Tuesday, December 31, 2013

This Day in Bovina for December

Here are the daily Bovina history bits that were posted on the Bovina NY History Facebook page for December:

Ninety eight years ago on December 1, 1915, the Hilson Bros new feed store was dedicated "by a dance with 57 numbers." This is photo of the feed store taken in the late 1980s.


John William Storie, son of Alexander Storie and Esther Cowan was born 150 years ago on December 2, 1863.  He was the last child of Alexander and Esther Storie.  They had five children in total, but the two eldest died within a few days of each other in October 1862.  John would marry Jennie Laidlaw in 1890 and have two sons, William and George.  He died in 1944 when he was 80.

106 years ago on December 3, 1907, Miss Jennie Dickson died at the home of her nephew, Dr. G.J. Dickson, aged 79 years.  As later reported in the Andes Recorder, "She sustained a shock several weeks ago.  She was a dauter of Gilbert Dickson and was born in Scotland, but most of her life was spent on homestead farm above New Kingston."  The funeral and burial took place on December 5 in Bovina.

115 years ago on December 4, 1898, Duncan Campbell died.  His passing was reported a few days later in the Andes Recorder:  "While he has not been in the best of health for some time he was seen on our streets last Wednesday and was taken ill that night.  He was born in Scotland, December 24, 1817, and came to this country in 1820, when it took forty two days to come across the ocean.  In 1857 he was married and came to Bovina and farmed it for thirty five years, and in 1893 he moved to this village where has since lived.  The funeral was held Tuesday in the Reformed Presbyterian church the sermon being preached by Rev. T. Slater, and the interment made in the new cemetery.  He leaves a wife and seven children, two sons and five daughters."

Ninety five years ago on December 5, 1918, as later reported by the Oneonta Star, "Ralph Barnhart and sister, Mrs. Anna B. Calhoun, and G.D. Miller and wife, of Bovina Center, were in Oneonta ….The ride … in the early morning was not devoid of incidents, one of them being that their vehicle passed through snow drifts four feet deep on the Swart Hollow road between this city and the Ouleout valley."  Anna Calhoun was my grandmother and had just learned three weeks earlier that her husband had been killed in France in World War I.

Ninety five years ago, on December 6, 1918, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "A party was held at A.P. Lee’s.... Dancing was indulged in."

On December 7, 1914, ninety nine years ago, there was a fire at the Howard McPherson residence. Here's how the Andes Recorder reported it: "A small fire about midnight Monday night did about $15 damage in the residence of Howard McPherson, adjoining Elliott Thomson's blacksmith shop. During the evening the chimney had burned out but at 11:30 everything was apparently all right. Half an hour later Mrs. McPherson heard something fall and ongoing upstairs found the rooms filled with smoke. Mr. McPherson was not at home and she aroused the neighbors. The fire was in the partition and was put out by the use of several pails of water." This is now the Kim and Marcelo Riera residence.

Eighty five years ago on December 8, 1928, Mrs. John McCune fell while hurrying across the street to avoid an on-coming car and sustained a sprained ankle.  That same day, David LaFever, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benson LaFever, was born at the LaFever home, about a mile from Bovina Center.  David lived less than two years, dying in March 1930.

One hundred and twelve years ago on December 9, 1901, Spillman Riggs, lecturer, whistler, musical impersonator appeared at Strangeway's Hall.
The thermometer registered from 2 to 5 degrees below zero 113 years ago on December 10, 1900.

Ninety nine years ago on December 11, 1914, a horse owned by John Hilson and driven by James Hilson ran away while it was hitched to a cutter.  The horse took fright and ran from the street onto the flat below the creamery, causing some damage to the cutter.  Apparently James and the horse were not hurt.

Abigail Fuller was born 159 years ago on December 12, 1854.  The daughter of James Seacord and Esther Close, she married Thomas Fuller in 1878 and was widowed in 1913.  Abigail died 80 years ago on her 79th birthday December 12, 1933.

118 years ago, the December 13, 1895 issue of the Andes Recorder reported that "A club called 'Patrons of Industry' has been organized at Bovina, with Sloan Archibald, president and A.T. Russell, vice president.  It is proposed to establish a store at the Butt End and buy their supplies at wholesale, and thus dispense with the profits of the middlemen."  It is not clear how long the organization operated, though there are references in the Andes Recorder to about 1898 about the activities of the Patrons.

*Ninety years ago, the Andes Recorder in its December 14, 1923 issue reported that the " Bovina Dairymen have received notice that they must put in three ton of ice per cow.  Must want the milk made into ice cream."

Ninety nine years ago on December 15, 1914,  thermometers registered 2 above zero.  The following morning, the temperature was zero.

Eighty seven years ago on December 16, 1926 - M.T. Hastings sent this bill to Town of Bovina Highway department.

Ninety three years ago the illness of a child put off a golden wedding anniversary celebration.  The Andes Recorder reported that "Ralph, the 10 year old son of James Mabon was operated upon Friday, December 17, 1920, at Delhi for appendicitis.  Because of his illness, the celebration of his grandparents 50th anniversary (James and Ellen Mabon), scheduled for December 21, was postponed."

115 years ago this afternoon, December 18, 1898, Mrs. Charles F. Smith died at the age of 90.  The Andes Recorder, when reporting her death, noted that "Her maiden name was Christina Lamont and she came to this town over 40 years ago.  She was an excellent woman, a good neighbor; always cheerful and she will be missed in this community as well as in her home.  On Tuesday the funeral was held, the sermon being preached by Rev. Samson, and the interment was in the Bovina cemetery."

Eighty four years ago on December 19, 1929, Grace Edna Boggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Boggs, of upper Bovina, died, just five days shy of her fourth birthday.  The Andes Recorder Bovina correspondent reported that she died "as a result of cancer of the throat."  A growth was removed from her neck, "but this only caused the disease to develop more rapidly."  Grace was the sister of Anna Boggs Hobbie Lounsbury, Mary Boggs Bathen and Helen Boggs Tyrell.  Helen died a year ago, dying 83 years to the day after her sister.  Helen was only 14 months old at her sister's death. This picture, found in photographs my grandmother LaFever had, may include Grace.  The two older girls definitely are Anna (b 1922) and Mary (b 1924).  The youngest I think likely is Grace (b 1925) rather than Helen (b 1928), based on their relative ages.

Wallace Smith, Bovina's Supervisor-elect, died 70 years ago on December 20, 1943, at the Delhi hospital.  Smith had been elected Supervisor in November, to succeed Charles Lee, whom he defeated.  Smith was a Democrat and had served two previous terms as Supervisor.  He was 70 years old at the time of his death.  On January 6, 1944, the Bovina Town Board voted to appoint Charles Lee as Supervisor for one year to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Smith.  Lee went on to win election to the position in November 1944.

119 years ago, December 21, 1894, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "The scholars of the village school [gave] an entertainment, Friday evening, December 21, to raise money to purchase a clock."  The entertainment raised about $25.

Jane, the 15 month old daughter of Walter Coulter and Margaret Storie, died 184 years ago on December 22, 1829.  Out of the 12 children they would have, four would die before reaching adulthood - a fifth child, their eldest daughter, died six weeks after her marriage.

118 years ago on December 23, 1895, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Bovina had a case of Kidnapping on Monday evening. Archie VanBramer came to W.B. Thompson's to see his wife, a daughter of Mr. Thompson, and his child and had the child brought out to the wagon and then took it into the wagon and sent his wife to the house on some trivial excuse and in her absence drove away with the child. The child has not yet been recovered. It is thought that Van Bramer hopes to secure money for the return of the child." The Andes Recorder reported in its January 17, 1896 issue that Van Bramer brought the child back "of his own accord, after having caused the family lots of trouble and worry. If he has any shame about him he should be ashamed of his recent capers." I'm not sure which Thomson/Thompson this was, but there was a William B. Thomson (1843-1929) and he had a daughter Cora - but I have not confirmed this is the same person yet.

104 years ago on December 24, 1909, Bovina had a rather sad Christmas Eve day.  In the morning, the funeral of a daughter of Fred Bramley, Marian Jenette, was held and that afternoon, that of William G. McNee.  The Bramley child had died on December 21 at the age of about 7 months.  The next day, McNee collapsed as he was going to the outhouse and died on the spot.  He was 59 years old.

117 years ago on December 25, 1896, a "Christmas tree" was held at Strangeway's Hall.  As later reported in the Andes Recorder, it "was a success and well attended.  There were lots of presents for the children and some of the older folks were in luck.  Everyone enjoyed themselves apparently."

Ninety four years, the December 26, 1919 issue of the Andes Recorder reported that "In addition to the new highways to be constructed in Delaware County during 1920, the 2.34 miles of the Bovina Center state road will be re-constructed with concrete."  This likely refers to a section of what is now County Route 6.

116 years ago, on December 27, 1897, the thermometer registered sixteen degrees below zero at the Butt End.  This was the coldest so far that winter.

119 years ago in the December 28, 1894 issue of the Andes Recorder reported in the Bovina column that the "butter market is very dull. Many of our farmers have not yet sold and those who have cannot get the buyers to take the butter away."

114 years ago, in the December 29, 1899 issue of the Andes Recorder in the Bovina column, the following appeared:  "A new order just received from the State Department forbids the acceptance of any excuse from pupils except for sickness, and that only on the certificate of a physician.  Take warning."

A notice from the Andes Recorder, dated 146 years ago:  "Estray – Came to the premises of the subscriber, on our about the 16th of December, a Newfoundland dog.  The owner can have the same by proving property and paying charges. Jas. Coulter, Bovina Valley, Dec. 30, 1867." Bovina Valley is now the Lake Delaware area.  And no, I have not found out if anyone ever came forward to claim the dog.

147 years ago, on December 31, 1866, the Bovina UP Church session passed the following resolution: “Whereas Elder Wm Thomson has for the past 18 months failed to perform his duties as an elder and whereas Mr. Thomson has not given to Session any reason for this course, or formerly tendered his resignation of the office of Elder, and whereas it is desirable that there be a free interchange of views between Session and Mr. T. therefore Res That Mr. Wm Thomson be again cited to appear before Session to either tender his resignation or give excuse for his neglect of duty.  Res 2nd That in case Mr. Thomson refuse or neglect to appear at the next meeting of Session, his case be referred directly to the Presbytery for its actions and instruction.  Res 3 That a copy of the above resolution be given to Mr Thomson, with his citation to appear at the next meeting of Session on the 22nd of January 1867.”  Thomson ultimately resumed his duties.  His absence was due to a family squabble that is further documented in the Bovina NY History blog for May 5 and 17, 2011.  http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/05/brothers-in-law-part-i.html

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