Tuesday, September 30, 2014

This Day in Bovina for September

129 years ago today, on September 1, 1885, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, "...a large crowd assembled on the farm of Robert Thompson to witness the trial of Andrew Johnson's new engine and thresher.  It worked to perfection and bid defiance to the wet sheaves of oats and rushed wildly on."

Deliah Sprague Bailey, wife of Jacob Bailey, died 134 years ago today on September 2, 1870 at the age of 60. She was the mother of six children. Her husband survived her by less than two months, dying October 28, 1870.

Ninety-five years ago today, on September 3, 1919, the former pastor of the Bovina Reformed Presbyterian Church, Rev. Thomas Graham, along with his wife, left Bovina for teir new home near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Andes Recorder reported that "their departure is much regretted."

Darius Adee, the son of Samuel Adee and Sarah Bloomer, died 169 years ago today, September 4, 1845. Born in Connecticut in 1793, he was married to Harriett Jewell. They would have 11 children. His youngest child, Mary, was just shy of the age of one at his death, the eldest, Samuel, was 25. His widow survived him for 36 years, dying in 1881 at the age of 84.

Katherine Mabel King was born 133 years ago today, September 5, 1881, in Andes, the daughter of John Gibson King and Catherine Cowan. In September 1916, she was married to her brother-in-law, Robert William Doig in Andes. He had first been married to her sister Isabelle Gibson King in 1896. They had four children before her death in 1914. Katherine and Robert would have one child, Robert, born in 1919 in Bovina. Katherine died in 1944, two years before her husband. She is buried with her husband and her sister in the Bovina Cemetery. Her name is on the back of the same monument to her husband and sister. [two images]
134 years ago today, on September 6, 1880, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, J.B. Hastings, T.H. Lee, James Black and W.P. Miller left home to attend Hamilton College…." James Blair Hastings (1860-1920) was the son of Thomas E. Hastings and Jane S. Blair. He eventually settled in Cape May, NJ, where he was the mayor. T.H. Lee likely was the son of Rev. James B. Lee and James Black probably was the son of Rev. John Black. I have yet to determine who W.P. Miller is.

168 years ago today, September 7, 1846, the will of Francis Coulter (1771-1846) was probated at Surrogates Court in Delhi. Coulter emigrated from Scotland in the late 18th century and settled on Coulter Brook Road.

129 years ago, on September 8, 1885, the Stamford Mirror reported that "James Coulter has a squad of men at work rebuilding the mill dam that was carried away by the high water last spring. Pretty late for the young boys to try their bathing suits."

112 years ago, on September 9, 1912, the trustees of the "D.J. Miller district" elected a new trustee, James Mabon. The report in the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder noted that "the only scholar in the district is being sent to the Center school. From 60 to 70 scholars went to school in the same district half a century ago, and even 30 years ago 25 attended." This is the school that was located at the intersection of Lee Hollow and Miller Avenue. The school managed to keep operating until 1944.

Ninety-seven years ago today, on September 10, 1917, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "the South Kortright Band gave a concert with a dance afterwards at the town hall…" This would be Strangeway's Hall.

130 years ago today, on September 11, 1884, the Stamford Mirror reported that "Quite a number of our citizens went to the Delhi fair today…" The paper also noted that "those who remained at home were favored with a fine view of the balloon as it passed over the town, north of Brushland about 4 p.m."

Ninety-five years ago today, the September 12, 1919 Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported that "the weeds and brush is being cut in the old cemetery above the Center." This probably is referring to the old Associate Presbyterian Church at Reinertsen Hill Road.

113 years ago today, the September 13, 1901 Andes Recorder reported on the attempt to make the new 'uptown' creamery in Bovina one that would operate only six days a week: "'Six days shalt thou labor and do all they work' to be exemplified by the new co-operative creamery company of Bovina (the upper one) a majority of the stockholders having signed an agreement to make the plant a six day creamery.  Bovina is noted for its strong Sabbath observance sentiment and practice, but such a rule as has been adopted at the 'Butt-end' creamery is the first on record so far as our knowledge goes, and is to be commended.  Of course some will sneer and wag their heads but these people believe that they can care for the Saturday night’s and Sunday morning’s milk to their own advantage at their homes on Monday, and they are going to risk it anyway may success attend them." Ultimately, they were unable to do this and operated seven days a week.

Eighty six years ago today, on September 14, 1928, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "The gross receipts of the hot dog roast … under auspices of the V.I.S. were $35."

Robert Biggar died 113 years ago today, on September 15, 1901. Born in Bovina in 1833, he was the son of Walter Biggar and Janet Cowan. He married Isabella J. Miller in 1865. They had no children. Isabella survived her husband by less than two years, dying in May 1903. His death was reported in the local papers: "Robert Biggar, an old resident of Coulter Brook, in the town of Bovina, died suddenly of heart disease Monday morning, aged about 70. He was apparently as well as usual on Sunday, and on Saturday was in Delhi. He was a man very highly respected. He leaves a wife."

The Bovina ball team hosted a game 103 years ago today, September 16, 1911, playing against Andes.  The Bovina team won 13 to 4.

101 years ago today, on September 17, 1913, Helen Dennis died at her home in Bovina Center. The Andes Recorder reported that "death was due to chronic myocarditis…" She had lived in Bovina all her life, the daughter of Thomas Dennis.

Eighty-eight years ago today, September 18, 1926, as later reported in the Arena column of the Stamford Mirror, "The young ladies of Arena crossed bats with the young ladies of Bovina….. Unfortunately Arena was defeated."

118 years ago today, on September 19, 1896, Lois Jane and Lloyd Boggs Ormiston were born, twins of Thomas J. Ormiston and Margaret E. Boggs. Lois married Fletcher Davidson in 1921 and would have seven children, of whom four made it to adulthood - Jane (1922-1955), Ed (born 1923), Alan (1925-2004), and Richard (born 1930). Lois died in 1976 at the age of 79. Lloyd never married and predeceased his sister, dying in Walton in 1971. Lois and Lloyd are both buried in Bovina.

103 years ago today, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Miss Belle Strangeway, daughter of Thos C. Strangeway of this town, and Frank J. Dickson, of Delhi, were married Wednesday evening, September 20, [1911] by Rev. A.M. Forrester at the First Presbyterian parsonage in Delhi." Margaret Bell Strangeway was born in Bovina in 1880. She and Frank would have four children, including Howard Dickson. Frank died in 1953. Belle would live past 90, dying in 1972.

Ninety-seven years ago, the September 21, 1917 issue of the Andes Recorder reported in its Bovina column the following: "Ed Seacord left a five gallon can of gasoline on the sidewalk in front of the hotel and when he returned a little later the can had disappeared.  When he came around to go home he found his can but the gasoline had been taken out and the can re-filled with water." The hotel mentioned was located across the street from the present day playground in the Bovina Center hamlet.

Ninety-eight years ago today, on September 22, 1916, the J.W. Coulter Hose company held a ball game, a chicken pie supper and an entertainment. The Andes Recorder encouraged people to "come and help the fire laddies." The paper later reported that the company netted $40 and that Bovina defeated Delhi 7 to 6 in the ball game.

151 years ago today, on September 23, 1863, Esther Lull was paid as a teacher in Bovina District Number 11 (Coulter Brook).  Here's the receipt for the payment. Esther was born in 1847, the daughter of William Lull and Martha M. Bell. She never married but was a teacher for some time, living with various siblings. In 1880 she was living in New Jersey with her brother Andrew. In the 1905 census she back in Bovina, living with her sister Mary Bramley but by 1910 was back in New Jersey, residing with her nephew Herbert Hoffman. In 1920 she was living with her sister Martha Hoffman in Camden, NJ.

Ninety-eight years ago today, on September 24, 1916, Mrs. John Elliott died. As later reported in the Andes Recorder, she had been in New York city the previous month for a cancer operation "but with no beneficial results." She was brought back to Bovina the evening before she died. She was born Ella Squires in New Kingston and was 55 years old. She was survived by four children - William (1883-1956), James (1888-1969), Hale (1890-1980), and Emily (1887-1966).

103 years ago day, on September 25, 1911, Miss Henrietta McPherson died at the home of Elmer Harrington near Dunraven. A native of Bovina, the Andes Recorder noted that "last spring she was injured by a fall and never fully recovered." The daughter of Alexander and Eliza McPherson, she was 87 (though the Recorder reported her age as 90). Her funeral was held in the Bovina Methodist Church, with burial in the Bovina Cemetery.

131 years ago today, on September 26, 1883, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, "A valuable horse, belonging to John Hilson, was found dead in the stable…."

Ninety-six years ago today, the September 27, 1918 Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported that "Cameron McNee of Iowa is visiting his nephew, John Aitkens. Mr. McNee was former resident of Bovina, but had lived in Iowa for 42 years. He was a cooper when in this town." Cameron appears to be John Cameron McNee. He settled in Hamilton County, Iowa and died sometime in the 1940s.

113 years ago today, on September 28, 1901, a ball game Saturday between the married men and single men took place in Bovina. As later reported in the Andes Recorder, "the married men were again victorious by a score of 6 to 2."

103 years ago today, on September 29, 1911, the Bovina UP Church received a letter from the Rev. W.J.B. Edgar, of Philadelphia. The congregation had "extended an informal call." The letter "informed the session that it would be useless to proceed further, as he would not accept a call."

Civil War Veteran John R. Hoy died 113 years ago today, on September 30, 1901. The son of James Hoy and Elizabeth Robertson Hoy, he married Isabella Wilson Miller in 1854. They had eight children, including David Fletcher Hoy (1863-1930), who was the registrar at Cornell University and created the Bovina Families genealogy files that I still use today in researching families in Bovina. Two of John's daughters, Mary Isabella and, after her death, Margaret Jane would marry Douglass Davidson. Margaret was the mother of Fletcher Davidson.

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