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

 

Life in Bovina 125 years ago, from the pages of the Andes Recorder:

August 3, 1900

• Richard Smith has gone to Walton.

• Alex Hilson was at Delhi Saturday.

• John Wright has been in town his week.

• John G. Russell was at Bloomville Friday.

• F.R. Coulter and wife visited Delhi on Friday.

• Dr. Dickson and wife went to Oneonta Friday.

• Rev. Williams returned Tuesday from his vacation. 

• Adam Douglas and wife passed thro’ this place Monday.

• Robert Biggar made trip was over to Andes Wednesday.

• Miss Etta Liddle, of Andes, has been a guest in town recently.

• Will Maynard and Elliott Thomson visited Downsville Friday.

• G.D. Miller is building a veranda along one end of his house.

• Leslie McNee has gone to Stamford to work in the Delaware house.

• Charles Spiers and Miss Ida Glendening were seen in this place Tuesday.

• Simon Marx and wife and some friends were here on Sabbath from Andes, for a drive.

• William Richardson has returned from Margaretville where he has been for the past seven weeks.

• A.O. Butts now comes out with a new three seated canopy top carriage and Dr. Seacord with a new buggy.

• Mrs. Charles Arbuckle, son and daughter, or Newark, NJ, arrived here last Thursday, for their customary summer visit.

• Mrs. Johnson, M.D. from India, gave an address in the United Presbyterian church Sabbath evening of about an hour and a half duration.

• Among those at Delhi Tuesday were F.C. Armstrong, Frank Brown, Wm. T. Miller and wife, Mrs. Thomas Ormiston, Dora Boggs, James Hastings and family, Oscar Felton, Ward Coulter, Leonard Sloan, D.D. and B.S. Miller.

• Nell Myers has not been so well for a few days.  Sunday the doctor made an incision back of the ear and took out considerable pus, and Wednesday while he was dressing it she was taken with a spasm, but rested well Wednesday night. [Nellie's illness started in July and she would succumb to it in October.]

• Mrs. Emile Ruff died at her home on Scotch Mountain Monday morning. Before her marriage she was a Redmond. Wednesday the remains were brought here for interment. She was about 35 years old and a daughter of Matthew Redmond. [She was the former Cora Redmond, born in 1867.]

August 10, 1900

• Dr. Dickson was at Hobart Monday.

• Miss Lucy Jackson visited Delhi Saturday.

• Dr. Seacord and wife were at Delhi on Friday.

• H.J. Hewitt was up from Delhi on Saturday.

• Peter Mosier and wife passed thro’ town on Sabbath.

• Wm. and Everett McPherson were in town Saturday.

• John W. Hewitt made a trip over to Andes Wednesday. 

• The Al Martz specialty company is billed here for Saturday night. [More detail below.]

• A Mr. Striker from New Jersey, has been in town trying to buy calves.

• A.B. Jardine wife and child, from Glenburnie, were visitors here on Saturday.

• James Seath arrived in town Friday.  He was compelled to take a vacation on account of a lame leg.

• J.L. Coulter and wife and Miss Jennie Strangeway returned home Saturday from their western trip.

• Among those at the County Seat on Saturday were Arthur Hoy, Peter Robson, D.C. Worden, Fred Bramley. 

• Tuesday evening Alex. Hilson was elected one of the trustees of the Centre school to succeed J.L. Coulter.

• Monday was the hottest day so far this season, the thermometer standing at 100 in the shade. Wednesday beat it.

• A social was held at D.J. Miller’s last Friday evening, with a goodly number present and a good time reported.

• Saturday the Bovina and Bovina Centre boys played ball at Bovina and the game resulted in favor of the Centre boys by a score of 8 to 6.

• The trustees have hired Miss Margaret Gilchrist to teach the Primary department of the village school for the ensuing year. It will be remembered that she taught that department last year until the spring term, when she was taken sick. 

[This is a description of Al Martz’ Big Specialty Company’s appearance in Andes. The company appeared in Bovina two days earlier.]

Wait for It

Al. Martz’ Big Specialty Company, brass band and orchestra will appear at Union Hall, Andes, August 13.  This company has appeared here before and made a decided hit.  With the company are such well known vaudeville artists as John H. Fagan, Irish comedian, dancer and singer; Bates and Bates, musical artists; Hazel Reynolds, acrobatic dancer; Grant Sisters, lady song and dance artists; O’Brien Bros, acrobats; Al Martz, comedian and bone soloist, and Jones and Livingston, contortionists.  Street parade at noon.  Prices 25 and 35 cents.  It will pay you to wait for this show.

August 17, 1900

• Thomas Miller was at Norwich Friday.

• David Oliver has purchased a new horse.

• Alex Burns was at the County Seat Monday.

• David Currie was up from Delhi on Sabbath.

• James Happy, of Albany, was in this place Wednesday.

• Thomas Gordon and wife were at Delhi over Sabbath.

• George Cable and W.L. Forrest visited Delhi Wednesday.

• G.D. Miller and wife visited relatives at Andes Saturday.

• Richard Smith returned Saturday from his visit at Walton. 

• H.S. Graham the Delhi Harward merchant was in town Monday.

• Frank Kaufman and family from Kingston have been visiting in town.

• Misses Lillian Miller and Mayme Liddle of Andes were in town last Tuesday. 

• The Trustees have hired William E. Hastings as principal of the Centre school.

• John Storie returned Thursday from visiting his brother, A.F. Storie, at Newburgh.

• Dr. Lee of Franklinville was in town Wednesday as a witness in the Storie suit.

• Adam Elliott, of Garettsville, two daughters and Mr. Holdrich have been guests at Thomas Miller’s.

• John L. Gordon, of the New York city police force, arrived in town last Thursday for a ten days vacation.

• Commissioner Gow held teachers’ examinations at Delhi last Thursday and Friday. About 75 took the examinations.

• Last week J.J. Johnson’s team ran away with a reaper, damaging it considerably by colliding with a telephone pole at George Russell’s.

• Among recent real estate conveyances in town are Lydia and Edgar Hall to J.K. Russell, $2,500. J.K. Russell and wife to Frank Finch, $2,500 (the Soper farm.)

• Saturday a return game of ball was played here between the Andes and Bovina Centre teams. The Centre boys could handle the visitors “without gloves” and won with a score of 22 to 6.

• Alex Neish was in town Wednesday as referee in the suit of Samuel Storie vs. John Storie.  The case was adjourned to October 2.  Wagner & Fisher attorneys for the plaintiff and Henry Davie and George Youmans for the defendant.

• Some of the teachers have secured positions as follows:  Emma Campbell in the Miller avenue district; Charles McPherson in the Armstrong district; Bert McNair, at the Butt End; Irene Forrest, at the Toll Gate; Carrie Scott, in Maynard district; James A. Thompson, up Coulter Brook; Maggie Strangeway, in Josh Hobbie district; Levi Bowen, at Lake Delaware.

August 24, 1900

• School in town will soon open.

• John P. Mabon and wife were here on Sabbath. [His wife was the former Elizabeth Murdock.]

• Andrew Scott of Delhi, was in town on Sabbath.

• George Douglas was seen in town on Sabbath.

• John O. Gladstone, of Delhi, was in town Monday.

• W.J. Maynard has been at Springfield, this week.

• John G. Bramley and family have been visiting in town.

• John Mitchell, of Stamford, was in this place Wednesday.

• Miss Jennie Miller went to Walton the fore part of the week.

• The Fortnightly Club held a picnic at Lake Delaware Friday.

• James F. Scott and family, of Delhi, were visitors here Tuesday.

• Marshall Mitchell and M.T. Menzie, of Delhi, were here Thursday.

• William Sloan and David Currie were up form Delhi on Sabbath.

• Frank Kaufman and R.A. Thompson were at Bloomville Monday.

• W.L. White and Harrison Gladstone were at Stamford Saturday.

• Miss Mina Cooke has hired to teach school at Brock’s Bridge, Colchester.

• Miss Jennie Campbell has been visiting her sister, Mrs. John Doig, at Walton.

• Saturday John L. Gordon returned to New York to resume his police duties. 

• Mr. and Mrs. F.R. Coulter and W.A. Boy were among those at the County Seat Wednesday.

• Thomas Gordon and wife, John L. Gordon and Lizzie Rogers visited at Stamford Saturday.

• James Armstrong and W.B. Gladstone, two Gladstone Hollow farmers, were in this place Friday.

• Rev. Samson, James Coulter and others went to Walton Wednesday to attend the convention at that place.

• Among those at Delhi Tuesday were R.E. Bergman and sister, James Forman and sister and David Draffin.

• John W. Blair, Rev. Williams, Dr. Seacord and W.G. McNee were at Fleischmann’s Tuesday to witness the ball game. 

• Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Ceas, of Bloomville, were guests of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bailey, at Lake Delaware last week.

• Thomas Ormiston arrived in town on Friday from Maryland for a visit, and on Wednesday he and his family started on their return to their southern home.

• Among those in town Tuesday we noticed Daniel Ceas of Bloomville, W.D. Thomson, of Rondout, Bert White, of Andes, George Gordon and a load of Delhi people.

• There will be a Sabbath School picnic of the Sabbath Schools in town on Tuesday, August 28, in Dickson’s grove.  The public in general is invited.

August 31, 1900

• William Maynard is at Chicago this week.

• F.C. Chamberlain was here Tuesday from Andes.

• Miss Maggie Sloan, of Mateawan, is visiting in town.

• Miss Fannie B. Thomson visited at Andes Saturday.

• Butter is bringing a good price – 20 cents for firkins.

• James B. Thomson made a trip over to Andes Saturday.

• Rob Robson, Arthur Hoy and Geo. McNair were all over at Andes Friday last.

• B.S. Miller is attending the National G.A.R. Encampment at Chicago this week.

• Dennis Brothers are exhibiting their poultry at the Margaretville fair this week.

• A new dress of paint is soon to be put on the Methodist church and parsonage.

• This place was visited by violent thunder storms Friday evening and Sabbath afternoon.

• At a meeting of the directors of the Town Insurance Company Tuesday the claim of W.F. Boggs was adjusted at $200, and the claim of F.R. Coulter at $140.25.

• There was a Sabbath school picnic of the Sabbath Schools in town on Tuesday, August 28, in Dickson’s grove.  The picnic did not come up to those of former years and the attendance was not as large as formerly.

Fire in Bovina

Bovina had a fire Friday night.  During the thunderstorm that raged on that evening lightning struck the wagon house on F.R. Coulter’s farm near Bramley mountain, and burned it and all its contents.  Charles Hafele, who lives on the Jardine farm, discovered the fire and hastened to the scene.  Mr. Bogg’s, who rent the farm, were to bed and before they could be aroused the entire building was in flames and nothing could be saved.  Two horses, wagons, harness, hay, etc., were destroyed.  A new buggy and harness belonging to young Russell Boggs were also burned.  It is thought that the horses were killed by lightning, as when the boards fell away so the interior could be seen, both horses laying each with its head thrown around on its shoulder, apparently no struggle had been made.  The insurance was in the Bovina Town Company as follows:  $100 on the building, $100 on the horses, and $150 on the other contents.

Bovina and the American Revolution - James Cooley (1755-1823)

 

James Cooley’s experience in the American Revolution was fairly dramatic. He was born in 1755 in Massachusetts. In April 1777, he enlisted in Captain Luke Day’s company of Infantry in Massachusetts for three years, serving as a fifer. The year he enlisted he participated in the Battle of Saratoga. The following May, he participated in the Battle of Cobleskill and was captured by the forces of Joseph Brant, a loyalist Mohawk Indian. They took him to Fort Niagara then to Quebec in Canada, where he was a prisoner for over four years. He was exchanged at Dobbs Ferry in the lower Hudson Valley in November 1782 rejoining his regiment near West Point and was honorably discharged.

A couple of years after the end of the war, James was married to Mary Lyon and by 1800, they were living in Harpersfield, Delaware County. He later lived in northern Bovina, moving there when it still was part of the town of Stamford.

James applied for a pension in April 1818, when he was 63. His application noted “that he was engaged with the enemy in the memorable Battle of Saratoga and a number of skirmishes.” He also mentioned his time as a prisoner or war. James now was living in indigent circumstances and required “the assistance of his country for support…”

At the time of his application, James possessions included a pitchfork, six sheep, one sickle, one broken tea kettle, two or three cups and saucers, one tea pot, a cherry table, an old bible and an old tobacco box. He was a farmer but said that because of his feeble health, including rheumatism, he could no longer farm and relied on the support of his daughter. His wife was age fifty and was also in increasing feeble health. He was in debt about fifteen dollars plus he had to pay for his pension application.

He received a pension of eight dollars a month and collected it until his death in November 1823. His wife continued to collect the pension at eighty-eight dollars a year, until her passing, sometime after 1841. She left Bovina after his death, likely to live with one of her children in Chenango County.

James is likely buried in Bovina, but unfortunately, we don’t know where. Given that he lived in Northern Bovina, he could be buried in the Nichols Cemetery on Cape Horn Road.

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

 

From the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder for August 1925:

August 7, 1925

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Russell August 3, a son. [This son was named William James Russell. He died in 1966.]

• Charles J. Russell, of Delhi, was a caller in town Wednesday.

• Miss Nettie Doig, of Delhi, is with her sister, Mrs. T.C. Strangeway.

• Professor Leon Taggart and family, of Oneonta, were here on Sabbath.

• Mrs. Marvin J. Thomson and children, of Troy, were here the first of the week.

• Mrs. John Aitkens is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Arthur Flynn, at Pepacton.

• Mr. and Mrs. Tracy and children, of Philadelphia, are visiting her father, A.B. Phyfe.

• The U.P. church was filled Sabbath morning to hear Rev. H.B. Speer, a former pastor.

• Miss Edith Tripp, of Oneonta, is a guest of her aunts, Mrs. J.F. Brown and Mrs. C.S. Gladstone.  [Mrs. Brown was Nancy D. Coulter. Mrs. Gladstone was Margaret J. Coulter. They were the daughters of Dixon E. Coulter and Margaret Elliott.]

• Mr. and Mrs. James Ackerley spent Sabbath with his sister, Mrs. Josephine Hornbeck, at Arkville.

• Miss Margaret Archibald, of the County Clerk’s office, spent over the week end with relatives here.

• Ralph Barnhart has purchased of Charles J. Russell his house in the upper part of Bovina Center. [This house later became the home of Roy and Eleanor Worden and is now the home of Brian and Marcia Olenych.]

• Mr. Bell Dunn, Mrs. E.F. McNair, Raymond McNair and wife, of Binghamton, are visiting at John McCune’s.

• John Northrup, and daughter, Mrs. Scutt and children, spent Monday with his daughter, Mrs. Will Oliver in Harpersfield.

• David J. Miller, of Walton, with a carpenter, is making repairs on the barn on the homestead farm, which is back on his hands. [David was named for his grandfather, who came to the United States around 1815 from Scotland. The farm was in the Bramley Mountain area.]

• Dr. and Mrs. Trader and children, of Sonyea, N.Y., are visiting her father, James W. Thomson. Mrs. Trader is also a physician.

• F.W. Hyatt, who a few weeks ago moved to Delhi, has moved into the house on the former Thomas Mabon farm on the Turnpike.  During the moving Mrs. Hull, his housekeeper, broke her wrist.

August 14, 1925

• Mrs. Gideon Miller, of Hamden, is a visitor in town. [This likely was the former Christiana Northrup.]

• Mrs. James A. Gow has been visiting her sons at Endicott.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Alex Thomson uptown on August 8, a son. [Actually, the Thomson's had a daughter, Thelma Eloise, on October 7. Mrs. Thomson was the former Thelma Joslin. Thelma Eloise later married George Fletcher. She passed away in 1992.]

• The Coulter reunion will be held on August 19, at J.W. Thomson’s.

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are Margaret Storie to Eugene Storie $1.

• Mrs. and Mrs. Henry Monroe are spending a few days in New York City.

• Harold Kern, of Ithaca, was a guest at the Dickson home over the week end.

• Mr. and Mrs. William Aitkens of Long Island, are visiting his parents here.

• Master Alex Hilson has been spending the past week with Master Robert Hunt at Delhi.

• Mrs. Scholas and three children, of Walton, are visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Smith. [Mrs. Scholas was actually Mrs. Horace Schloss. She was born Helen Eusebia Smith in 1899.]

• Mr. and Mrs. Charles Thomson and children, of Katona, N.Y., spent a few days this week with his father, Jas W. Thomson. 

• Mrs. George Decker, Mrs. Arthur Decker, Mrs. William Armstrong and Mrs. Hugh Galland spent Tuesday at Margaretville.

• Mr. and Mrs. Gaylie Hafele and his mother, Mrs. Charles Hafele, have gone to Canada to visit his brother, Dr. Jardine Hafele.

• Jayson McCumber died at the home of his son, Harry McCumber in upper Bovina, on August 9. The funeral was held Tuesday and interment made at Margaretville. His age was 69 years. He was a stone mason by trade.

Attacked by Bull

Last Thursday Elmer Gladstone was attacked by a bull and knocked down. Fortunately the bull then walked away a short distance and before it could renew hostilities Mr. Gladstone made his escape.  All the other members of the family were absent from home. [I believe this is Robert Elmer Gladstone, son of George Gladstone and Helen Strangeway. He survived this attack and lived another 30 years, dying in 1951 at the age of 81.]

August 21, 1925

• Mr. and Mrs. James Rogers and two sons, of New York, were callers here Tuesday.

• There was a large attendance at the Coulter reunion held Wednesday at Jas W. Thomson’s.

• Milton Hasting spent from Friday until Wednesday with his brother, Elmer Hastings, at Saranac.

• Rev. Tucker, a representative of the Anti-Saloon League, preached at the U.P. church Sabbath morning.

• G.D. Miller is having the basement wall under his barn rebuilt. He will move the barn back about five feet.

• Mrs. John McCune entertained her Sabbath School class on the heights of Utsayantha at Stamford on Tuesday.

• Employees of the New York State Gas and Electric Company have set the stakes to run the line into Bovina Center.

• Mrs. Charles Scovell, son, Robert and daughter, Bertha, of Glen Cove, Long Island, are visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Decker.

Bovina Woman Breaks Arm

Mrs. John McCune had the misfortune to have her arm broken between the shoulder and elbow.  She was returning from Stamford and at Delhi as she approached the turn from Main to Kingston street she put out her arm to give the signal a truck backed into her car at that moment and her arm was caught in such a manner as to break it.  She was taken to the office of Dr. Goodrich, where the fracture was given attention. [This probably was the former Ida Jane McNair. She was in her 50s when this accident occurred. She died in 1953.]

August 28, 1925

• A new roof is being put on the Bovina Center school house.

• Alex Myers was at Andes on business errands Wednesday.

• This section was visited by a heavy white frost Saturday morning.

• Loron Maxin moved this week into the house on David J. Miller’s farm.

• Millard Gow and wife and Willard Gow and wife, of Endicott, were here Wednesday.

• Mrs. Bell Laing, of Andes, is visiting her niece, Mrs. Bell Hilson and other relatives. [Mrs. Laing was the former Isabella Anderson. Mrs. Hilson was married to Alex Hilson. Both women were widows at this point.]

• Milton R. Hoy and three children, of Oil City, came Wednesday for a visit with Bovina relatives.

• Miss Mary Flamsburg, of South Hampton, Long Island, is a guest of her friend, Miss Jane Hilson.

• Born in New York City, August 18, to Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Miller, a son. The father was a former resident here. 

• The Archibald family reunion was held Wednesday at the home of Mrs. Alexander Hilson. There was large attendance, about 100 of the clan being present.

• Henry M. Archibald came up from New York City this week to attend the Archibald reunion. He was accompanied by his daughters, Mrs. Agnes McGill and Mrs. Irene Craddick, and granddaughters, Miss Irene McGill and Miss Agnes Craddick. They made the trip by auto with William Scanlon as driver.

New Residence of Miss Gerry

Plans are said to be nearly completed for the fine new summer home which Miss Angelica Gerry of New York and Lake Delaware is to build on the former J.K. Russell place, which Miss Gerry purchased last year, near the Lake Delaware church.  The building will be of colonial style; will have 23 rooms, and will be built of native stone, to be taken from the place, and will be on a knoll which affords a delightful view. [This became Ancrum and stood until after Miss Gerry's death in 1960. It was demolished a few years later.]