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

Life in Bovina 125 years ago this month, as reported in the pages of the Andes Recorder. 

October 5, 1900

• Alex Hilson was at Delhi Monday.

• James Muir was here from Andes on Tuesday.

• Peter Arbuckle was in town Monday from Delhi.

• A.F. Storie, of Newburg, is a visitor in town.

• George Gladstone visited Andes one day recently.

• Leslie McNee has returned from his work at Stamford.

• William Hoy, of Oil City, was here the first of the week.

• The Methodist parsonage has received a new dress of paint.

• Mrs. Alex Hilson and Miss Jennie Archibald were at Delhi Tuesday.

• The infant child of Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Burgin is seriously ill at this writing. [This likely was their son, Paul Marvin Burgin, who was born in June 1900. He would survive his childhood illness, dying in Delhi in 1983.]

• Mrs. Archie Maynard has purchased a light quartered oak surry from C.L. Huber.

• John Storie was down at Delhi Tuesday, as were also Samuel and Maggie Storie.

• Alex Hilson is having the water brought from across on the sidehill to his barn.

• A game of ball Friday between the boys and married men resulted in favor of the boys.

• Mr. and Mrs. John R. Hoy are visiting their son at Oil City, Pennsylvania, stopping at Walton and Ithaca enroute.

• Rev. W.L.C. Samson and Elder D. L. Thompson are attending the meeting of Synod at Philadelphia this year.

• A.T. Hyzer, of Madison, South Dakota, was in town Friday.  His wife was Mary Cathels, a native of this town.

• The old veterans would like to know why they were not given excursion rates from Bloomville to Stamford last week.

• Charles Carman was in town Tuesday and took down the building which he has used for two or three years for a photograph gallery.

• Miss Minnie B. Ruff has entered the Delaware Academy at Delhi, and will devote the larger part of her time to vocal and instrumental music.

October 12, 1900

• Alex. Hilson had a cow die Saturday.

• T.S. Miller was in this village Monday.

• W.L. White was at Stamford Saturday.

• Barton Jackson was in this place on Monday.

• Alex Hilson is in New York city this week.

• Robert Feiro was over at Andes on Saturday.

• John W. Blair was at Bloomville on Saturday.

• John Aitkin, of Delhi, was seen in town Saturday.

• Thomas Gordon and wife were at Delhi Saturday. 

• Frank D.M. Landon and his bride were on Sabbath.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Robson September 10, a son.

• Miss Nellie Myers is very low this (Thursday) morning.

• David Hoy, of Colchester, has been a guest in this place.

• Mrs. Muller and daughter Frederika visited Delhi Friday.

• Anna Dumond, of Stamford, has been a guest in town.

• James H. Liddle and wife, of Andes were in town Saturday.

• Dr. Dickson, wife and daughter went to the City Wednesday.

• Andrew Tuttle and wife, of Andes, were in this place Wednesday.

• Mrs. A.O. Butts and Mrs. Thomas Gordon were at Arkville Friday.

• Adam Laidlaw and Milton Hastings are expected home from the west this week.

• Miss Susan White, of Fennimore, Wisconsin, is a guest of relatives in town.

• George Hunter and family, of Colchester, were guests at William Cook’s the first of the week.

• Elmer Thomson and wife, of Long Island, are guests of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Thomson.

• We understand that James L. Ormiston will move from Pennsylvania to Maryland, where his brother, Thomas, resides.

• The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be observed in the United Presbyterian church the third Sabbath of October, with preparatory services on the preceeding (sic) Friday and Saturday. 

• At the ball game Saturday between the married men and boys the score stood 12 to 11 in favor of the married men.  Each side has now won a game and the third will played Saturday.

• All those wishing to subscribe for a copy of the 144th Regiment history, written by J. Harvey McKee, can do so by calling on B.S. Miller, who has been appointed to solicit subscriptions in Bovina.

October 19, 1900

• Reed Dumond was seen in town on Friday.

• Ephriam Worden was here from Andes Friday.

• W.J. Hyzer, of Andes, was in this place Tuesday.

• R.R. Gladstone and wife were visitors here Tuesday.

• Miss Anna Bell Thompson was up form Delhi Saturday.

• Rev. Piper preached to the Methodist church here Tuesday night.

• John Dunn, of Binghamton, has been a guest at Peter McNair’s.

• W.C. Russell and wife and Miss Ella Forrest visited Delhi Tuesday. 

• The first day of registration Saturday 315 were registered as against 314 last year.

• Mrs. Joseph Brown, of Downsville, who has been living in Bovina, died last week.

• James Hoag, of California, who formerly lived in Glenburnie, has been visiting in town. 

• James Laing has moved from Andes onto James Ormiston’s farm (the old Andrew Archibald farm.).

• Among those at Delhi Wednesday were Frank Gownlock and wife, Marshall Scott and Mrs. Slater.

• Alex. Hilson had a heifer break its leg Saturday by turning around quickly.  It was killed and the meat peddled out.

• At the Republican rally last Thursday night Hon. D.L. Thompson was chosen chairman. Messrs Burnett and Nichols made excellent addresses and held the closet attention of their audience. 

• Miss Nellie Myers whose serious illness we mentioned last week, died Friday morning, aged 20 years.  She had been ill for several months, suffering with gatherings in the head.  The funeral was held Sabbath at 12:15.  Rev. Samson preached the sermon, and Rev. Williams read the scripture lesson and offered prayer. [“Gatherings in the head” was a general term that likely referred to some kind of cerebral access.]

• Last Friday David Oliver and wife started to the drive to the village and had not proceeded far before they met with an accident.  Some one had skinned a coon and left the carcass laying in the middle of the road, and this frightened the horse causing it to turn around in the road.  Mr. and Mrs. Oliver were thrown out and while the former escaped with bruises the latter had her shoulder dislocated and was otherwise injured Leonard Sloan who works for R.A. Thompson happened to be where he saw the accident and went to the rescue.

October 26, 1900

• Joseph Raitt is visiting in town.

• E.J. Hanlon was in this place Monday.

• John G. Russell was at Bloomville Friday.

• John Storie was down at Delhi on Tuesday.

• James Mills and wife were in town recently.

• Hugh Munn and wife were in this place Friday.

• Thomas Rich, of Hobart, was seen in town Monday.

• Dr. Dickson, wife and daughter have returned from the city.

• Elmer Hastings, wife and daughter were Delhi visitors Friday.

• The truant officer has been making a tour of the schools in town.

• A number intend to go to Andes to hear Ray next Tuesday night.

• At the sociable last week at W.L. Moore’s the receipts were $7.20.

• The total registration this year in Bovina is 324, as against 321 last year.

• Mrs. John G. Russell returned from Walton Wednesday, after an extended visit.

• William Miller of Walton, is visiting his brothers and other relatives in town.

• The carpenters are pushing the work on F.R. Coulter’s wagon house right along.

• Adam Laidlaw and Milton Hastings arrived home Friday from their western trip.

• John Oliver and family and Mrs. G. D. Miller visited the County Seat on Thursday.

• George Cable is at Delhi this week as a grand juror and Charles Hafele as a trial juror.

• Dixon Thompson, William Archibald, Elmer Hastings and John G. Russell were at Delhi Wednesday.

• Communion services were held in the United Presbyterian church on Sabbath, Rev. Sankey assisting the pastor.

• Richard Smith is visiting his sons at Walton. His son-in-law, Mr. Seeley, will move back to Walton from California.

• The receipts of the sociable held at Lancelot Thompson’s Wednesday evening for the benefit of the Methodist church amounted to $23.60.

• A fishing social will be held at G.D. Miller’s Friday evening, November 2, for the benefit of the Methodist church.  All are cordially invited to attend.

• Rev. T.M. Slater and wife expect to soon visit Europe, where he will meet his sister, who for some years has been doing mission work in Syria.  The item noted above which has been, published in some of the county papers, we are informed is untrue.

• Mrs. Jane Murray Thompson, relict of Walter Thompson, died at Davenport, Thursday, October 18, aged 67 years and 7 months. She was born at Perthshire, Scotland. Seven children survive her – five boys and two girls. The remains were brought here Friday and the funeral was held Saturday at the residence of her son, Elliott. Rev. Samson preaching the sermon and Rev Slater offering prayer. The interment was made at Delancey. 

Bovina to Have a Lecture Course.

Arrangement for the Bovina lecture course are being completed and negotiations for the following lectures are under way, vis: Colonel L.F. Copeland, Dr. James Hedley, Rev. A.A. Willies, D.D., and either the Metropolitan Quartette or the Norton-Wald Musical Combination.  This is thought to be the best course ever offered to the Bovina public.  Course tickets and reserved seats for the above course and an entertainment by local talent will be sold for $1.  It is expected that tickets may be procured on election day of A.B. Phyfe at Strangeway’s store.

Bovina and the American Revolution - Elisha Maynard (1763-1840)

On November 12, 1778, a company of militia in Westchester County was on guard duty at the home of the colonel of the regiment. Not long before daylight, the company was attacked by a British infantry force, killing the regiment’s lieutenant and a private, wounding the captain and taking the rest of the force, including the colonel they were trying to protect, as prisoners.  

One of the privates in this company, was Elisha B. Maynard, who later was one of earliest Europeans (if not the first) to settle in what became the town of Bovina. But before Elisha’s adventurous trek as a pioneer in the wilds of the Northern Catskills, he led an adventurous life while in the service of his country. 

He enlisted in March 1778 while residing in the Town of Harrison, Westchester County, serving until November 1778 when he was taken prisoner. He, along with other members of his company, was taken to New York City, first in the “provost jail” where he spent three months then to the “Sugar House” where he remained a prisoner until April 1779 when he was exchanged. He was later paid for his time in captivity 12 pounds 7 shillings and 1 pence.

Image from Wikipedia entry for Sugar House dates from long after the war, but provides an idea of what one of the prisons in which Maynard was housed looked like.

The Sugar houses prisons in New York City were notoriously bad. They were used to store sugar and molasses imported from the British West Indies. These were owned by several prominent families, including the Livingstons, ironically, who owned much of what is now Bovina. The sugar houses were confiscated by the British when they occupied New York City to be used for prisons. Over 17,000 soldiers are estimated to have perished under the substandard conditions in these sugar houses and prison ships over the course of the war, more than double the number of killed in battle. 

Revolutionary War veteran Levi Hanford from Walton, who was captured in March 1777, about a year and a half before Maynard, described his experiences in the sugar house. The cramped conditions initially housed about 40 to 50 prisoners but the population soon swelled to between 400 and 500, though attrition was constant due to those succumbing to illness. Rations consisted of pork and sea biscuits, which were often moldy from sea water and infested with worms. Supplies for sick prisoners were provided by the fledgling American government, as "the British furnished nothing" according to Hanford.

Elisha was released in New Jersey in April 1779. He had to walk back to New York across the  Hudson River near Tarrytown before he could get back to the home of his father in Bedford. He continued to serve throughout the rest of the war, mainly in Westchester County as a private in various companies. In March 1781, he joined a company to “convey and guard a number of British prisoners from Bedford…to the American Prison at Fishkill in the County of Dutchess…”

After the war, he lived about eight years in the Town of Harrison before moving his family to what is now Bovina. He first arrived in 1792, leasing about 150 acres of land in the northern part of Bovina. Married with 3 children, he and his wife Esther would have 12 children all together. 

In 1828, he turned his Bovina farm over to his son and moved back to Westchester County, settling in Rye, NY, dying ther in 1840. He had applied for a pension in May 1834. 

Unfortunately, we do not know where he is buried, though I’m assuming it was in Westchester County. 

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

October 2, 1925

• Wednesday at John W. Blair’s sale of cows no big prices were received.

• Wilber Doig is moving this week to the farm which he recently purchased on Elk Creek.

• Mrs. Gideon Miller, of Hamden, spent over the week end with Mrs. Andrew T. Doig.

• Hilson Brothers have sold their entire dairy of Holstein cows to W.D. Ceas.  They will buy tested cows.

• William A. Hoy and Jas Ackerley are trial jurors drawn from Bovina for October court. None were drawn for the grand jury.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frankl Brown, who for several years have been employed on the farm of John Blair, are moving to Delhi this week. 

• Ted Fuller has rented what is known as the Armstrong farm, to Alfred Johnson, from near Arkville, who has taken possession.

• Mrs. Estella Oliver, who has been with her daughter, Mrs. Fred Thomson for some time, has gone to visit her son, William Oliver, at North Kortright.

• At the Republican caucus Saturday there was a spirited contest for collector between Mrs. Alex Myers and Mary Bouton, and the first named won by only one vote.

BOVINA NOMINATIONS – Republicans and Democrats Willing to Serve the Dear People

Below are the nominations made by the Republican and Democratic parties in the town of Bovina.

Republican – William J. Storie, Supervisor; D.G. Currie, Town Clerk; Isabelle Myers, Collector; John W. Storie, M.T. Hastings, Thomas C. Strangeway (vacancy), Justices of the Peace; Walter G. Coulter, Town Superintendent Highways; David Draffin, Assessor 4 years, William J. Archibald, Assessor 2 years, William C. Russell (vacancy) Assessor 2 years; D.D. Liddle, Overseer Poor; H.C. Burgin, School Director.

Democrat – Wallace B. Smith, Supervisor; John W. McCune, Town Clerk; Jennie I. Hoy, Collector; James A. Boggs, Howard McPherson, Rema M. Hobbie (vacancy), Justices of Peace; Guy C. Rockefeller, Town Superintendent Highways; George Decker, Assessor 4 years, Howard Campbell, Assessor 2 years, Charles Fuller (vacancy) Assessor 2 years; Evertt Jocelyn, Overseer Poor; Frank T. Miller, School Director.

October 9, 1925

• Mrs. David Oliver, of Hamden, was a recent visitor in town.

• Mr. and Mrs. Sloan Archibald were County Seat visitors Tuesday.

• Ralph Hillis, our garage man, was at Binghamton on Saturday.

• Robert G. Thomson has rented rooms in Delhi and will move from Frasers.

• Dr. Leonard Thomson, of Connecticut was here the first of the week to see his father.

• Senator Peter G. Gerry spent last Wednesday and Thursday at his Lake Delaware estate.

• Mrs. Georgie More, of Stamford, and Mrs. Ella Benjamin, of Liberty, are visitors here.

• Mrs. J.A. Thomson, of Delhi, called on her cousin, Mrs. Walter Wilson, on Sabbath.

• Mr. and Mrs. Ray Thomson and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Parsons were Delhi callers Saturday.

• Mrs. H.L. MacWhirter was here on Tuesday from Andes calling on Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Gladstone.

• Lewis Baker attended the Cobleskill fair last Thursday and the Binghamton fair on Saturday.

• Miss Angelica L. Gerry, who has spent the summer at Lake Delaware, returned to New York this week.

• Rev. W.L.C. Samson, of Pittsburg a former pastor, is preaching at revival meetings in the U.P. church.

• William Archibald sold his entire dairy this week to Gladstone Brothers, of Andes.  He will restock with tested cows.

• John W. Blair has secured Mr. and Mrs. Rowe, of Hobart, to work for him on his farm, and they moved the past week.

• Miss Jennie Bigger has returned to her home in Bovina Center after helping Ray Thomson during the cauliflower season.

• Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey McFarland and Mr. and Mrs. Milton Liddle and daughter left this week for Jamestown on a vacation.

• Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Rusgrove, of Terryville, Connecticut, are guests of her parents Mr. and Mrs. Robert Parsons, in Upper Bovina.

• William Crosier, who sold his household goods last Thursday, has gone to Steubenville, Ohio, to make his home with his son, Harry Crosier. [William was a widower. He stayed with his son until his passing in 1931.]

Aged Bovina Man Dead

Frank C. Armstrong died at the home of his son, William Armstrong, October 7, at the advanced age of 87 years. He was a native of Bovina and much of his life was spent in the town. For the past few years he had resided in Walton, returning to Bovina the past summer.

He was three times married, his first wife being Nettie Burns, his second Mrs. Brown and his third Mrs. Neidig. He is survived by the son at whose home he died and a daughter, Mrs. Ted Fuller, both by his first wife.

Home on Vacation

Dr. Norris B. Whitcomb, who went to Assiut, Egypt, six years ago as a medical missionary under the United Presbyterian board, has arrived at his former home in Walton on a vacation of fifteen months. Assiut is in upper Egypt, about 200 miles above Cairo. Mrs. Whitcomb and two children came home last April. For several years he was physician at Bovina. [Dr. Whitcomb would go back to Egypt and came back for another furlough in 1933. He returned to Egypt and died there in May 1935.]

October 16, 1925

• Ralph Barnhart is having changes made in his bath room.

• Mrs. A.S. Banker and son, Gilbert, spent Sabbath at Pine Hill.

• Norton Forrest is preparing to put water in his stables this fall.

• Thomas Van Deusen, of Walton was an over the week end visitor in town.

• Robert Robinson has purchased a drag saw from Thomas A. Raitt, of Andes.

• Mrs. Herbert Thomson and son, of Andes, were Monday guest of Mrs. Andrew Doig.

• Mrs. Ella Teneick and daughter, of Oneonta, were visitors at David Liddle’s the past week.

• Mrs. William Armstrong is confined to her bed. Miss Nettie Doig is attending to the household duties.

• Robert A. Thomas and wife, and William Puffer and wife of Hobart, were recent guests at William Armstrong.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Myers and Jack Myers, of Endicott, spent of the week end with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Myers.

• John Blair, John Hilson and William Archibald, who were at Vermont last week after dairies of tested cows, purchased 86.

• The Meetings at U.P. church the past week brought many visitors to hear Rev. W.L.C. Samson. We note among them Rev. and Mrs. Skinner. Mrs. William Hastings, Aaron Beams of Oneonta; Henry Campbell, wife and daughter, William Ward and family, of Walton; William Aitkens and wife, Mrs. Gideon Miller, Mrs. McNaught, of Hamden; William T. Black and wife, Geo Cable, Mrs. Robert Hunt, James A. Thomson and wife, Wilson McFarland; James Robinson and dauter, of Delhi; Andrew J. Thomson, of New Kingston; Marjorie Boyd and sister, of Pittsburg.

October 23, 1925

• The Bovina Public Library building is being re-shingled. [This is now the Bovina museum]

• Mrs. Hamilton Russell, who has been on the sick list is improving. [This was Cecil Russell’s mother.]

• Mrs. John McCune, who broke her arm several weeks ago, is able to be out again.

• Milton Liddle and family and Mrs. David Liddle were shoppers at Oneonta Saturday.

• William Crosier started this week for Steubenville, Ohio, to make his home with his son.

• A hollowe’en party will be held at the home of Everet DeSilva on Friday evening, October 30.

• Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Strangeway and Miss Nettie Doig were visitors at Margaretville on Saturday.

• Edward Gladstone and family and Mrs. Robert E. Thomson were at Margaretville and Andes last Saturday.

• Mrs. Mary Corsier, who has spent some time here, returned to the home of her son in Philadelphia this week. 

• There was no preaching service at the R.P. church last Sabbath, owing to the absence of the pastor, Rev. A. M. Thomson.

• In the estate of Mary A. Russell late of Bovina, letters of administration have been issued to Erwin Russell. Estimate is $2,500 real and $2,750 personal. One son is the heir.

October 30, 1925

• Mrs. James Monroe, of Delhi, spent the week end in town.

• Mrs. Margaret Salton, of Delancey, is visiting her friend, Miss Margaret Storie.

• Mrs. Thomas Gordon, who is taking care of Miss Dean at Delhi, was home for a week, returning last Sabbath.

• Mrs. Bell McPherson, who has been in Walton the past year, is visiting sons, Everett and Charles McPherson.

• T. Montgomery, in upper Bovina recently had the great toe on one foot amputated by Dr. Thomson at Delhi.

• Mrs. Morehouse, who makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Loron Maxin, is visiting her son at Rock Rift.

• Floyd Rockefeller, who has been living on the Bryden farm, has purchased the Layman place at East Delhi.

• Twin sons were born on Saturday, October 24, to Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Davidson, of Bovina, at the home of J.E.W. Thompson in Delhi. One of the babies died. [The surviving baby was Alan Lloyd Davidson, who later served in World War II. He died in 2004.]

• Dr. N.B. Whitcomb, a former physician here, who has been a medical missionary in Egypt for several years, being sent by the Bovina U.P. church spoke at the morning service last Sabbath. Next Sabbath there will be a temperance sermon.

• The Beacon Light Sabbath school class will hold a Hollowe’en social in the church parlors October 31. On Election day there will be bake sale at Cecil Russell’s store. The Willin Workers will serve an oyster dinner in the church basement on Election day. 

Leg Re-Broken

Alva Shultis, of Meridale, who has been crippled for several months due to a broken and crushed leg, went to Pittsburg, Penn., this week and expected to have the leg rebroken and reset in order to straighten the foot. His wife accompanied him. The Shultis family were former residents of Bovina.