Tuesday, May 31, 2016

This day in Bovina for May 2016

115 years ago today, on May 1, 1901, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder, "Dr. J.D. Frisbee, of Andes, was in this place doing dental work.  He expects to visit this place every two weeks."

105 years ago today, on May 2, 1911, as later reported in the Andes Recorder Bovina column, a son was "born to Mr. and Mrs. A. Thomas Archibald, Mountain Brook…" This son was Marvin Archibald. Marv married Eleanor Burns in 1942 and would pass away in 1987.

140 years ago today, the May 3, 1876 Delaware Gazette reported that the "active measures adopted by the Stamford Telegraph Co., had the effect of entirely destroying the hope of raising sufficient funds to complete the proposed line from Delhi to Margaretville….Margaretville reported on $60.00 subscribed; Delhi nothing; Andes $1,200. Under the circumstances it has been considered best to abandon the project of building a through line, and to set about providing ourselves with the excellent communication which a line to Delhi will afford. We are pleased to announce that Delhi is subscribing liberally to the project, and also Bovina promises aid. Andes will raise the required balance, and we think the 1st of June will place us in telegraphic communication with all our sister towns and the world in general. If the people of Bovina will subscribe a sufficient amount to warrant it, a loop will be made, and an office located at Brushland."

Eighty years ago today, on May 4, 1926, two Bovina farms hosted woodchuck killing demonstrations held by the Farm Bureau. One at 10 am at the farm of James Boggs, the other at the W.J. Storie farm. The Catskill Mountain News, in reporting these under the headline "Woodchucks are Facing Death" noted that the demonstrations showed "how woodchuck dens are treated with calcium cyanide…" Farmers were being encouraged to use these "effective methods of ridding farms of the destructive animals."

254 years ago today, on May 5, 1762, Nathan H. Hilton was born in Connecticut. He was married around 1780 to Mary Pierce. Around 1795, they settled in Bovina. Nathan and Mary had eight children. She died in 1836 and Nathan the following year in 1837.

144 years ago today, on May 6, 1872, the Bovina Board of Excise met to review applications for licenses to sell liquor. No applications were presented. It likely is at this point that Bovina became a 'dry town' and would stay so until after the end of Prohibition.

127 years ago today, the Stamford Mirror for May 7, 1889 reported that "Word has been received that Wilson and Maggie Atkins, of Bovina, reached their journeys' end in due time. The latter is at J.L. Ormiston's, Raymore, Mo., and Wilson is at his sister's, in Jetmore, Kansas." Wilson and Maggie were the children of Isaac Atkin and Nancy Blair. Wilson was born in 1851, his sister in 1849.

133 years ago today, the Stamford Mirror for May 8, 1883 reported that "Gilbert D. Miller has purchase the Halstead place at Bovina Valley, for $1,650, and will go to work thereon at once."

Seventy-six years ago today, the Bovina column of the May 9, 1940 Delaware Republican reported that "Mrs. Addie Cowan was taken seriously ill last week Tuesday but is much improved at present writing." Addie Cowan was born Adalaid Coulter in 1870. She was married to Frank Russell. After his death in 1910 she was married to Thomas Cowan. She survived this illness and died in 1951.

Sixty-seven years ago today, in a notice dated May 10, 1949 in the Catskill Mountain News, it was reported that "Those who are driving new cars the past week are James Hilson with a Cadillac convertible, Martin Rabeler a Mercury sedan, Frances Schabloski a Ford sedan."

136 years ago today, the May 11, 1880 Stamford Mirror reported that "R.R. Gladstone caught two dogs chasing his sheep a few days ago, but was unable to stop them until three lambs had been killed."

Sixty two years ago today, on May 12, 1954, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "Mrs. Fred Thomson held a brush party at her home…"

Sixty-seven years ago today, the Bovina column of the Catskill Mountain News for May 13, 1949 reported that "Miss Jennie Hastings is spending some time at the home of her brother, Milton Hastings, and assisting Lillie Happy with her work while she is recovering from her recent illness."

118 years ago today, on May 14, 1898, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, " Woodburn & Smyth set up a monument... in the cemetery for Mrs. Muller, in memory of her late husband." Here's a photograph of the monument. 


134 years ago, on May 15, 1882, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "Snow was reported to be over an inch deep on Bramley hill, Bovina…"

Fifty-three years ago today, the May 16, 1963 Delaware Republican-Express reported in its Bovina column that "Volunteers and carpenters will begin this week in remodeling the church basement."

Sixty-seven years ago today, it was reported in the Catskill Mountain News in an item dated May 17, 1949 that "We had several hard frosts in town last week. They did considerable damage to tender growths. It is hope this is the last for the season."

Seventy-seven years ago today, the May 18, 1939 Delaware Republican reported in its Bovina column that "Edward Snyder is to teach in the Herbert Huggin's district next year." Snyder actually was Edward Schneider. He later was the last teacher at the Maynard district on Bovina road and as of this writing, is still with us at 102. The Huggins district was Bovina District 5, located at Lee Hollow and Miller Avenue.

105 years ago, the May 19, 1911 Andes Recorder Bovina column reported that "William T. Miller has sold 12 milch cows to Alex Liddle, the Andes speculator."

Fifty-one years ago today, the Bovina column of the May 20, 1965 Delaware Republican-Express had the following notice: "The auxiliary of the Bovina Fire Department request that ladies having old sheets or pillow cases no longer usable please donate the same to use as cancer dressings. Please leave at the home of Mrs. Florence Thomas or at the Firemen's Hall soon."

Ninety-four years ago today, on May 21, 1922, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Triplets were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Davidson ....  All were girls and two of them have since died." The surviving girl was Jane Davidson. She survived to adulthood but died in December 1955.

Eighty-seven years ago today, the Bovina column of the May 22, 1929 Delaware Republican reported that "the post office inspector has recommended a change of mail route for Bovina. I am sure everyone will be glad."

Seventy-six years ago today, the May 23, 1940 issue of the Delaware Republican had in its Bovina column this item: "Mrs. Ralph Barnhart remains in a serious condition at present writing." Mrs. Barnhart was born Anna Irene Ruland and married Ralph Barnhart in 1921. They had one son, Donald. Anna was suffering from breast cancer and would pass away the following March in her home in Bovina. She was 40 years old.

134 years ago today, the May 24, 1882 Delaware Gazette issue included the following: "We regret to learn that David Black, Supervisor of Bovina, is not so well, in fact that his friends are very anxious and consider his condition critical." He would survive for a little less than a year, dying in April 1883.

143 years ago today, on May 25, 1873, Sarah Eliza Seacord died. Born in 1842, she was the daughter of Alexander Dean and Phoebe Ann Bramley. Married in 1862 to William Seacord, she had two children before her death at the age of 30. She's buried in the Bovina cemetery.

Sixty-three years ago today, on May 26, 1953, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, the young son of Howard and Theresa Conklin, Marty, "was burned on both arms and hands when he fell into a pail of water at his home last week Tuesday. He was rushed to Margaretville hospital where he remained overnight for treatment."

Fifty-two years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 27, 1965 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "James Hoy of Bainbridge has been transferred from the Bainbridge branch of the National Bank and Trust Company of Norwich to the Grand Gorge branch as branch manager. He will move there this week." Jim was the son of James and Margaret Hoy and grew up in Bovina.

Sixty-four years ago today, on May 28, 1952, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "Around 15 of the Bovina firemen attended the Elk's celebration at Oneonta Wednesday evening and took part in the parade with 16 other companies."

111 years ago today, on May 29, 1905, Mina Cook submitted this bill for $100 for her services as a teacher at Bovina District number 1 (the Maynard school). 


123 years ago today, on May 30, 1893, Bina Liddle died. Born in 1819, she was the daughter of Henry McDonald and Margaret Donald. She married Alexander Liddle and would have eight children. Bina was widowed in 1884.

140 years ago today, the May 31, 1876 Delaware Gazette reported that "Mr. Alexander Kinmouth, of Bovina, thinks a great deal of his Ayershire cow, which gives 48 lbs of milk a day. He makes 18 lbs of butter a week after using all the milk he wants for the family."

Sunday, May 22, 2016

The 1884 Diary of David Fletcher Hoy - May/June

Here are the May and June entries in the 1884 diary of David Fletcher Hoy. Hoy was living in Bovina in 1884. The diary was transcribed by his great grandson, John W. Hoy. Thank you to John and to his dad, David F. Hoy III for allowing me to share this diary.

May 1884

Thursday 1.
I am at P. S. Doig to day
We worked on sleepers & Girts
Played dominoes

Friday 2.               
I am at P.S. Doig to day
Father went down to Walton and intends to go up on the train to morrow
Mr & Mrs. Hodge was here

Saturday 3.
I am at P. S. Doig to day working on timber and rafters

Sunday 4.              
I went to church to day
I got my dinner at H C Munn [Hugh C. Munn, b. 1842]

Monday 5.
I worked to day at the braces and girts.

Tuesday 6.            
We finished cutting the braces and went a fishing.

Wednesday 7.
We worked in the after noon to day
Henry M. Coulter went away to day

Thursday 8.         .
Dave & I came home to day
Tom Clark went as far as John Brices [relates to fencing?]
I was up to the store at night

May 9.
I helped father to make the fence to day
I was up and got a pair of slippers at night

Saturday 10.       
I worked in the barn to day.
It rained most all day
I went down to Dougs. & to Geo Davidson at night
Jennie is home

Sunday 11.
I went to church to day and to prayer meeting at night.

Monday 12.         
Father & I came down to Delhi with E. E. Hastings and then walked to rest of the way to Pat Doigs.

Tuesday 13.
I worked at P Doig to day
Tom and I went over to a social at H Munns and had a good time

Wednesday 14.   1884.
I worked at P Doigs to day
Tom got back from the social at 12oc to day

Thursday 15.
I am at P S Doigs to day

Friday 16.
I am at Doig's to day

Saturday 17.
I am at Doigs We raised to day there was 50 men here

Sunday 18. 1884.
Father & Dave went home
Tom & I went to Walton to church and got home at 4 oc

Monday 19.
We finished raising today Dave came back in the morning

Tuesday 20.         
We put on some enclosing boards and trimed [sic] up the frame to day

Wednesday 21.
We put on some enclosing boards to day
Tom & I went over to Andrew Arbuckles at night

Thursday 22.      
I am at P. S. Doig's today

Friday 23.
I am at P. S. Doigs to day
We all went over to a raising at Ed Kill-patricks [?] this after-noon
Tom & I went down to Scotts at night

Saturday 24.       1884.
I am at Doigs to day
I went over to Jim Davidson's to night

Sunday 25.
I am at J. Davidsons to day Went down to church at [N Andes?]
Came over to Doigs at night

Monday 26.          
I am at Doigs to day
John & Will & Miss Libbie & Susie Hodge [?] P. Sanderson, & Sicely & Arbuckle was here to night

Tuesday, 27.
I am at Doig's
Pa come down to day

Wednesday 28.   
I am at Doigs

Thursday 29.
I am at Doigs
It is very cold

Friday 30.             
I am at Doigs to day
It snowed to day and is very cold

Saturday 31.
I am at Doigs
Came down to Walton and stayed all night at William Wakefields

June 1884

Sunday 1.              
Went to church at Walton to day and went up to Doigs at night

Monday 2.
I am at Doigs
Will Simms was over at night

Tuesday 3.            
I am at Doigs

Wednesday 4.
I am at Doigs

June, Thursday 5.         
I am at Doigs.

Friday 6.
I am at Doigs
Was over to Hodges at night.

Saturday 7.         
Dave Tom & I came up to Bovina to day
I was down to Doug at night
Mrs Elliott is here

Sunday 8.
I am at home
This is communion sabbath to day

Monday 9.             
I started at 1 o clock and got there at 6 1/2 " [o'clock]
Tom & Dave came down in the forenoon

Tuesday 10
I am at Doig to day

Wednesday 11.   .
I am at Jim Davidson's raising to day
We got up the frame

Thursday 12.
Jim Davidson brought me to Doigs this morning

Friday 13.             
I am at Doigs
We finished work to day
G. Scott & Jim & G. Sanderson was up at night

Saturday 14.
I am at Doigs this morning and Pat brought us up home
I went to Chas/ See's [?] raising to day

Sunday 15.           
I did not go to church to day but I went at night

Monday 16.
We are over to R J Forrest taken down ther [sic] barn

Tuesday 17.         
We got the bents all down today
Will Wight & John Raitt and D George helped us

Wednesday 18.
I am at Forrest to day working on the basement.

Thursday 19.      
I am at Forrest to day
I went over home at night.

Friday 20.
I went from home to Forrest to day

Saturday 21.       
I am at Forrest to day
I came home at night

Sunday 22.      
I went to the M. E. and R. P. churches to day
I came down with Doug at night

Monday 23.      
We raised the barn at Forrests to day
We went over to the Lake at night

Tuesday 24.
We worked to day

Wednesday 25.   
Tom & I enclosed the barn to day
Dave was over to James Gills

Thursday 26.
We was working on the barn to day
We went down to John Biggars at night

Friday 27.             
We worked on the bridge to day
I was over to the Lake at night

Saturday 28.
We are at Forrest today
Pa is here

Sunday 29.           
I went to church to day
Mr Hawk preached to day

Monday 30.
I am at Forrest

We played dominoes at night

Sunday, May 15, 2016

May 1916 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"


Here's what was happening in Bovina 100 years ago this month. Mrs. Leonard Sloan, who had lost her mother only last month, would lose her husband in May. The month of May also saw four automobiles purchased by Bovina residents.

May 5, 1916
Chauncey McFarland has purchased a Reo touring car.
John W. Blair was in New York the past week with stock.
Mrs. John Irvine, who has been seriously ill from blood poisoning, is now improving.
Rev. Geo O. Wilsey, the joint pastor of the Andes and Bovina M.E. congregations, was here Wednesday calling on his parishioners.
The engine and crusher of Wm H. Maynard were moved to C.A. McPherson’s this week and the work of crushing stone for the concrete foundation of his new barn is in progress.
The singing class gave a pleasing entertainment a the hall Friday evening.  The proceeds were presented to Rev. Thomas Graham, who has been the instructor during the winter.

Cleaned Up $800
Howard hall who recently bought Frank Graham’s dairy at $50 per head sold them at auction Tuesday and cleaned up $800 on the deal.

Bovina Farm Rented
Robert Liddle, of Andes, Rents Mabon Farm-Sub-Lets to Geo McNair
Robert Liddle has leased what is known as the Thomas Mabon farm in the town of Bovina for three years.  He has rented the farm to Geo McNair who moved to it this week from Andes. The farm was purchased a few years ago by Margaretville parties who built a lake on the property, which they called Lake Makiken, and stocked it with trout.

May 12, 1916
Alex Myers is painting Hilson Bros feed store.
Robert Tweedie has sold his farm in upper Bovina ot W.H. Taft, of Vermont.  The farm is known as the Jas B. Thomson place.
W.J. Howland of Andes was here Tuesday and Wednesday surveying for Walter McDivitt, who has sold a timber lot on Coulter Brook, to Thos H. Johnson.
Thomas Gordon is having improvements made to his residence – raising it up and making it two story, etc.  Nelson Reynolds and J.W. Archibald are doing the work.
George Wiltsie, who for several years has been fireman at the Dry Milk plant, will move to South Edmeston, where he has secured a position as night watchman in a creamery.  They will move into the house of his brother-in-law, whose wife has just died.
The remains of Mrs. Jennie Campbell Lee, the first wife of Rev. James B. Lee, were brought here Wednesday from Franklinville, where she died a number of years ago, and interred in the Center cemetery.  The youngest son, Rev. John H. Lee, accompanied the remains.
Work was received here last Wednesday of the death of Mrs. Wilson Scott in California, where she went two years ago.  She was born in Bovina about 54 years ago and was a dauter of John G. Russell. She leaves a son, Herman Scott, in Alberta, and two dauters in California.  Burial was in California.

Native of Bovina Pneumonia Victim
Leonard Sloan passed Away May 10, After Brief Illness
Leonard Sloan died at his home in New York City on Tuesday, May 10, following a brief illness from pneumonia and pleurisy.  Mr. Sloan was a son of David Sloan and was born in Bovina 42 years ago. Twenty years ago he married Bessie Northrup, who with two dauters survive him.  He had been in the employ of the Sheffield Farms, Slawson-Decker Company for about 17 years, first as manager of the Bloomville plant and later of the plant at Grand Gorge.  When the large plant in the Bronx, New York City, was completed two years ago, so high did he stand in the estimation of the company, that he was sent there as superintendent and held the position at the time of his death.  The remains will be brought to Bovina on Thursday and the funeral held Friday.

May 19, 1916
John Burns in upper Bovina, has purchased a Reo automobile.
Robert l. Gerry and family arrived Thursday at their summer home in southern Bovina.
D.C. Worden has purchased a Willys-Knight automobile thru the agency of W.T. Hyzer.
Miss Jane Hilson and Miss Kathryn Reynolds have been re-engaged as teachers in the Center school.
The John R. Hoy house, which was damaged sometime ago by a tree being blown onto it, has been repaired.
Harry Robson has taken the place of Geo Wiltsie as fireman at the Dry Milk plant.  Robert Hunt has taken Robson’s place.
Robert Tweedie, who recently sold his farm up-town, is storing his house hold goods in the Strangeway store until he finds another place.
The funeral of Leonard Sloan, who died in New York, May 9, was held on Friday at the home of his brother-in-law, Gideon Miller, and was largely attended.  Rev. J.A. Mahaffey officiated and interment was made in the Center cemetery.

May 26, 1916
Alva Shultis, who moved to Margaretville last fall, has returned to Bovina.
Thirty evergreen trees have been set out about the reservoir of the Bovina Center Water Company on Coulter Brook.
The team of Geo R. McNair, on the Thos Mabon farm, ran away a few days ago and piled up at the Hook bridge, but fortunately were not injured.
A.T. Doig has sold eight cylinder, seven passenger Cadillac automobiles to James E. Hastings of this place, and David Ballantine, of Andes.
Among Bovina people at Delhi on Wednesday were, A.T. Doig, John W. Blair, William Crosier and wife, Miss Bell Miller, J.T. Barnhart, wife and two dauters [one of those daughters would be my grandmother, Anna Bell].
John B. Lee, on the John F. Graham farm, has purchased an Overland car from W.T. hyzer, of Andes.  Friday Mr. and Mrs. Lee and his brother, Chas A. Lee and wife, expect to leave for an auto trip to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where the only dauter of the last named resides.
At a meeting on Friday evening the Fire Department voted to accept the invitation to attend the celebration at Andes on July 4th.  Rev. Graham and Thos Gordon were named as a committee to go to Walton and examine second hand uniforms there and report at a meeting Wednesday evening.  At that meeting the Department voted to have the uniforms sent up and see if they would fit.

Friday, May 6, 2016

Coulter and Gladstone, Builders

James Leiper Coulter was born April 11, 1862, the son of Andrew T. Coulter and Eliza McDonald. He had two sisters (Elizabeth and Lillian) and a brother Henry. His father died of TB on New Year’s day, 1867. His mother remarried 11 years later to William Richardson. James married Hattie A. Gladstone in 1886 in Shavertown, NY. They had two sons, Harry (born 1888) and Andrew (born 1890), both born in Bovina.

James followed in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, Henry McDonald and became a carpenter. He was noted for building several Victorian houses in Bovina. One of the first houses documented to have been built by him was one he built for William Thompson in 1888, now owned by Brian and Marcia Olenych. Around 1890, he went into partnership with George Gladstone. George was born December 2, 1862 in Andes, the son of John E. Gladstone and Augusta Drummond. He married Sarah Sloan in Bovina in 1889. They had three sons, all born in Bovina, John and David, and an infant son who died about six weeks old. George was known as E. George Gladstone while he was in Bovina. George's sister was Hattie Gladstone Coulter, so James was his brother-in-law.

One of the first houses they built together was one built for the Presbyterian minister, Mason Pressley, in 1890. It is now owned by John and Margaret Hilson. As partners, James and George had their biggest impact on Bovina Center’s newest street, Maple Avenue (then known as New Street). They built most, if not all of the Victorian style houses on that street.

This picture of what is now Maple Avenue likely dates from around 1900.

They started with what is now the Bovina U.P. Church manse, building it for James himself in the summer and fall of 1893. This house sold to the church for use as a manse in 1914 and serves as such today. Almost simultaneously, the house next door was built for Peter and Elizabeth McNair and ready in the Spring of 1894. It is not clear whether Coulter and Gladstone built this house. All the newspaper accounts about the building of the McNair house make no mention of Coulter and Gladstone, and the papers usually did mention the builder. This is now the Steve and Maureen Roberts home. Around the time the McNairs were moving into their new house, George Gladstone decided to build a house on the new street too. The house was built in about two to three months and occupied by June 1894. This house was later the home of Marvin and Eleanor Archibald. In the summer of 1894, yet another house went up on the street, across from the others. Built for Elmer Hastings, construction was completed in the late fall of 1894. This is now the home of Colleen and Ken Heavey. In 1899, yet another Victorian house went up on the New Street, built for John McCune. As with the Peter McNair house, it is not clear whether or not Coulter and Gladstone built it, though it seems quite possible. This is now the home of Stephen and Glenna MacGrotty. 

It seems that the last project the brothers-in-law did together was the addition to A.T. Doig’s store, now Russell’s Store. By 1903, George was running a hotel in Bovina while James still was building. That year James had built the last Victorian house on Maple Avenue, now owned by Norma and Tony Gabriel. Coulter also did work on several buildings on the Gerry Estate. In 1906, he moved his family to Margaretville, partly so his sons could go to the high school there and partly because he had a contract to build a new Margaretville school. Coulter’s move from Bovina left the Bovina U.P. Church in a quandary. For several years, Coulter had been the choir director and an organ was not necessary – it was left to Coulter to “start the tunes.” His departure led the church to take steps to get an organ.

In 1907, Gladstone gave up the hotel business and worked in A.T. Doig’s store as a clerk. In November 1909, he and brother-in-law, William J. Doig and their families made a decision to move to Colorado. They both settled in Crested Butte and were there the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, Coulter continued building and remodeling houses and also got the contract to build the lake on the Mabon Farm – this is now Silver or Coles Lake. He got a big contract in the spring of 1910 to build the new Presbyterian Church in Walton, but it is not clear whether or not he ultimately carried it out. Work was to start in 1911, but in the fall of 1910, James and his family moved to New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh. This is where he settled the rest of his life, though they did make frequent visits to Bovina, where they visited, among other people, the Cecil Russell family. Though not related by blood, they were related by marriage. James mother, Eliza, after the death of her first husband, married William Richardson, Isabell Russell’s grandfather. Cards that James and Hattie sent to Marjorie were always signed Aunt Hattie and Uncle Jim.

E. George Gladstone worked in coal mining in Colorado, though probably did more carpentry work than actually digging of coal. He is believed to have built many of the houses in the town of Farr, probably built for workers by the mining company. Known in Bovina as E. George Gladstone (and sometimes as Elliott) by 1920, he was going by Elmer G. Gladstone. He died in Colorado on January 2, 1928. His death was reported in the Catskill Mountain News, noting that “he was by trade a carpenter.” He was survived by his wife, two sons, two brothers and two sisters, including Mrs. James Coulter.

James worked as a bank teller and assistant cashier for many years. In the 1940 census, when he was 78, he was still working as a teller. James died in August 1949 and is buried in New Wilmington. Hattie died two years later in 1951.