Sixty one years ago today, on December 1, 1955, the Bovina Town Board
met and approved these claims submitted by the town supervisor, Henry Monroe.
Nine years ago today, the December 2, 2007 issues of the New York Times
carried a review of "The Toy Farmer," a children's book written by
Bovina native Andrew T. Pelletier.
156 years ago today, on December 3, 1860, John Dean died. Born in
County Down, Ireland, he came to Bovina before the 1830s. He married Elizabeth
Johnson in 1832 and they would have eight children. They lived in the area of
present day Regan Road.
128 years ago today, the Bovina column of the December 4, 1888 Stamford
Mirror reported that "J.A. Whittaker, the optician, has been in town for
the past week, looking after defective eyes."
135 years ago today, on December 5, 1881, Andrew Chisholm died of heart
and kidney disease. A native of Scotland, he was about 80 years old at his
death. He had been widowed in 1843. Two of his daughters, Jane and Maggie, were
living with him at the time of his passing.
135 years ago today, the December 6, 1881 Stamford Mirror reported in
its Bovina column that "James Hoy, of Kansas, formerly of Bovina, is
making his friends in this vicinity a visit." This likely is the James Hoy
born in 1822. He married Helen Miller in 1847. She died in 1858 after having
three children. James went to Iowa after his wife's death and remarried in 1862
to Martha Jones Smith. They had three children in Iowa. James died in Kansas in
1897.
134 years ago today, on December 7, 1882, Thomas Hamilton signed this
document as part of his claim concerning an error on the 1880 tax roll which
led to an overpayment of $15.39 in taxes.
Eighty-eight years ago, on December 8, 1928, Sloan Archibald died at
the age of 80. He was the son of James Archibald and Margaret Sloan. His first
wife was Elizabeth E. Russell, by whom he had a son and a daughter. Elizabeth
died in 1911. In 1915, he took as his second wife Jennette Ellen Hoy. Sloan
lived in my house in Bovina for about a decade and is the one who added the
full second story to it. Sloan's widow survived him by 14 years, dying in 1942.
Sixty-four years ago today, on December 9, 1952, a benefit dance was
held by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Bovina Fire Department "for Billy
Aitkens, who was recently wounded by a shotgun…" The music was furnished
by Ernie Russ.
The thermometer registered from 2 to 5 degrees below zero 116 years ago
today on December 10, 1900.
133 years ago today, the December 11, 1883 issue of the Stamford Mirror
reported on several illnesses in Bovina. They noted that "Mrs. John
Hastings is quite sick with pneumonia." They noted that Dr. Telford's
daughter Gracie also was sick with pneumonia and that the doctor himself was
ill. And Rev. Lee's wife was reported as suffering from inflammation of the
lungs. Mrs. Hastings, Grace Telford and Mrs. Lee would all recover, though Mrs.
Hastings would die of pneumonia in 1889. Grace Telford, who was less than a
year old when she became ill, would live until 1953. Mrs. Lee died in 1897. Dr.
Telford, however, would not recover and died January 11, 1884.
Ninety nine years ago, the Bovina column of the December 12, 1917 Andes
Recorder reported that "Miss Leila Miller, who has spent the past three
months with her brother, Earl, in St. Paul and other relatives in Wisconsin and
Minnesota, returned to her home…" She was the daughter of John and Bertha
Miller. They lived on Pink Street on what later became Suits Us Farm.
134 years ago, on December 13th, 1882, as later reported in the Bovina
column of the Stamford Mirror, "James Hastings arrived home from Hamilton
College…." This likely is James Blair Hastings, born in 1860, the son of
Thomas E. Hastings and Jane Blair.
Eighty-nine years ago today, the December 14, 1927 Stamford Mirror
reported that "Bovina Center Has Two Fires." Both fires involved
barns owned by the Hilson Brothers in Bovina Center in the area of the
creamery. The first fire was big enough to require bringing in a second
department from Delhi. It was noted that the lack of wind was fortunately, thus
preventing the creamery and feedstore from going up in flames. Here's the full
article.
105 years ago today, on December 15, 1911, as announced in the Andes
Recorder, "the ladies of the United Presbyterian church" held a
masquerade social at the home of Mrs. Estella Oliver…" The paper went on
to note that "All unmasked are expected to pay a fine of not more than $5
or less than 25 cents. All are cordially invited."
Eighty-nine years ago today, the December 16, 1927 Catskill Mountain
News reported that "Two sites have been offered for the proposed Bovina
Community house." One lot was reported as being "opposite the
garage…" This likely meant across from what later became Clayt Thomas's
garage and is land now owned by Mark Foster. The other option was "land
opposite William Archibald's new house…" This is the spot that was chosen.
The paper noted that "it is planned to erect a building 36 x 80 of one
story construction with basement."
The following noticed appeared in the Andes Recorder, dated 139 years
ago today, December 17, 1877: “All
persons are hereby notified not to sell or give any intoxicating liquors to
Hiram Scutt. Mrs. Hiram Scutt"
Scutt lived in Andes so his Bovina connection is not strong. And we can’t be
sure whether this is the father or son. Hiram Sr was born in Bovina in 1815.
The son was born in Andes in 1842. The father died in 1886, the son three years
later in 1889.
118 years ago on December 18, 1898, Mrs. Charles F. Smith died at the
age of 90. The Andes Recorder, when
reporting her death, noted that "Her maiden name was Christina Lamont and
she came to this town over 40 years ago.
She was an excellent woman, a good neighbor; always cheerful and she
will be missed in this community as well as in her home. On Tuesday the funeral was held, the sermon
being preached by Rev. Samson, and the interment was in the Bovina
cemetery." Christina was the second wife of Charles Smith, marrying him in
1856, a few months after the death of his first wife. Charles survived his wife
by 10 years, dying in 1908.
Ninety years ago today, on December 19, 1926, as later reported in the
Andes Recorder, "Attorney Lauren Dickson, who came home from Binghamton to
spend the holidays was taken to the Delhi hospital and operated upon for
appendicitis... It was a serious
case." He would stay in Bovina about three months before returning to his
duties in Binghamton. In October 1927 he died suddenly in Binghamton.
125 years ago today, on December 20, 1891, as later reported in the
Delaware Gazette under the headline "Another Accident," "Dickson
Thomson, of Bovina, was driving last Sunday when the team of Mr. Hamilton
Russell collided with his and Mr. Thomson was thrown from his wagon. He
sustained a broken shoulder and other serious injuries."
Ninety-five years ago today, on December 21, 1921, Violet Hewitt, the
little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hewitt, of Margaretville, died in Kingston
following an operation for appendicitis. Her remains were brought to Bovina for
burial.
202 years ago today, on December 22, 1814, James Gladstone was born, the
son of Robert Gladstone and Ann Ray. He was born in Scotland and likely came to
Bovina with his parents. He appears to have lived most of his adult life in Andes,
but at his death in 1885, he was buried in Bovina in the Associate Presbyterian
Church cemetery.
105 years ago today, on December 23, 1911, as later reported in the
Andes Recorder, "William B. Smith was injured in a runaway
accident...while going down the mountain to South Kortright." A breaking
of his wagon's brace frightened the horses. Smith and his wife were thrown from
the wagon. Mrs. Smith was unscathed but Mr. Smith broke his leg at the knee
joint. The paper noted that "Dixon Thomson, who was returning from South
Kortright, fortunately came along soon after the accident and took the
unfortunate man home." Smith lived in the area of Pink Street.
Seventy-five years ago today, a letter dated December 24, 1941 was sent
to Bovina Town Clerk David Currie reporting on monies paid to the Town Supervisor
for the year from various county accounts.
105 years ago today, on December 25, 1911, two elders of the Bovina
United Presbyterian Church were buried. Elders Joshua Blish and Thomas Miller
were 77 and 85 respectively at their deaths. Blish had been an elder for 25
years, Miller for a record breaking 54 years.
134 years ago today, the December 26, 1882 Stamford Mirror reported in
its Bovina column that "Dr. Dickson is moving his stock of drugs and
medicines from the basement to the main floor of his store." His store is
now the Brushland Eating House.
135 years ago today, the Bovina column in the December 27, 1881
Stamford Mirror reported that "Wm. Richardson has sold his premises (the
Henry McDonald place) to Alexander Hoy." This property would later become
my house. The same paper also reported that "Dr. Dickson has moved his
drugs and medicines to the basement of his new building." This is now the
Brushland Eating House.
Ninety-eight years ago today, on December 28, 1918, as later reported
in the Andes Recorder's Bovina column, "the team of Mrs. Rockafeller,
driven by her son Floyd, ran away Saturday.
The lad had them hitched to a bob when they started and he was dragged
some distance behind the bob before he could disengage his hands from the
lines. The team then ran to James
Bramley’s and after circling around among Bramley’s cows, which were being
watered, ran on a knoll and were caught.
No damage was done."
152 years ago today, on December 29, 1864, several voters in the Town
of Bovina submitted this petition requesting a special town meeting "for
the purpose of determining by vote to pay a Bounty not [to] exceed Eight
hundred dollars to each volunteer that shall be credited to the said town o the
last call of the President for 300,000 men."
116 years ago today, the December 30, 1910 Bovina column in the Andes
Recorder reported that "Mrs. Charlotte Miller continues in very poor
health." Charlotte was the wife of David William Miller. Born in 1860, she
was the daughter of Robert Gow and Beatrice Graham. She married David Miller in
1887 and was widowed in 1892, left with a two year old son. Charlotte died
about a month after this item appeared in the paper on January 24, 1911.
125 years ago today, on December 31, 1891, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "a
large party of young people had a dance in Strangeway's Hall on New Year's eve, Music by Sutherland Bros. and Jas. Amos."