"When I plant a seed, I visualize that in bloom." Stella McPherson

 

In the summer of 1991, the Delaware County Historical Association mounted a major exhibition called “Innovative Traditions: Creativity and Folk Art.” Funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts, the exhibit looked at the relationship between creativity and the traditional nature of folk art. One of the featured artists was Bovina’s very own Stella McPherson, with a focus on the various altar arrangements she made for many years for the Bovina United Presbyterian Church. 

Here’s the information about Stella from the exhibit brochure: 

Stella McPherson came to Bovina when she married her husband Frank in 1943. At that time, she moved into Frank’s family farm. Her first garden was started with a packet of Shirley Poppy seeds she found around the house. Since that time her yard has become a virtual showcase of colorful flowers and bushes. As a member of the Bovina Presbyterian Church, she was responsible for the construction of their harvest altars for many years. The tradition of harvest altars in Delaware County can be documented as far back as the late 1800’s. Harvest altars are only one type of altar decoration carried out by the churchgoers all over the county. Other altar decorations can be found at Christmastime, or springtime ‘Garden Sunday’ altars. Stella’s were especially well known for their beauty and abundance and for her ability to supply quantities of materials from her own gardens and her expressive, creative designs. 

Stella was born Stella Sluiter in South Dakota in July 1913, the daughter of Janis and Jennie Sluiter. She came to Delaware County with her parents in the early 1930s. In 1943, she married Frank McPherson and they settled on the family farm in Bovina. Stella was a teacher for many years, starting out in one and two-room schools in Bovina and finishing as a kindergarten teacher in Andes. She passed away in 2006. 

These wonderful images of Stella and her garden from the exhibit were taken by Treadwell photographer Drew Harty. I've also included a photo that he took of Stella's husband Frank.

Frank McPherson

October 1926 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

Life in Bovina 100 years ago this month, as reported in the pages of the Andes Recorder

October 1, 1926

• Mr. and Mrs. Fred Thomson were at Ithaca last week.

• Mrs. John Aitkens and son were Andes visitors Monday evening.

• T.C. Strangeway and Erwin Russell were Andes visitors on Tuesday.

• Mrs. James A. Gow spent Saturday with her cousin, Mrs. George Polley at Andes.

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

• Miss Mary Thomson, who recently returned from a trip to California, will soon go to her new home in Oneonta.

• The ice house and woodshed of Ray Thomson in upper Bovina, was destroyed recently by fire of unknown origin.

• Rev. F.N. Crawford preached last Sabbath afternoon at New Kingston. Rev. Roseburg, the pastor, is in Ohio on a vacation.

• Anna Boggs, the four-year-old daughter of James Boggs, underwent an operation at Delhi on Wednesday for an infection on the ankle. [Anna married Glen Hobbie and later Harold Lounsbury.]

• Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Russell were given a surprise visit last week by a number of their friends on the occasion of their tenth wedding anniversary.

• William S. Gordon, who graduated last June from Pratts Institute, as a mechanical engineer, has taken a position with the New York Central railroad. [William would work for the New York Central until his death while traveling on a NY Central train from Chicago to New York in June 1960.]

• Miss Marten Monroe, daughter of the late James Monroe, and Arthur Kellam were married at Binghamton, September 15. They will reside in Binghamton. [Martena and Arthur were married for 49 years until Arthur’s death in 1975. They had one son, Arthur, born in 1929.]

Leaves Lake Delaware

Walter Doenges, for the past two and a half years herdsman on the Gerry estate at Lake Delaware, left last week to take a similar position in Massachusetts, at an increase of salary. His successor comes from Virginia. [Walter would be married to Ada Quinn, a grand daughter of A.P. Lee of Bovina in 1927.]

BOVINA MAN CAUSED ACCIDENT

E.C. Parsons Tries to Pass Auto at Frasers—Woman Injured.

Sabbath afternoon a collision occurred on the Delhi-Walton state road at Fraser’s, due to the car starting to pass another without having a clear road ahead.

Clark Branning, of Maryland, with his wife and two children, and with his brother-in-law, Earl Jackson, at the wheel, were enroute home in their Ford sedan, after a week-end trip to Equinunk, Penn. Two cars had been behind them and the first passed, the second car, driven by E.C. Parsons, of Bovina, was following closely and speeded up to pass them, when a car coming in the opposite direction appeared so close at hand that to avoid hitting it Mr. Parsons turned sharply and his car hit the front wheel of the Banning car, throwing it off the road and into a tree, where it overturned. Mrs. Banning was thrown through the top of the car and was severely cut and bruised on the head and sustained contusions all over her body. She was taken to the Delhi hospital but was able to go home Wednesday.

The others in the car were considerably bruised. The Ford was badly smashed. Mr. Parsons, who was responsible for the accident, promised to make good the damages.

October 8, 1926

• William J. Storie made a business trip to Kingston on Tuesday.

• Rev. F.N. Crawford will go [to] the meeting of U.P. Synod next week.

• Alex Myers left Thursday to spend a vacation with his son, Frank Myers, at Endicott.

• John Thomson, up Pink street, broke both bones of his arm while cranking his Ford truck.

• The Young Ladies Missionary Society held an all day meeting with Mrs. Wm. J. Storie on Thursday.

• Mr. Stevens, who drives team for the Hard Maple Lumber Co., has moved his family from Hamden to part of William Boggs’ house.

• Harry Robinson has had his house treated to a new dress of paint. He has also put in a new concrete steps and walk leading to the house.

• Mrs. F.N. Crawford received word Monday of the death of her father at New Concord, Ohio. He had been an invalid for about four years.

• Little Francis Decker, who has been very ill with scarlet fever, is now on the road to recovery, but will not be able to walk for a month yet. [Francis was the son of Arthur Decker and Beulah Armstrong. He ultimately survived this attack, but it may have impacted his later health. He enlisted in the Army in 1942 but was discharged after only six weeks. Married with two daughters, he died at the age of 51 in 1970.] 

• The Christian Union held a business meeting followed by a social time at Rev. Crawford’s on Tuesday evening. Rev. and Mrs. Hannum, from West Delhi, were present and he gave a talk.

• J.D. Burns, who has been with his daughter, Mrs. Howard McPherson, during the summer, moved this week to part of the house on the David J. Miller farm, which he purchased some time ago.

Sudden Death in Bovina

Fernando P. Hunt died suddenly at his home at the cemetery entrance in the Town of Bovian on Thursday evening, September 30, aged 74 years. He had retired for the night and when his wife went up stairs a short time later she found him dead. Besides his wife he leaves a son, Robert Hunt, of Delhi and an adopted daughter, Mrs. Howard Miller of Mt. Vernon, N.Y. The funeral was held Saturday with interment in the Bovina Center cemetery.

October 15, 1926

• Ralph Hillis spent a few days the past week in New York City. 

• Mrs. James A. Gow is visiting Mrs. Margaret Boggs at Albany for a few days.

• Miss Frances Sloan, of Delhi, spent over the week end with her friend Miss Margaret Laidlaw.

• Rev. F.N. Crawford left Monday morning to spend a few days with relatives at New Concord, Ohio.

• Charles A. McPherson, on the former Robert C. Scott at the stone arch bridge, is having his large barn painted.

• The Young Ladies Missionary Society held a party at the home of Mrs. John Armstrong on Monday evening in honor of Mrs. Mary Mulnix, a former resident of Bovina. [This was Mrs. Chas J. Mullenex. Mr. and Mrs. Mullenex moved to Ilion, NY in 1916, where he died the following year. I have found little information about Mary, except that she lived in Lake Delaware and was born in Scotland around 1876.]

• Superintendent Walter G. Coulter and his force of men are putting in about 300 feet of stone road connecting the Bovina Center Creamery with the main macadam highway. 

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Myers, of Endicott, were here over Tuesday night, bringing home his father, Alex Myers, who had spent a week there. They left Wednesday for a trip to New York.

• Mrs. Mary Crosier left Thursday for Philadelphia, Penn. to spend the winter with her son, Dr. James Crosier. Mrs. Walter Wilson, the postmistress at Bovina, accompanied her for a week’s stay. [Mrs. Crosier was the former Marion R. Johnson. Born in Bovina, she married Alexander Crosier in 1889. She was widowed in 1908 and died in 1949.]

Poultry man on Gerry Estate

Elmer Middlemis, of Delhi, who last year graduated from State Agricultural school, is now in charge of the poultry on the Gerry estate at Lake Delaware. 

Bovina Man Injured

John W. Storie, who lives up Pink street in Bovina, was struck by the car of Judge Bruce, of Andes, near the Kingston street corner in Delhi, last Thursday afternoon. He had just gotten out of his car. Dr. Schumann attended him and found that his injuries consisted of abrasions, bruises and a cuts on the leg. 

Bovina Estate

Estate of Thomas R. Boggs, late of Bovina. Will admitted to probate and letters testamentary issued to James A Boggs and Callie J. Boggs. Estimate $3,500 personal and $50 real. To wife, Janet Boggs, is willed $500; residue in trust to wife and at her death Callie Boggs is to receive $1,500; Maggie E. Ormiston and Dora A. Foreman each $200; James A. Boggs, residue.

Arm Broken

Mrs. Mary Lunn, of Lake Delaware, fell last week and broke one of the bones in her forearm. She is now at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Hoag, in Glenburnie.

October 22, 1926

• Mrs. David Wordon, of Bloomville was a recent visitor here.

• Miss Mary Gladstone is the new clerk in Hilson Brothers Store.

• Mrs. Ralph Barnhart and young son are visiting relatives in Jefferson. [Mrs. Barnhart was the former Anna Ruland. Her son was Ralph.]

• Miss Jessie Stuart, of Franklin, was a caller in town the first of the week.

• Miss Mary Thomson, of Oneonta, is visiting her brother, Elliott Thomson.

• Rev. A.M. Thomson, pastor of the R.P. Church, has returned with his bride.

• Mrs. Robert Foreman, of Walton, has been visiting her mother, Mrs. Thos R. Boggs. [Mrs. Forman was formerly Dora Alice Boggs (1874-1962). Mrs. Boggs was the former Jane Archibald, who died in 1930.]

• Mrs. and Mrs. Harry Robinson and daughter visited his sister at Schenectady last Saturday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Low, of Brooklyn, have been visiting his cousin, Mrs. Lancelot Thomson.

• Professor and Mrs. Leon Taggart and sons, of Oneonta, spent Sabbath with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T.C. Strangeway.

• Charles Cunningham, a brother of Mrs. James E. Hastings, died recently in Pipestone county, Minnesota. His age was 73 years.

• Little Francis Decker, who was improving from scarlet fever, has not been so well for a few days and is again confined to bed.

• Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Kardeen and family, of Montrose, Penn. spent from Sabbath until Wednesday with his sister, Mrs. Milton Stratton. 

• Special services are being held every evening this week in the U.P. church. The series of meetings will close on Sabbath with communion services.

• The Bovina town school fair was held in Bovina Center on Monday, October 18. There was a large attendance. The exercises, on account of the rain, were held in the U.P. church. [A fuller report appeared in the following week’s edition of the Recorder.]

Bovina Farm Sold

William B. Smith has sold his farm in the part of the town toward Hobart, to a western party. He had lived on the place for 43 years. He may move to Oneonta. 

Foreman-Laidlaw

Clifford Foreman, of Walton, and Bernice Laidlaw, on Kerr’s Creek, were married October 9. The groom is a son of Robert G. Foreman formerly of Bovina.

A Card

We desire to thank the many friends for their kindness during the illness and following the death of our loved one; Also for flowers, the singing, and the minister for his comforting words. Harvey J. Robertson, Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Forrest, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Burgin.

October 29, 1926

• Harry Robinson is having his house wired for electric lights.

• Frank Miller, manager of the Bovian Center Creamery, was at the County Seat on Tuesday.

• Dr. Leonard Thomson, of Farmington, Connecticut, visited his father and brother one day last week.

• Mr. Craig, the blacksmith, has purchased a home at Hamden and will move there about November 15.

• Lancelot Thomson has erysipelas in his foot. Mr. and Mrs. Low, of Brooklyn, are at the Thomson home for a few days. [Erysipelas is a bacterial skin infection.]

• Mr. and Mrs. Archie Calhoun and her aunt, Mrs. Alex R. Myers, were at Meridale on Tuesday to see Mrs. Calhoun’s father, James Laing, who is on the sick list.

• The week of special services came to a close at the United Presbyterian church with communion services on Sabbath morning. Several vicinity ministers assisted during the week.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Miller and Mrs. Thomas Gordon motored to Albany on Saturday and spent the week end with Margaret Gordon and Mrs. Miller’s Niece, Mabel Winter, who are students at the Albany Teachers College.

UP Elders Meet – Elders Association held at Bovina Center on October 26

The annual convention of the Elders’ association of Delaware Presbytery was held at Bovina Center Tuesday, October 26, with Samuel Read, of Philadelphia, as the principal speaker. H.S. Covert, of Delhi, is president of the association.

The convention opened with a social hour at noon followed by a devotional service led by J.P. Doig. W.J. Storie extended greetings to the delegates and after the response by L.E. Roberts, reports were heard and committees appointed.

The general theme of the convention was Evangelism.

BOVINA HOLDS TOWNSHIP FAIR – Large Number in Attendance – The List of Winners

The annual Bovina school fair was held at Bovina Center, October 18 and was attended by a large number of people.

The sports were very efficiently conducted by Mr. Fields, the Delhi Physical training instructor. The following were chosen as athletic champions to compete at the rally at Delhi, Oct. 23: William Redman, Floyd Aitken, Glen Hobbie, Hugh McPherson, Eleanor Burns, Bernice DeSilva, Ethel Burgin and Olive Bramley.

On account of the weather, the program was held in the Presbyterian church. The three best numbers were first primary department of Dist. 4, Mrs. VanDusen Teacher; second Sist 10, Miss Archibald teacher, and Dist. 6, Miss Dean teacher.

For the best school exhibits ribbons were awarded as follows: First Dist 3, Miss Hoy teacher; second Dist 4 upper grade room, Mr. Banker teacher and third to both Dists 8, Mr. Owen teacher and Dist 11, Miss McPherson teacher.

The prize for the best all around school, which is a silver loving cup was awarded to the primary department of the Bovina Center school. This cup, presented by John Smith, of Delhi, was won by the pupils in the upper garde of the same school last year. [This cup is now in the Bovina Museum. More on the cup is on the Bovina NY History blog at Bovina (NY) History: School Fair at Bovina Center]

There were a great many club workers to receive pins showing that they had completed their project work. Those who received ribbons were: Poultry A, James Crawford 1st; Alex Hilson 2nd; Archibald Mabon 3d.

Pig A, Robert Burns 1st.

Calf A, Floyd Aitken 1st, Edward Schneider 2nd, John Redman 3d.

Calf C, Walfred Hansen 1st.

Sheep A, Walfred Hansen 1st; Claude Hansen 2d.

Garden A, Pearl Hadley 1st; William Redman 2nd; Grace Redman 3d.

Garden B, Ethel Burgin 1st; Mable Hadley 2nd; Grace Redman 3d.

Sewing B, Anna Gladstone 1st; Ethel Burgin 2nd; Olive Bramley 3d.

Foods, Louise Hilson 1st; Mary Banuat 2nd; Louise Rockfeller 3d.

Farm shop, Charles Speidel 1st; Frank McPherson 2nd; Hugh McPherson 3d.

Ethel Burgin was selected as the one to receive the free trip to Cornell Field Days next June.

This Day in Bovina for September 2026

 

Here's the monthly compilation of the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page entries for September. 

Twenty years ago today, the September 1, 2006 Delaware County Times carried this photo of Bovina Fire Queen Faith Burns serving iced tea at the Bovina Fire Department's annual chicken barbecue on August 24.  

Deliah Sprague Bailey, wife of Jacob Bailey, died 146 years ago today on September 2, 1870 at the age of 60. She was the mother of six children. Her husband survived her by less than two months, dying October 28, 1870.

159 years ago today, the September 3, 1867 Bloomville Mirror carried this curious item from a Bovina correspondent, dated August 25th, 1867: "Having been a constant reader of your paper for many years, and never as yet having submitted anything through its columns to the public, I thought I would follow the example of others, and send you for publication the following problem. And, although it may have come under the observation of many of your readers, yet to others it may be new, and for the consideration of which, we submit it. It may be that your Bovina correspondent, Mr. Rutherford, he who solves problems as slick as Lincoln got out of the theatre, (or some one else) can solve the following one, as slick as Mr. Butler gained renown by stealing silver spoons : A person has a wagon with a mechanical contrivance, by which the difference of the number of revolutions of the wheels on a Journey may be determined. It is known that each of the fore wheels are 5 1/4 feet, and that each of the hind wheels are 7 1/8 feet in circumference. Now when on a journey the fore wheel has made 2,000 revolutions more than the hind wheel, how great was the distance traveled." It was signed A.D.

A response was received and published the following week from someone in Kortright Centre: "The fore wheel is 5 1/4 feet in circumference, and makes 2,000 revolutions, which is 10,500 feet. Now the fore wheel is 1 7/8 feet shorter in circumference than the hind wheel, and if it loses 1 7/8 feet in one revolution it would make as many revolutions as 1 7/8 is contained in 10,500, which is 5,600, or the number of revolutions made by the hind wheel in the whole distances, and 5,600 x 7 1/8 - 39,900 feet, or 7 miles and 183 3/4 rods, the whole distance traveled."

125 years ago today, the September 4, 1901 Delaware Gazette reported that "G.W. Fuller, of Bovina, was brought before Police Justice Hewitt, charged with public intoxication. He pled guilty and was fined $5. The fine was paid."

184 years ago today, September 5, 1842, Bovina resident Henry Luddington was drowned in the Delaware River near Delhi at the age of 59.  He is buried in the Brush Cemetery in the Bovina Center hamlet. It was reported in the September 13, 1842 Delaware Gazette, along with two other drownings in the area. 

Ninety-eight years ago today, the September 6, 1928 Stamford Mirror carried this item: "Rain Interfered with Picnic. The town picnic was well attended. The parade was fine, but the thunder shower in the middle of the afternoon brought everything to a sudden halt. The girls' ball game was only partly finished and the men never played at all on account of the rain." The picnic took place on August 30.

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

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

158 years ago today, on September 9, 1868, Margaret Ellen Strangeway was born in New Jersey, the daughter of the Reverend William Strangeway and Margaret T. Dunn. Her parents were from Delaware County but were living in New Jersey at the time of Margaret's birth. She was married to Oscar A. Felton in 1892 and they lived for some time in Bovina near Lake Delaware. She had two daughters, both of whom predeceased her. She died in 1943 in Walton and was buried in Bovina. Her husband survived until 1950.

178 years ago today, September 10, 1848, John W. Seacord died. Born in 1794, he was the son of William Seacord and Lydia Ganoung. He married Jeanette Fuller in 1821, who survived him. John is buried in the Brush cemetery.

142 years ago today, on September 11, 1884, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror Bovina column, "Quite a number of our citizens went to the Delhi fair today…" The paper also noted that "those who remained at home were favored with a fine view of the balloon as it passed over the town, north of Brushland about 4 p.m." The balloon was provided by Herman Squires, a noted aeronaut. He was in the ballooning business for about 20 years. He traveled around the country attending various fairs with his balloon.

101 years ago today, on September 12, 1925, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, “A heavy storm of rain accompanied by a high wind, passed over Bovina …and numerous trees were blown down.”

Ninety-eight years ago today, the September 13, 1928 Stamford Mirror reported that "a brother and sister of Misses Kate and Freda Muller, who have been west for a number of years are visiting at the Muller House."  The Andes Recorder provided a bit more information; "Werner Muller of Des Moines, Iowa, and his sister, Mrs. Emma Roper, of Hayes, Kansas, are in visiting their sisters, Misses Kate and Freda Muller. See this Bovina NY History blog entry for more information on the Muellers:  http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/01/stories-from-bovina-cemeteries-muller.html

139 years ago today, the Delaware Gazette carried this item in it's September 14, 1887 issue: "When the Delaware and Otsego railroad is completed to the county line all the towns will be touched by railroad except Bovina, the richest of them all." About a decade later, an attempt was made to bring the railroad into Bovina, but it ultimately failed. Go to my Bovina (NY) History blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/03/when-trains-almost-came-i-everything.html for the first of four articles I wrote about the railroad in March 2011.

Sixty years ago today, September 15, 1966, the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Arthur Russell attended the State Exposition at Syracuse and spent some time in the Adirondacks during his vacation." 

105 years ago today, September 16, 1921, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "The body of James D. Calhoun, who was killed in France during the world war, arrived here this week and burial was made Wednesday in Bovina Center cemetery.  Members of Calhoun post of Andes, acted as bearers."  Calhoun died in October 1918.  He left a widow, Anna Bell Barnhart Calhoun.  In 1923, Anna Bell would marry my grandfather, Benson LaFever. 

113 years ago today, on September 17, 1913, Helen Dennis died at her home in Bovina Center. The Andes Recorder reported that "death was due to chronic myocarditis…" Born in 1835, she had lived in Bovina all her life, the daughter of Thomas and Louisa Dennis. After the deaths of her parents, she lived with her younger sister Louisa.

Fifty-two years ago today, the September 18, 1974 issue of the Stamford Mirror Recorder carried in its Bovina column this item: "Mrs. Charles LaFever, Miss Janet McKenzie, Mrs. Francis Tatem and Mrs. Ernest Russell attended the four-county book selection committee meeting on Thursday of last week at the Andes library." The same column also noted that "Miss Kate Birdsall of Albany spent the weekend at the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Roberts."

130 years ago today, on September 19, 1896, Lois Jane and Lloyd Boggs Ormiston were born, twins of Thomas J. Ormiston and Margaret E. Boggs. Lois married Fletcher Davidson in 1921 and would have seven children, of whom four made it to adulthood - Jane (1922-1955), Ed (1923-2019), Alan (1925-2004), and Richard (born 1930). Lois died in 1976 at the age of 79. Lloyd never married and predeceased his sister, dying in Walton in 1971. Lois and Lloyd are both buried in Bovina. Here's Lois and Lloyd with their siblings Wendell and Ruth.  

Paul Fuhrmann arrived in Bovina 105 years ago today, September 20, 1921.  He had recently purchased the farm of W.G. McDivitt  on Coulter Brook Road.  The house was on a side road off Coulter Brook not far from Seedorf Road.  The house was destroyed in a fire in the 1960s. He lived on this farm until around 1930 when he moved into the Bovina Center hamlet. Paul died in Bovina in 1939 and is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

Sixty-one years ago today, on September 21, 1965, Clark Lay submitted an inventory of Highway Machinery, Tools and Equipment to the Town Board, as required by state law. Here's the document. It included a piece of equipment that was 25 years old. 

Sixty years ago today, the Bovina column of the September 22, 1966 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Many of our young people have left or will be leaving in a few days for college. Lee Archibald is at Rocky Mountain College; Miss Jean Damgaard at Susquehanna University; Miss Joan Damgaard, Keuka College; Miss Louise Wilkens, Russell Sage College; Walter Wilkens, old Dominion College; Miss Judy Chase, State University College at Potsdam; Byron Trimbell, G.E. Technical Training School; Lynell (sic) Trimbell, Alfred Technical Institute; Howard B. LaFever, Clarkson College; John LaFever, New York State Agricultural and Technical Institute at Canton; Thomas Hoy, Cornell University; Jack Robson, Auburn Community College; Miss Clair Easley, Ulster County Community College; Miss Dorothy Bolduc, Central City Business Institute; Miss Christine Hilson, Culver-Stockton College; Miss Norma Reinertsen, State University College at Oneonta; Robert McIntosh, Albany Business College; Edward Hall, Orange County Community College."

101 years ago today, on September 23, 1925, a school fair was held in Bovina. The fair included the awarding of a cup that was used for over a decade for 4-H awards. More on this fair and the cup may be found on the Bovina NY History Blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2018/10/school-fair-at-bovina-center.html

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

146 years ago today, the September 25, 1880 issue of the Port Jervis (NY) Evening Gazette carried this item: "Thomas H. Ludington of Bovina, Delaware county, says he milked 17 1/2 cows, calling a two-year-old heifer half a cow, and he made and sold 240 pounds of butter to a cow, beside what they used in the family. They are paying in Roxbury for choice dairies now 30 cents. That would be $72 from a cow, saying nothing about the pork made from the buttermilk. The butter alone brought over $1,200. How is that for butter making?"

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

G.D. Miller was showing off a good sized cluster of black raspberries of unusual size 107 years ago today, on September 27, 1919.

152 years ago today, September 28, 1874, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "Mr. William Bramley of Bovina dropped dead…while plowing." Bramley was born in 1816 and was in Bovina his whole life. He was the son of Henry Bramley and Elizabeth Wright. He was survived by his wife Angeline, daughter Elizabeth and his mother. He was predeceased by his father and his son William Augustus.

115 years ago today, the September 29, 1911 Andes Recorder reported successful eye surgery for Miss Jennie E. Miller of Bovina Center, "who has for some time been blind from cataracts growing on both eyes…"  The paper reported that she had the operation in New York city for the removal of the cataract on one eye.  "The operation was successful and she can now see."

Civil War Veteran John R. Hoy died 125 years ago today, on September 30, 1901. The son of James Hoy and Elizabeth Robertson Hoy, he married Isabella Wilson Miller in 1854. They had eight children, including David Fletcher Hoy (1863-1930), who was the registrar at Cornell University and created the Bovina Families genealogy files that I still use today in researching families in Bovina. Two of John's daughters, Mary Isabella and, after her death, Margaret Jane would marry Douglass Davidson. Margaret was the mother of Fletcher Davidson.

A Week with Bovina People - September 1901 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

 

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

September 6, 1901

• Leslie McNee has been home on a visit.

• Daniel Franklin was seen in town on Sabbath.

• Milton R. Hoy arrived in town on Saturday.

• John Douglas was in town from Delhi Thursday.

• E.A. Worden and family visited in town Tuesday.

• School will begin in the Centre district, September 9.

• Mrs. John Aitkin has been a guest at Thomas Gordon’s.

• Will Ceas and wife, of Bloomville, were visitors here Friday.

• H.S. Graham, the Delhi hardware man, was in town Friday.

• Miss Emma Campbell visited her sister at Walton last week. 

• Charles A. McPherson has been attending the Pan American.

• Frank B. Smith is home from the Industrial School at Rochester.

• Robert Doig, of Walton, was in this place Friday after blooded calves.

• Charles Arbuckle, Jr., arrived in town Monday, from Newark, N.J.

• W.L. White took first premium on farm horses at the Shavertown fair last week.

• Alex Hilson, Ed Mead and John A. Russell were among those at Delhi on Friday.

• James A. Scott, of Hobart, and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Scott, of Delhi, were in town on Sabbath.

• U. MaGill, wife and daughter, who have been visiting in town for some time, returned to their home in New York City, Wednesday.

• Work on the Centre creamery is finished and Tuesday it was steamed up [September 3].  The workmen left Wednesday to build another creamery on the Ouleout.

• Among Friday visitors in town were John Bryden, of Cabin Hill, Misses Mary Liddle and Eliza Marx, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Anderson, of Andes.

• The Bovina ball team went to Delhi Monday to cross bats with the East Delhi team, and the game resulted in favor of Bovina by a score of 12 to 11.

• Professor E.J. Graham, of Andes, passed through town Monday on his way to begin his school duties at Hobart. Miss Jennie Campbell has gone to the same place as assistant teacher.

• At a meeting of the Stockholders of Bovina Centre creamery Wednesday, September 4, B.S. Miller was chosen chairman and James A. Thompson, secretary. Douglas Davidson, John A. Irvine, William A. Hoy, James A. Thomson, S.T. Rockafeller were elected directors. James A. Thomson was chosen business manager. 

• At a meeting of the directors Wednesday evening John A. Irvine was elected president; Douglas Davidson, vice President; James A. Thomson, secretary and treasurer.

September 13, 1901

• A.O. Butts has sold one of his team.

• There was a lot went to the Walton fair.

• Mrs. John K. Russell was in town on Friday.

• Robert Biggar was at Andes last Thursday.

• Will Coulter of Andes was in town on Friday.

• Mrs. Joshua K. Hobbie went to Oneonta on Thursday.

• The sewerage for the Centre creamery is all completed.

• Aaron Stearn was up from Delhi recently with a load of people.

• Joseph Birkins has moved into the rooms over the old cooper shop.

• The creamery at the Centre has received a lot of butter packages.

• Gideon Miller was at Andes Sabbath and his wife and son returned with him.

• Quite a number from this place attended the fair at Delhi Friday and Saturday.

• J.K. McDivitt preached in the United Presbyterian church last Sabbath evening.

• James A. Thompson has rented the Gow house and expects to move into it in a short time.

• George Russell was at Delhi Monday and brought back a large load of tubes for the uptown creamery.

• Thomas Mabon is building an addition to his barn.  He will add a piece at either side of the bridgeway.

• G.D. Miller and wife, and B.S Miller and Frank Heimer started for the Cleveland encampment Monday.

• Neil McNee came home from Stamford Saturday where she has been to work during the boarding season.

• Wm. Maynard is building a fine silo.

• We understand the Bovina has a new feed dealer – Maynard.

Dr. R.R. Thompson, for many years a popular physician here, now enjoying a large practice at Kingston, with Dr. Hill, a leading dentist, also of that city accompanied by their wives, arrived in Delhi Thursday to call upon friends and visit the fair. “Doc.” Thompson is looking somewhat more venerable and dignified behind spectacles but otherwise is easily distinguishable as the same genial fellow as of yore. -- Republican

An Example to the World

“Six days shalt thou labor and do all they work” to be exemplified by the new co-operative creamery company of Bovina (the upper one) a majority of the stockholders having signed an agreement to make the plant a six-day creamery.  Bovina is noted for its strong Sabbath observance sentiment and practice, but such a rule as has been adopted at the “Butt-end” creamery is the first on record so far as our knowledge goes and is to be commended.  Of course some will sneer and wag their heads, but these people believe that they can care for the Saturday night’s and Sunday morning’s milk to their own advantage at their homes on Monday, and they are going to risk it anyway may success attend them.

September 20, 1901

• The Bovina creamery expects to begin operations soon.

• John G. Laing, of New Jersey has been visiting in town.

• Elisha McCumber and nephew, of Corning, N.Y., are guests at W.J. Crosier’s.

• At the Republican caucus Saturday John W. Blair and Robert A. Thompson were chosen delegates.

• The stockholders of the Bovina Centre creamery held a meeting Saturday [September 14] and decided not to open the plant at present for operations.

• Robert Biggar, an old and respected resident of Coulter Brook, died suddenly with apoplexy Monday aged 68 years. He was quite well Sunday night and on Saturday was at Delhi. He leaves a wife and was highly respected. [Born in 1833, Robert was the son of Walter Biggar and Janet Cowan. His widow, the former Isabella J. Miller, died less than two years later in 1903.]

September 27, 1901

• Frank Gowanlock was Delhi Tuesday.

• Martin Coulter, of Andes, was seen in town Saturday.

• Milton and William Hoy left Monday for their home.

• Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Gladstone were here from Andes Friday.

• Ernest Fredenburgh has moved into rooms into Alex Hoy’s house.

• E.E. Hastings and Elliott Thomson were at Bloomville on Friday.

• Mrs. James E. Seacord, of Lenox, Mass, was a Friday visitor here.

• George D. Roberton has moved Margaret Hoy’s tram to Plattskill.

• John M. Miller, wife and three children are visiting in Pennsylvania.

• Hon. E.T. Gerry and family are at their summer home at Lake Delaware.

• Mrs. Charles Arbuckle and son returned to their home in Newark on Friday.

• Thomas Miller attended meeting of Presbytery at Burlington Green this week.

• Mrs. Alex Hilson and Miss Maggie Archibald attended the Oneonta fair Friday.

• Robert F. Thompson and daughter, Miss Fannie visited the County Seat Monday. [Robert Thompson was married to Ellen Miller. Fannie was their only child. Ellen and Robert died less than a month apart in 1917. Fannie married Walter G. McDivitt in 1906 and died in 1947.]

• Rev. and Mrs. Samson attended the meeting of the Delaware Presbytery at Burlington Green this week.

• Lewis Gray and Mrs. Fannie Bartram, of Roxbury, were married in Bovina Centre, Saturday, September 21, by Rev. Samson. [Mrs. Bartram was the former Fannie Dudley.]

• Rev. James B. Lee D.D. former pastor here, and wife have just returned to their home in Franklinville, after spending a few weeks in Scotland.

• The uptown creamery opened for business Monday morning [September 23].  It will run every day in the week, it being found impracticable to run it only six days.

• The young men of today, who think themselves so much smarter than the older heads, were defeated Saturday in a ball game between the young men and the married men by a score of 6 to 3.

• Married at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.G. McNee, in this village, Friday evening, September 20, Nellie McNee to George Griffin, of Stamford, Rev. W.L.C. Samson tying the nuptial knot. [Nellie and George had one son. The marriage ended by divorce in 1908. George remarried shortly after his divorce, as did Nellie.]

• At the Memorial services [for President McKinley] held in the United Presbyterian church September 19 Rev Samson presided.  Charles Arbuckle read the scripture lesson; Margaret Swart read the President’s proclamation, and addresses were made by Rev. Slater, R.E. Bergman and Rev. Samson.

The Gravestone of Deborah Maynard

Last November, a storm brought down a tree in the Brush Cemetery, at the corner of Maple Avenue and County Route 6. It landed on the gravestone of Deborah Maynard, breaking it into three pieces. 

Here’s an image of the stone before it was damaged, taken in 2016: 

Here are a couple of images of the broken stone.    

We left it for the winter and in August, Dale and Tina Utter from Mount Upton, repaired and reset the stone. They left the piece that broke off at ground level and set the remaining stone in front of it, since doing so did not obliterate the inscription. They repaired the other two pieces. 

And here’s the repaired stone.  

So, who was Deborah Maynard? Sadly, we don’t know much about her. She was the eldest daughter of early Bovina settlers Elisha and Esther (Horton) Maynard. Born in April 1790, she was only 22 years old when she died in November 1812. The reason she was buried in the Brush cemetery seems to be related to the fact that Alexander Brush’s son, Joel, married her sister Elizabeth. 

Thank you to Dale and Tina and to the town of Bovina for ensuring that we’ll remember Deborah. 

September 1926 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

Life in Bovina 100 years ago, as reported in the pages of the Andes Recorder

September 3, 1926

• The schools of the town will open next Tuesday.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Campbell, August 23, a daughter.

• Miss Jenet Laidlaw is attending the Y.P. convention of the U.P. church at White Lake.

• John Nichols, who has been helping John Thomson, returned to Worcester on Tuesday.

• The Misses Lillian and Kathryn Henderson, of Walton have been visiting at Fred Henderson’s.

• Miss Elizabeth McDivitt, of South Kortright, spent a few days the past week with friends in town.

• Mr. and Mrs. William Puffer and Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Thomson, of Hobart, were callers here on Sabbath.

• Mr. and Mrs. William E. Hastings and daughter, of Oneonta, have been spending the past week with relatives here.

• The reunion of the Miller clan was held on Tuesday at the home of Anthony Banuat on the former Oliver farm. The reunion next year will be at Thomas S. Doig’s in Andes.

• Miss Mabel Hadley, young dauter of E.A. Hadley, up Pink street on the former Andrew Thomson farm, died August 30, from spinal meningitis. The funeral was held Wednesday.

• The picnic last Thursday brought quite a number of out of town people here. All enjoyed a fine time. Rev. Peter McKenzie, of Stamford, made an address. A ball game between Andes and South Kortright, resulted by score of 7 to 6, in an 11 inning game, in favor of Andes.

September 10, 1926

• Mrs. Jane Dickson returned Saturday from a trip to the centennial at Philadelphia.

• William Gordon and Lauren Dickson arrived home Tuesday fro
m their trip by auto to Florida.

• Miss Mable Thomson left Monday for Winsted, Connecticut, where she has taught for several years.

• Mr. and Mrs. Lancelot Thomson and Mrs. Thoms Gordon and son were Delhi visitors Wednesday.

• Mable Hadley left Saturday for Cooperstown, where, thru the kindness of Miss Gerry, she will attend school.

• Mrs. A.S. Banker was at Yonkers last week to visit her brother and see her son, Jack, who is in the U.S. Navy.

• Marshall Thomson and wife, from Great Neck, Long Island, have been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Blair.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Myers, of Endicott, spent over Labor Day with his parents, and Mrs. Myers has remained for a longer visit. 

• Miss Anna Dickson teaches in the Margaretville high school this year. Caroline Dickson has returned to her school at Rutland, Vermont.

• William Archibald has resumed the work of putting in the cellar and foundation for his new house on the former site of the Methodist church.

• Mr. and Mrs. John Hilson, Mr. and Mrs. Howard McPherson and son, and Mr. and Mrs. Millard Russell attended the State fair at Syracuse last week. 

• Mrs. Alex Hilson and son, James, and Mrs. Jas A. Gow were at Arkville, Monday, taking Miss Jane Hilson that far on her return to her school at South Orange, N.J.

• Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Walker, of Jersey, City, have been visitors at the home of William Storie. A picnic dinner was held there Monday. Mrs. Walker before her marriage was Helen Galloway. 

• Charles A. McPherson’s team ran away Monday from the upper part of the village. At the post office they collided with the auto of Anna Joslin and were stopped. The car was considerably damaged.

• The school of the town opened on Tuesday. Those who have entered the Delhi high school are: Ledger Myers, Courtney Currie, Robert and Donald Boggs, Grace Coulter, Ruth Gladstone, Anna Gladstone, Margaret Russell and Marjorie Ormiston. 

September 17, 1926

• Don Burns, of Delhi, was in town Wednesday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hunt of Delhi were callers here Saturday.

• Mr. and Mrs. S.F. Ferris, of Albany were Bovina visitors this week.

• Misses Kate and Freda Muller spent over the week end at Bainbridge.

• Roy Aitken had his tonsils removed at the Drum hospital in Delhi last week.

• Mrs. Wilber Archibald resumed her duties as teacher in Fleischmann high school

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are John Bopp and wife to Carlina Patterson, $1.

• There was a large turnout at the primary Tuesday. Tolly received 54 votes and Clarke 152.

• Mr. and Mrs. George Miller attended the funeral of a relative on Hallidays Brook last week.

• A new roof is being put on what is known as the4 Hilson house, adjoining the store of Hilson Bros.

• Mrs. James F. Forman and dauter Isabelle, and Mrs. James Monroe, of Delhi, were callers in town Tuesday.

• Frank Myers and two friends, from Endicott, spent over the week end with his parents. Mrs. Myers who had been visiting here, returned home with him.

• Rev. Barrickman, instructor in the White Bible School in New York, and wife ar estopping at Rev. Crawford’s. He spoke in the U.P. church Sabbath morning.

BOVINA MAN DIES, Thos R. Boggs, Aged 90 years, Passed Away September 14.

From our Bovina Correspondent

Thomas R. Boggs passed away at his home in upper Bovina on Tuesday September 14, at the ripe old age of 90 years. He had been in poor health for a few months and his death was hastened by a fall on Sabbath. The funeral was held on Thursday.

Mr. Boggs was born in Stamford on August 9, 1886, but had practically been a life-long resident of the town of Bovina, and was [a] substantial farmer. He was united in marriage with Jane Archibald 61 years ago. Surviving him are his wife, a son, James Boggs, and three daughters, Mrs. Thos Ormiston and Miss Calla Boggs, in Bovina, and Mrs. Robert G. Forman, of Walton. He also leaves a brother, William S. Boggs.

September 24, 1926

• Mrs. Robert Brown and children, of Delhi, were callers here Thursday.

• William Storie is having his farm residence treated to a new dress of paint.

• William Crosier, of Steubenville, Ohio, a former resident, is renewing acquaintances.

• William Darling, wife and child, of Fall Clove, Andes, were at George H. Russell’s last Thursday.

• Henry M. Archibald, of New York City, one of Bovina’s native sons was a visitor here the past week.

• Mr. and Mrs. Wilber Archibald and C.L. Dickson, called on their uncle, James Dickson, at Oneonta, Saturday. 

• The barn being built on the former S.G. Bramley farm, to replace the one destroyed by fire, is being rushed to completion.

• Mrs. Thomas Gordon went to Delhi on Tuesday to take up her duties as housekeeper in the family of County Clerk Whittaker.

• Mrs. Fannie Barnhart Finkle and daughter Helen, of Sterling, Illinois, spent from Friday until Monday with her cousin, Mrs. Ackerley. 

• As its share of the automobile registration fees the town of Bovina has received $1,224.71. The highway mileage of the town is 78 miles.

• Martin Hyzer, of Andes, preached in the U.P. church Sabbath morning, Rev. Crawford preaching at Andes. In the evening the pastor gave an illustrated lecture on “The Menace of Mohammedism.”

• Monday the trucks of Wm T Miller [and] Gustave Lifgren collided in front of the store of Cecil Russell. Mr. Lifgren was coming up the street and Mr. Miller came out from the drive at the store. The Lifgren truck was somewhat damaged.

• Margaret Gordon has returned to her studies at the Albany Normal College. Miss Mabel Winter, of Margaretville, a niece of Mrs. Frank Miller, accompanied her to enter the college. Mrs. Gordon and son, William, took them to Albany by Auto. 

Death from Shock – From Our Bovina Correspondent

Robert R. Tweedie, a native of Walton and who resided a few years in Bovina, died suddenly Sabbath night, September 19, at his home on Franklin road, town of Delhi, aged 48 years. He was stricken with a shock and expired in a few hours. He is survived by his wife, who was Phoebe May Thomson, daughter of James B. Thomson of Bovina, and six children.

BOVINA MAN DIES – James Russell Passes Away After a Long Illness Sept 19 – from our Bovina Correspondent

James Russell died at his home with sister-in-law, Mrs. W.T. Russell, on the former Dysart farm in Bovina, on Sabbath evening, September 19, aged 75 years. He had long suffered from rheumatism and some two or three years ago suffered a shock. He has been confined to his home and was practically helpless.

He was the son of the late Stephen Russell and was born and spent his life in Bovina. He married Mary Jane Thomson and she survives him. He also leaves a sister and two brothers, viz: Mrs. Jas W. Thomson and Geo Russell in Bovina, and Ed Russell of Delhi. The funeral was held Thursday.