February 1925 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

One hundred years ago this month, from the pages from the Andes Recorder:

February 6, 1925

• Mrs. Lucy Coulter has been visiting her sons at Walton and Delhi.

• The roads have been badly blocked the past week, but Superintendent Coulter now has the main roads cleared out.

• Monday Sloan Archibald received a box of oranges from his son, Russell Archibald, who is spending the winter in Florida.

• William T. Russell suffered a shock Saturday night and is in critical condition.  His throat and one side is paralyzed.

• Rev. A.M. Thomson, pastor of the Church of Covenanters, is taking a vacation, which he is spending in Philadelphia.

• Mrs. William Burns, who several weeks ago underwent an operation for hernia at Delhi, has returned to her home below the village.

• Orrin Reynolds went to New Kingston on Thursday to do some carpenter work for Will Adee.  Owing to the snow over the mountain he went by Andes and Margaretville.

• Mrs. Arthur Decker was operated upon at Delhi last Wednesday for appendicitis.  Dr. Thomson was the surgeon and was assisted by Dr. Goodrigh and Dr. Schumann. [Mrs. Decker was the former Beulah Armstrong. She had a son, Francis and a daughter, Virginia and was widowed in 1960. Beulah died in 1966.]

February 13, 1925

• Elmer Doig was a County Seat caller on Monday.

• Clarence LaFever was a visitor at Andes on Monday.

• Mrs. George H. Shaver and James Ackerley were at Andes on Friday. [Mrs. Shaver was the former Elizabeth Reynolds.]

• Supervisor W.B. Smith was at the County Seat early in the week attending a meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

• William T. Russell died at his home on the former Dysart farm February 6, as a result of a shock sustained the previous Saturday, by which his throat and one side was paralyzed.  He was a son of the late Stephen Russell and was born on the farm adjoining 57 years ago.  He is survived by his wife, who was a Bergman, and three daughter and a son.  The funeral was held Monday. [The Dysart farm was on Russell Hill.]

February 20, 1925

• James A. Gow, George Decker and John Blair were at Andes last Saturday.

• James C. Mabon was at Meridale on Saturday and purchased a span of horses from Ayer & McKinney.

• Arthur Decker and children were at Delhi on Sabbath afternoon and brought home Mrs. Decker from the hospital.

• Everett Joslin has hired to work for Arthur Bergman up-town and will move from the Center. Mr. Martin will move to house he vacates.

• Mrs. Wallace Smith and Mrs. James Monroe have gone to Walton to help care for Mrs. Eli Wright and daughter who are ill with scarlet fever, but are now improving.

• Earl Fisk, of Lake Delaware, who was taken ill at Walton on his way home from a New York hospital, is very ill at the home of Eli Wright at Walton. [Earl would recover, dying in 1971 at the age of 87.]

• It is stated that W.C. Redmond has been awarded the contract for carrying the mail form Bovina via Bovina Center to Bloomville for four years from July, at $1,400 per year.

• Mrs. John Hilson has received a letter from Mrs. N.B. Whitcomb in which she states that she and the children expect to leave Egypt for America early in April. Dr. Whitcomb will come in September. [Dr. Whitcomb was a medical missionary in Egypt for 16 years, making occasional trips back home. He died in Egypt in 1935 from blood poisoning.]

• Fletcher Davidson has brought the old Hilson house and commenced taking it down. It is one of the old frame kind and he will re-erect [it] on his place at the foot of Russell hill for use as a chicken house. [This house stood where Mike and Christine Batey now live.]

February 27, 1925

• Miss Jane Archibald is attending business school at Binghamton.

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are Erwin E. Russell to James A. Gow.

• Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Galland were at Arkville last Saturday to visit their sister.

• Evening meetings will be resumed at the U.P. church on Sabbath, March 1.

• Superintendent of Poor James F. Foreman and George VanDusen were in town Friday.

• George Shaver, who has been in Terry Clove helping his son get out wood, came home Monday.

• Mrs. John H. Aitkins is in the hospital at Delhi, where she underwent an operation last Thursday for adhesions.

• Wilber Doig, of Delhi, will move into Charles Russell’s house in the upper part of the village and work in the creamery.

• Mrs. Arthur Decker, who had an operation for appendicitis a few weeks ago, has been confined to bed since her return from the hospital.

• Peter Robson, formerly of Bovina, has exchanged his house and lot in Bloomville for the farm of Harry E. Swanson on Meredith Road, near the village of Delhi.

• Harry Martin was here Tuesday from Cannonsville and took his sister-in-law Mrs. Fred Thomson, back with him. A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin on February 20. The mother will be remembered as Nell Oliver of this town. [Mrs. Thomson was the former Janet C. Oliver.]

• A few weeks ago in a scuffle Master James Crawford, son of Rev. and Mrs. F.N. Crawford, had his arm injured.  It was thought to be only a bad strain, but it did not improve, and an X-ray showed that the bone was fractured at the shoulder.

This Day in Bovina for January 2025

I'm starting a slight change with the daily entries on Facebook. Though I'll still have items related to today's date, I'm also going to mix in sharing some images, many of which I have not shared before. At the Delaware County Historical Association, where I work two days a week in their library, we've been scanning a set of chauffeur license pictures taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s, and there are a number of folks from Bovina in the collection. I'll also be sharing other images from my collection or ones that people, such as Chuck McIntosh and Jim and Tom Hoy have allowed me to scan over the years. Enjoy.

127 years ago today, on January 1, 1898, 20-year-old Maggie Coulter made the following diary entry: "Weather ranging from zero to six above with wind blowing snow 10 or 12 inches deep. Mother & Maggie Storie visiting in Scranton at Chas. Shedds. Went the 30th of Dec. 1897. Started from home 8 o'clock A.M. and arrived in Scranton 5 oclock P.M. Aunt Mary Anne staying with us. Mrs. Geo. Archibald buried to-day. Died suddenly at the wedding of the son William to Sarah Hobbie at John Hobbie's. Post Office changed from Wm. McCunes to Alex Hilsons." Maggie later married J. Russell Boggs. They had three children - Donald, Norris and Robert. She died in 1951.

These images of Arthur Coulter were taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s. Arthur Craig Coulter was born in Bovina in 1908, the son of Frank and Agnes Coulter. He lived in Bovina all his life and had just taken over the family farm when he died, only 30 years old, in 1938. He died from the effects of diabetes. Arthur was buried in Andes. His sister was Grace Coulter Roberts. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.

This undated postcard view of Bovina Center likely dates from the late 1930s or early 1940s. The view is looking west (Maple Avenue would be to the photographer's right). Image courtesy of Chuck McIntosh. 

Eighty-three years ago today, January 4, 1942, this telegram was delivered to Marjorie Russell while she was taking a train back to her home in Ohio where she was teaching. It appears she was planning to leave the train in Erie but was being advised to take the train on to Painesville where she would be met by Rae Storie.  Madison is between Painesville and Erie. 

139 years ago today, the Bovina column in the January 5, 1886 Stamford Mirror reported that "A donation for the benefit of Rev. Mr. Deming was held in Dickson's Hall on Wednesday eve. Dec. 30. Owing to the fact that the hall was formerly used as a skating rink, or, perhaps, because it is located so far above the earth, only a few were in attendance, and the proceeds amounted to only about twenty dollars." I'm not 100% sure but I think Dickson's hall was the second floor of what is now Brushland Eating House.

168 years ago today, the January 6, 1857 issue of the Bloomville Mirror carried this memorial poem composed on the death of Mrs. J. Lewis on Christmas Eve, 1856. Mrs. Lewis was Jane Wyear, born 1769 in Scotland. She had four children. Her husband, John, had predeceased her in 1853. She is buried in the old Reformed Church cemetery at County Route 6 and Bovina Road. 

128 years ago today, on January 7, 1897, Mrs. Thomas Gordon died.  The Andes Recorder reported that "This community was shocked to learn of the death of Mrs. Thomas Gordon.."  She was 46 years old and had just lost her daughter, Maggie, six weeks earlier.  The Recorder noted that "It is seldom that so sad an event is recorded.  The husband and son have the sincere sympathy of the entire community."   Mrs. Gordon was Mary Jane Oliver.  She married Thomas Gordon in 1871 and had two children.  In June 1899, Thomas Gordon would marry as his second wife Mary Richardson Scott and would have two more children, including daughter Margaret, who taught Social Studies at Delaware Academy for many years from the 1940s to the 1970s. This image shows Thomas (seated right) with what I believe are his children (Maggie, holding a cat, and John, standing), his wife, on the left holding another cat and an unidentified woman at the left, maybe Thomas's mother-in-law.  

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. This shows the Bob Hall farm on Bob Hall Road. Images courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

This photograph of the McKenzie Sisters was likely taken by Marjorie Russell in 1973. Janet and Elizabeth McKenzie lived right across from Russell's Store in what is now Amy Burns' house. I wrote about these extraordinary sisters in my blog back in 2013. Here's the entry: https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/04/faces-of-bovina-mckenzie-sisters.html

129 years ago today, the January 10, 1896 Andes Recorder in its Bovina Column had the following commentary:  "Your correspondent thinks if parents would keep their children in off the street and out of the stores a little more there would be less fault to find about children being mean and saucy.  They are allowed to go where they please from morning until late at night and no one knows what mischief they are into."

Seventy-four years ago today, on January 11, 1951, Frederica Muller died in Delhi. She was born in Bovina in 1875, the youngest of 15 children. Her parents, Urban and Eloise Muller emigrated from Switzerland in 1870. Frederica was survived by one sister, Mrs. Jennie McCumber. Frederica was buried in the Bovina Cemetery. More on the Muller family can be found on the Bovina NY History blog at http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/01/stories-from-bovina-cemeteries-muller.html

Ninety-six years ago today, the Bovina column in the January 12, 1929 Delaware Republican reported that "Mrs. Jane L. Dickson is taking a vacation with her daughters at Port Jervis and Poughkeepsie, also at Washington, DC."

145 years ago today, the January 13, 1880 Stamford Mirror reported in its Bovina column that "We have been informed that Mr. Black, our Supervisor, kept 2 1/2 percent of the school funds for his trouble paying over the same. Black is more for self than for the schools." This was refuted a couple of weeks later. A statement, published in the Utilitarian, reads: "Mr. Editor - That report in regard to Mr. Black retaining a percentage of the school moneys is false. I was wrongly informed. As I did not intend to injure Mr. Black in any way. I take this opportunity to correct the mistake, and say that there is no truth in the report." The Delaware Republican, which republished this statement, noted "No one acquainted with Mr. Black believed the story in the first place, and all fair men regarded his denial as conclusive. The person who made a direct charge, so capable of being refuted by the records, was probably the dupe or tool of some person who wished to injure Mr. Black without burning his own fingers."

Seventy-six years ago today, the January 14, 1949 Catskill Mountain News carried this Bovina column: 

Seventy-one years ago today, January 15, 1954, as later reported in the January 21, Bovina column in the Stamford Mirror, Mary Anne LaFever celebrated her 7th birthday at her home. Here's the full report of who attended. 

This image of Alex Hilson was taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the early 1940s. James Alexander Hilson was born in 1915 and lived most of his life in Bovina. He married Lillian Schneider in 1939. They had four children, three of whom are still with us, Marianne, Jim and Tom. Alex died in 1990. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

Henry and Ruth (Ormiston) Monroe celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in December 1960. Here they are with their children, Lauren Monroe, Eleanor Monroe Brink, Isabelle Monroe Deter and Frances Monroe Burns.  

138 years ago today, the Bovina column in the January 18, 1887 Bloomville Mirror included this item: "Jim knew we were going to have cold weather after New Years. So he prepared to face the cold blasts of winter by getting a large stock of mittens, on hand. Jim is long sighted." As to who is meant by 'Jim' I have yet to work out. The major merchants in Bovina at that time period were John Hilson, Thomas Strangeway and Thomas Hastings.

113 years ago today, the January 19, 1912 Binghamton Press reported the death of a Bovina doctor, under the headline "Dr. Dickson of Bovina Center Dies Suddenly of Apoplexy." The article went on to report that "Dr. Gilbert J. Dickson, an esteemed physician of Bovina Center…died suddenly at his home Wednesday morning. Apoplexy was the cause of death. He had been in his usual health Tuesday, having driven with several members of his family to the train, where they started for Syracuse University. On his return he attended some patients and went to the stable to look after his horses. He was found in a semi-conscious condition later, and died in a few hours. He was well known in Oneonta where his brother, James Dickson conducts a pharmacy." Dr. Dickson built and lived in the building that is now the Brushland Eating House. He left behind his widow, the former Jane Loughran and five children. Dickson is buried in Bovina.

Seventy-five years ago today, the January 20, 1950 Catskill Mountain News reported in its Bovina column that "Mrs. Frank Pindar of Grand Gorge visited her daughter, Mrs. Charles McIntosh, Saturday." This would be Eva McIntosh. The same column reported that "Some of our townspeople are taking advantage of the adult education classes held in the Delhi central school."

This image shows the old Delancey Presbyterian Church. It was built from the timbers of the old Bovina Associate Presbyterian Church, which stood at the corner of County Route 6 and Reinertsen Hill Road. The left section is the original church. The Delancey church added the belfry. The building burned to the ground on Christmas Eve 1896. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

This undated postcard of Bovina Center shows the hamlet looking east on what is now County Route 6. The image probably dates from the 1930s or early 1940s. Post card was provided by Jim and Tom Hoy. 

195 years ago today, on January 23, 1830, George Nesbitt was paid $12.25 for services as town clerk performed in 1829. 

Eighty-one years ago today, January 24, 1944, this invitation to the wedding of Glenn Hobbie and Anna Boggs was postmarked and sent to Cecil and Isabell Russell and their daughter Marjorie. 

177 years ago today, on January 25, 1848, the Commissioners of Excise for the town of Bovina issued this license to "Alexander Kinmouth to retail Strong and Spiritous Liquors…" His tavern was located at the former Clark Lay residence in Bovina Center. 

Ninety-seven years ago today, on January 26, 1928, later reported in the Andes Recorder, "There was considerable excitement for a short time last Thursday afternoon when a call went over the telephone for aid to save the house of W. C. Redman on the Russell farm at the Butt End.  Fortunately, it proved to be only a chimney fire." A little over a year later, in October 1929, the barn on the same property was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.

This image of the Bovina Busy Bees was taken probably in 1946 at a 4-H rally held at Delaware Academy. I could use some help identifying the children in the picture. The boy in the plaid shirt I think is Vince Trimbell and the girl crouching down behind the sign I think is Jean Parsons. 

Sixty years ago today, the Bovina column of the January 28, 1965 Delaware Republican Express reported that "Mrs. Jack Hilson's father, Malcolm Hotchkin, was taken to Cooperstown to the Bassett Hospital for further treatment last Monday. Mrs. Hilson was up to see him Friday and his condition was about the same." Malcolm passed away a little over a month later on March 13.

141 years ago today, January 29, 1884, this order was signed altering the road districts in Brushland (now Bovina Center).  Rev. Kennedy's house was the open land across from Brushland Eating House.  The Methodist parsonage was where Chuck and Betty McIntosh lived.  

194 years ago today, on January 30, 1831, Loruhannah Henderson was born in New Kingston, the daughter of James Henderson and Hannah Sprague. She married Francis Coulter in Bovina in 1857 and would have five children. She was predeceased by at least two children. Her sons Walter and James died 11 days apart in March 1900. Loruhannah died in 1909. Her husband died less than six months later. Both are buried in Bovina. This image shows their five children: Hannah and Walter in the back, James in the middle and Margaret and Elizabeth in the front.  

Fifty-two years ago today, on January 31, 1973, this letter was sent to the Board of Directors of the Bovina Center Cooperative Dairy. The letter noted that "on the basis of current product operation…that the cash flow will be exhausted about July 31, 1973." Given this situation, the creamery was closed two months later on March 31, 1973. 

A Week with Bovina People - January 1900 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

 

Life in Bovina 125 years ago, January 1900, from the Bovina correspondent for the Andes Recorder. 

January 5, 1900

• Thomas H. Liddle was in town Friday.

• G.D. Miller was at Andes the first of the week.

• Simeon Goodman was here Friday from Andes.

• James A. Gow is sexton of the United Presbyterian church.

• William C. Black and Thomas Miller were at Delhi Friday.

• The truant officer has commenced going the rounds of schools.

• Rev. T.M. Slater and wife have returned from Sterling Valley.

• Mrs. D.J. Miller and Jennie Campbell were at Walton Saturday. [Mrs. Miller was the former Elizabeth Campbell and was the sister of Jennie.]

• Mrs. Malcolm McNaught, of Hamden, has been visiting relatives here. [I think this is Mary Alice Doig, who was born in 1856 and died in 1945.]

• Mrs. Andrew Anderson, of Andes, has been visiting relatives recently.

• William S. Thomson and Fred Bramley were at the County Seat Saturday.

• Mrs. Nettie Donnally, of Davenport, has been visiting her father, D.L. Thompson. [Nettie was born Agnes Janet Thompson, daughter of David Lowe Thompson and Eliza Murray. She was married in 1884 and widowed 4 years later. She survived her husband by over 50 years, dying in 1951 at the age of 96.]

• The offering in the United Presbyterian church for the last quarter of 1899 were $194.17.

• Frank Liddle was here on Thursday with a load of lumber for James A. Gow’s new barn.

• At the annual meeting of the United Presbyterian congregation, Robert Doig and W.B. Smith were elected trustees.

• Monday, James L. Ormiston and his mother, Mrs. James Ormiston, started for Glencoe, Maryland, where Mrs. Ormiston will remain all winter with her son, Thomas.

• Mr. and Mrs. William Richardson entertained the G.A.R.’s and their wives last Friday evening in a right royal manner.  The culinary part under the supervision of Mrs. Richardson and Mrs. Charles Boggs, from the turkey down through the bill of fare, made the veterans look happy, and the host and hostess have the tanks of the participants.

Notice

The annual meeting of the Bovina Co-operative Fire Insurance Company will be held at Strangeway’s Hall, Bovina Centre on Tuesday, January 9, 1900 at 1 o’clock for the election of directors and such other business as may come before the meeting.

R.F. Thomson, Sec. Bovina Centre, Dec 20, 1899

January 12, 1900

• Peter McNair was at Andes Saturday.

• William T. Black was down at Delhi Saturday.

• W.L. White was at the County Seat Thursday.

• Frank Gowanlock visited Delhi on Wednesday.

• John W. Blair and wife were at Delhi on Monday.

• William B. Scott and wife were here on Sabbath.

• John E. Gladstone has been visiting in town recently.

• James Taylor and daughter were in town Wednesday.

• Colfax Livingstone has been a guest at Rev. Samson’s.

• Putting in ice has been the order of the day the past week.

• There was a checker play at James Gow’s Wednesday evening.

• Mrs. Maggie Palmer, of Walton has been visiting relatives here.

• John Irvine has been drawing lumber for an addition to his barn.

• Born in Walton, January 2, to Mr. and MRs. John Doig, a daughter.

• F.R. Coulter, Fred Bramley and Herman Coulter were at Andes Tuesday.

• Miss Nellie Butts, a former teacher in the Centre school, has been visiting in town.

• William More and wife and W.J. Doig and wife visited Margaretville on Saturday.

• The next lecture in the course will be given by J. Williams Macy, January 16th. Admission 25 cents.

• Alex. Hilson and Thomas Hastings were at the County Seat Wednesday evening attending a railroad meeting.

• J.L. Coulter and E. George Gladstone have the job of putting up Commissioner Gow’s and John Irvine’s new barns.

• Rev. R.T. Doig, who is a native of this town, has been pastor of the West Kortright United Presbyterian congregation for 31 years and has taken few vacations. He now finds that he must take a little rest or quit entirely. 

• At the meeting of the Town Insurance Company Tuesday, William Richardson was chosen chairman, and Alex Burns, secretary. Michael Miller was elected president and Robert F. Thomson secretary. John R. Hoy, James W. Coulter and B.S. Miller were reelected directors.

• Mrs. John Downie was buried here Saturday. She died at the home of her sone, James, near Oneonta, last Tuesday. She was 67 years old and was stricken with paralysis several weeks ago. Her maiden name was Mary A. Scott, and she was the daughter of Jas Scott who lived on Roses Brook. It is over twenty years since she resided in this town.

Death Record for 1899

The following are the deaths in the town of Bovina during the past year:

Anna Burgin, age 7

Violet Johnson, age 67

Thomas H. Smith, age 81

Angia Robson, age 2 ½

Thomas H. Luddington, age 72

Ettie Archibald, age 28

Jane Stott, age 65

John W. Bramley, age 81

Margaret Bramley, age 74

Margaret A. Bramley, age 30

Nancy Erkson, age 80

There has been 15 births and 5 marriages during the year.

January 19, 1900

• John G. Russell was at Delhi Friday.

• David Oliver visited Andes Saturday.

• Alex Anderson has been visiting in town.

• Joseph Raitt has been in town this week.

• D.C. Worden now drives a span of mules.

• David Muir, of Andes, was seen in town Monday.

• Three foxes were shot in town Monday by our hunters.

• E.J. Graham and sister were here Saturday from Andes.

• Alex. Hilson and Albert Butts were at Bloomville Monday.

• Jackson & Mason’s team was here Tuesday with furniture.

• Mrs. Newal and daughters have been visiting at G.D. Miller’s

• William Crosier and G.D. Miller were at Roses Brook Saturday.

• William Armstrong and Douglas McCune were at Delhi Saturday.

• Mrs. Otis McCumber and Serena Connor were at Mrs. Muller’s Tuesday.

• It is stated that John McCune will teach the Centre school next term.

• William L. White and Orrin Reynolds visited the County Seat Saturday.

• F.C. Armstrong and William Richardson were down at the County Seat Monday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Crosier and William S. Thomson were among those at Delhi Monday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Bert Thomson, of Walton, were visitors in town the first of the week.

• John Blair and wife, Adam Laidlaw and Emma Campbell attended the entertainment at Delhi last week. [In 1902, Adam and Emma would be married. They were the parents of Margaret Laidlaw Hoy, who was the Bovina town clerk in the 40s-70s.]

• The road down the mountain has been repaired recently by the commissioner of the town of Stamford.

• Rose and Walter Barrett and Margaret Archibald attended the teachers’ examinations at Stamford last week.

• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Doig, of Walton, were guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Russell, Saturday. [Mrs. Doig was Alice Russell. She married Robert Doig in 1897.]

• The session has appointed William Maynard, superintendent and James L. Coulter, secretary and treasurer of the United Presbyterian Sabbath School.

• Last Thursday and Friday Commissioner Gow held his first examinations at Stamford, and 88 teachers were in attendance. This week he is at Margaretville holding training class examinations.

• The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be dispensed in the United Presbyterian church on the next Sabbath, the 21st Preparatory services will be held on Thursday and Friday evenings and on Saturday at 1:30.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gowanlock entertained the old soldiers Wednesday evening.  The inner man was satisfied by a fine lay out, cooked and served in a right royal manner by Mrs. Gowanlock and Mrs. Charles Boggs.

January 26, 1900

• Frank Myers arrived in town Tuesday.

• Wilson Raitt went to Walton Monday.

• Miss Alice Oliver visited at Delhi on Tuesday.

• Oliver Dickson was up from Delhi on Tuesday.

• Ad Maxwell and Mr. Hagadorn were in town Friday.

• Considerable of the taxes remain uncollected in town.

• Fred Young, of Kortright, arrived in this place Thursday.

• G.D. Miller went to Pennsylvania Monday on a business trip.

• Bertha Phyfe went to Delhi the first of the week to attend regents’.

• William D. Thompson, the hardware agent, was in town Wednesday.

• John P. Dennis and William J. Doig were at the County Seat Monday.

• Thomas Barrett is moving from Alex Hoy’s house to a farm in Kortright.

• A young people’s party was held at Marion Robertson’s Wednesday evening.

• John G. Russell, John W. Storie and William Russell were at Delhi on Tuesday.

• Everett McPherson arrived in town Friday.  His horse died on Saturday night.

• Colfax Livingstone, of Chicago, who has been visiting in town, left for his home Monday.

• A number of students from this town were at Andes this week trying Regents’ examinations.

• School in the Coulter Brook district will finish Monday. In the Centre school will close on Tuesday.

• Among those at Delhi on Saturday were William L. White, Charles Palmer, William Russell and William S. Thomson.

• Harrison A. Gladstone of Andes, who worked for John M. Campbell last season, has hired to work for him again this season.

• John S. Hobbie is in Delhi, having returned from his western trip.  He was ill with typhoid fever at Binghamton for two months. [John, born in 1838, the son of Joshua Knapp Hobbie and Sara Reynolds, died in Fulton, NY in 1908.]

• Five members were added to the United Presbyterian church at the communion services on Sabbath; three by certificate and two by profession of faith.

• We learn that Rev. Acton Civill formerly pastor of Bovina M.E. church has entirely recovered from a serious mental difficulty the result of overwork and is now engaged in his former work at Mt. Kisco, Westchester Co. [It was reported in the November 10, 1899 Andes Recorder that Rev. Civill had attempted suicide by throwing himself on the railroad tracks in Mount Kisco. He was sent to the Bloomingdale Asylum for the Insane for about 2 months.]

January 1925 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

Here’s what was happening in Bovina 100 years ago this month, as reported in the pages of the Andes Recorder. 

January 2, 1925

• George Gladstone has been visiting his son, Walter, at Delhi.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Reinertsen, December 21, a daughter [this would be Gladys, who later married Clark Lay].

• Jason McCumber, who lives with his son uptown, suffered a shock recently.

• Miss Jane Archibald, who slept for several days last week, is now recovering.

• Attorney Lauren Dickson was home from Saratoga for Christmas and went back on Sabbath.

• Nelson Reynolds went to New Kingston on Tuesday to attend the funeral of John Reynolds.

• John R. Aitkens and son, Floyd, and Miss Helen Gladstone went to New York City last Friday.

• William Gordon was home from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, for the holidays and returned on Sabbath. [William was the brother of Margaret Gordon, who taught at Delaware Academy for many years.]

• Miss Ruth Gladstone has returned from Oneonta, where she had spent over the week end with her aunt, Mrs. Tripp. [Ruth later married Thomas McGowan. Mrs. Tripp was the former Cora Coulter, Ruth’s mother’s sister.]

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ward Fancher at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Miller, on Christmas Day, a son – Ward Jr.

• Millard Gow, of Brooklyn, and Willard Gow, of Binghamton, returned to their homes Monday, after spending over Christmas with their parents.

• Jane Hilson, accompanied by her friend Mary Flansburg, is home from East Orange, N.J. Mable Thomson is home from Winsted, Connecticut.

• Mrs. Lucy Coulter was called to New Kingston on Monday by the death of her sister, Mrs. Nettie Archibald, who had been in poor health for some time. [Lucy was the former Lucy Ward, married to David H. Coulter. Her sister was Janette Ward, who was the widow of James Archibald (who died in 1895).]

• George Baldwin, of Spring Valley, N.Y. who had been spending a week with his wife at the home of her mother, Mrs. G.J. Dickson, went to Syracuse on Monday. 

• Mr. and Mrs. Thos R. Boggs, who live in upper Bovina, celebrated the 59th wedding anniversary December 25.  Their four children and families were present for the occasion.

Delaware County voter Enrollment for Bovina: Republican 264, Democrat 74, Socialist 4

January 9, 1925

• Frank Miller was over at Andes on Monday on business errands.

• The Delaware Academy students returned to their studies Tuesday.

• Week of Prayer is being observed this week in the Church of the Covenanters.

• Miss Jane Hilson and Miss Mary Flansburg returned to East Orange, N.J., on Sabbath.

• Town Clerk David Currie issued during the year 1924 only 38 hunting licenses, all of them resident.

• Mrs. Julia McPherson received word Tuesday of the death of her brother, Fuller, at Lakewood, N.J. [Julia was the daughter of Richard and Ann Fuller. Julia was the widow of A. Fitch McPherson. Her brother was Henry Ferris Fuller, better known as Ferris. He died in Lakewood, Wayne County, Pennsylvania.]

• Mrs. George Decker, who several weeks ago had her hip injured by a fall, can now set up in bed. [This probably was Ada H. Tompkins, the daughter of Helson and Maria Tompkins. Mrs. Decker passed away 19 years later in 1944.]

• Communion services were held at the U.P. church last Sabbath. There was an accession of four the membership.

• Anna Dickson went back to Cornell University on Saturday and Mrs. Geo Baldwin went to her home at Spring Valley.

• Peter McGregor, who works for Wm. T. Russell on the former Dysart farm, had his shoulder dislocated one morning last week by being thrown from the milk wagon.  He was enroute to the creamery when one of the lines broke and the team ran away.

Gerry Superintendent Returns – From Our Bovian Correspondent

Captain J.E. Billings, superintendent of the Gerry farms at Lake Delaware, who a few weeks ago underwent a serious operation in Roosevelt hospital, New York, and since had been at Atlantic City, accompanied by Mrs. Billings, arrived at Lake Delaware on Wednesday. 

Bovina Man Dies

Fred Johnson died at the home of John Taylor on Elk Creek, Delhi, on Monday, 

January 5, aged about 72 years.  He was born in upper Bovina and practically his entire life had been spent in the town.  Several years ago he suffered a shock and had been practically helpless.  Since the death of his wife he had been cared for at Mr. Taylor’s.  The funeral was held from the Bovina R.P. Church on Wednesday, Rev. A.M. Thomson, officiating.

January 16, 1925

• Charles Fuller now drives a new coupe.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Hosa Sliter on January 10, a son – Donald Edward.

• The Seniors of Delaware Academy enjoyed a sleigh ride up to Adam Laidlaw’s last Friday night.

• Mrs. George Decker has so far recovered from her broken hip that she is able to be up in a chair.

• Mrs. William Burns was taken to the Delhi hospital Thursday night and Friday morning underwent an operation for hernia and complications. [Mrs. Burns was the former Emily Elliott. She died in 1966.]

• Attorney C.L. Dickson, of Saratoga was here over Saturday night. He had been at Binghamton on business for the firm and stopped on his way back.

• Rev. F.N. Crawford will be absent for two Sabbaths in Argyle, Washington county, assisting in special services. The pulpit of the United Presbyterian church is being supplied by Rev. T.C. Bookhout, of Delhi.

Native of Bovina

Mrs. Ella Davidson died at the home of her son in Binghamton on January 11, aged 68 years. The burial was at Delhi on Wednesday. She was a granddaughter of the late John Murray of Bovina, and married Charles Davidson. [Ella was the daughter of James and Isabella Murray.]

January 23, 1925

• Mrs. D.C. Worden, who some time ago underwent an operation for goiter, is very poorly. [Mrs. Worden, born Henrietta Ann Boyd, would pass away in March 1925.]

• Three children of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Banuat were operated upon recently at Delhi for the removal of their tonsils.

• Frank T. Miller, manager of the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery, was at Andes on business errands on Monday.

• Several farmers have been filling their ice houses with fine ice from the Lake Mahiken, on the former Thomas Mabon farm.

• There was no preaching at the U.P. church last Sabbath as Rev. Crawford was sick with a cold. He did not go to Argyle because of illness.

• J.D. Burns and Wm. C. Burns were at the County Seat on Saturday to see their wives, who are both in the hospital, the wife of the first named for treatment and Mrs. W.C. Burns is recovering from an operation.

Gerry Family Give $100,000

The Gerry family of Lake Delaware, through Robert Livingston Gerry, has recently pledged $100,000 toward the completion of the Cathedral of St. John, the Divine in New York. It was stipulated that $90,000 of the amount should be used for the erection of one of the great piers in the nave. The remainder of the fund, $10,000, is to go to the general building fund. 

January 30, 1925

• Thomas A. Raitt, of Andes, was in town Tuesday.

• A good many of the farmers in town are putting in ice.

• The trucks did not get through last Friday, but the roads were cleared so that they got thru Saturday.

• Elliott Thomson, who is spending the winter with his daughter, Mrs. Harry Robinson, at Andes, was here Monday.

• Mrs. Parsons and daughter, who resided on the former Wm H. Johnston farm, in upper Bovina, are visiting relatives in Connecticut.

• Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Gladstone and daughter, Anna, are visiting Mrs. Gladstone’s brother, James A. Thomson, on the river road above Delhi, this week. 

• Mrs. Jane L. Dickson, postmistress in Bovina Center, went to the hospital at Delhi on Monday and underwent an operation.  She is under the care of Dr. William Thomson with Miss Henderson as nurse. [Born Jane Loughran, she survived this operation, passing away in 1939.]

• Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamer company the old directors were all re-elected. They are Frank T. Miller, Fred Henderson, Fred Bramley, Frank Coulter and Russell Boggs.

A Bovina Estate

Estate of Frederick Johnson, late of Bovina. Will admitted to probate and letters testamentary issued to Hamilton J. Hewitt. Estimate $4,000 personal and $4,000 real. To Emily Johnson McArthur and Elizabeth Miller is willed $2,000 each; residue to be divided equally among his nephews and nieces and wife’s nephews and nieces.