNOW THAT I'D EXIST

YOU DIED....AND I WAS BORN

YET EACH OF US ARE CELLS OF YOU

IN FLESH, IN BLOOD, IN BONE.

OUR HEARTS CONTRACT AND BEAT A PULSE

ENTIRELY NOT OUR OWN

DEAR ANCESTOR, THE PLACE YOU FILLED

SOME HUNDRED YEARS AGO

SPREADS OUT AMONG THE ONES YOU LEFT

WHO WOULD HAVE LOVED YOU SO

I WONDER HOW YOU LIVED AND LOVED.

I WONDER IF YOU KNEW

THAT SOMEDAY I WOULD FIND THIS PLACE

AND COME TO VISIT YOU

The USGenWeb project was created in 1996 to provide free genealogy information and access to the public on a national and local level. The original Tioga County site was created and cared for by Mr. Ernie Miles. Sadly, Mr. Miles passed away in August of 2020, leaving the Tioga County site orphaned.  Follow the link to see Mr. Miles' original work and a tribute to his contributions to the project.

It is the goal of this project to gather as many available photos, documents, records and  as much information as possible to provide a free, well organized, centralized data center for people researching their Tioga County family history.  A project of this size needs a huge amount of help to maximize its potential!  Everyone with an interest in Tioga County is encouraged to lend their talents to the mission and pay it forward.    

It is the hope that this site will develop into a standard that other county sites will look to for inspiration.  Each village in the county will have its own site dedicated to its people and history on the local level, and will need a coordinator to maintain its content and ensure the project continues growing and evolving.  If you are interested in becoming a township coordinator, contact us =) 

Ernest Nolan Miles

​November 26, 1931 – August 10, 2020