This Day in Bovina For September 2016

156 years ago today, on September 1, 1860, Will Lull submitted this ad for boots, which ran in the Bloomville Mirror. "The subscriber has on hand and for sale 130 pairs of boots, manufactured of the best material at his shop in Brushland. The public are invited to call and examine the Stock before purchasing elsewhere. Hides and County Produce taken in exchange." 

115 years ago today, on September 2, 1901, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "The Bovina and Elk Creek teams played a good game of baseball on the Academy grounds…notwithstanding the rather unfavorable weather. At the close of the ninth inning the score stood at a tie. Consequently the tenth inning had to be played to settle the contest. It was closely contested, but the Bovina boys won the score, standing 10 to 9."

165 years ago today, James Renwick posted an ad dated September 3, 1851 to sell his farm: "The subscriber offers for sale the Farm on which he now resides, in the town of Bovina, containing about 180 acres. There are two good dwelling houses and three good barns and other out buildings. It is mostly fence with stone wall. Also, a large orchard of bearing apple trees - well watered and well calculated for a grain or dairy farm. Terms easy. For further particulars enquire of the subscriber. He would be willing to take a small farm in part payment." This farm was on what is now Pink Street, possibly around the area of Suits-Us farm. He had leased it from the Livingston family since about 1822.

115 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."

113 years ago today, the September 5, 1903 Delaware Republican carried a small article entitled "The Highway Money System." The report stated that "The town of Bovina will vote this fall on the proposition to change to the money system of paying the road tax. In Bovina, it is said, the State would pay $450, which would do very much towards road improvement in that town." The previous system involved every property owner being assessed so many days of work on the roads. The owner either did the work or paid someone to do it.

Eighty-one years ago today, the September 6, 1935 Catskill Mountain News reported in its Bovina column that "Bovina has several new students starting in this year at Delaware Academy."

115 years ago today, the September 7, 1901 Delaware Republican had the following item of news ('borrowed' from the Andes Recorder): "Needle in Her Foot - For some time Mrs. Joshua Hobbie, who resides in the upper part of Bovina, has been suffering severely with swollen foot, it was thought she would have to go to the hospital and undergo an operation. Last week she was rubbing the afflicted member when she felt something sharp in the foot and called to others of the family and an examination showed that the point of a needle protruded and when pulled out by Mr. Hobbie it was found that with the exception of being broken at the eye the needle was intact. How the needle got there is a mystery, as Mrs. Hobbie has no recollection of ever running a needle into herself. She still has a very bad foot." This likely is Matilda Pangburn Hobbie. Born in 1862, she survived the needle and died in 1927.

130 years ago today, the September 8, 1886 Delaware Gazette reported that "The beautiful village in the town of Bovina, previously known as Brushland, will hereafter be known as Bovina Centre. Brushland was a misnomer for the place, for it was never a land of brush but always a land of cattle. We understand that it was through the personal efforts of Rev. Dr. Lee that the name has been changed from Brushland to Bovina Centre by the Postmaster General. We congratulate the inhabitants of our neighboring village on this change of names, for it certainly is much more appropriate." Brushland got its name from Alexander Brush, the first settler in what is now Bovina Center. Bovina Center was known as Brushland from 1849 to this reported change in 1886.

148 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.

103 years ago today, on September 10, 1913, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "…a Downsville man named W.C. O'Brien, who was employed in the blacksmith shop of Gideon Miller, Bovina Center, suddenly fell unconscious while at work in the shop. He did not revive and died about two hours later."

153 years ago today, on September 11, 1863, William McCune, trustee for Bovina School District Number 2 (Pink Street) signed this order to pay Elisabeth Colgan $18.12 for teaching in the school for a four month period.  

116 years ago today, the September 12, 1900 Delaware Gazette reported that "Commodore Elbridge T. Gerry has ordered the manager of his estate at Lake Delaware to have the public highway between Bloomville and Bovina Center repaired, he himself paying for the same, preparatory to his coming to his country seat at that place, which will be in the near future. It is his purpose to come over the Ulster & Delaware railroad to Bloomville and from there by carriage to Lake Delaware."

126 years ago today, the Bovina column of the September 13, 1890 Delaware Republican reported that "Rev. Mason W. Pressly is expecting a windmill, and intends to have running water in his house."

152 years ago today, on September 14, 1864, Supervisor Alexander Storie issued this receipt to pay Miss Jeanette Wilbur for teaching in the District 11 school (Coulter Brook).

135 years ago today, on the afternoon of September 15, 1881, Mrs. Orr Sloan died at the home of her son-in-law, James Aitkin in what is now Bovina Center. She was born Sarah Collins in Belfast, Ireland.

Sixty three years ago today, on September 16, 1953, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, a school fair was held at the Bovina Center school. Here's the article which appeared on the front page of the paper. 

182 years ago today, the September 17, 1834 Delaware Gazette had the following item: "Prolific - Mr. Robert Mitchell of Bovina, in this county, has raised, the present season, three calves from one cow. It is seldom that an instance of this kind occurs, particularly where the calves all live and do well, as in this case."

113 years ago today, on September 18, 1903, little Mozelle Thompson, the five year old daughter of William Thomson, "while playing at school last Friday afternoon, fell and broke her arm just above the elbow." Mozelle survived her ordeal and died in 1989 at the age of 92.

135 years ago today, Alex Storie recorded the following in his diary for September 19, 1881: "Dry and warm today. Boys finished cutting the planted corn in the AM and cut some sowed corn in PM. 

113 years ago today, on September 20, 1903, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "Stephen Russell died at his residence…in the 82d year of his age. He had always lived in Bovina, being born in that town January, 1822. Mr. Russell was a very substantial farmer and one of the excellent citizens of the locality. His wife died a few years ago, but he is survived by a family of several children."

106 years ago today, the September 21, 1910 Delaware Gazette reported on "An Unhappy Matter" concerning a former Bovina resident. "Charles Oliver, with a very large family, recently moved from Bovina into a house on the rear of the Pitcher block [not sure, but likely this was in Delhi]. Their habits were soon found not very creditable. Sunday evening about a dozen chickens, two ducks and a saw were stolen from John Strangeways. Monday evening Sheriff Austin and Police Justice Hewitt went to the Oliver house. When they rapped at the door the light was put out. The sheriff demanded entrance and they were admitted. They found the saw, and the chickens were on the table. Oliver admitted that he stole the saw and five chickens but denied as to the rest. He is notorious for not being willing to work. In Bovina a notice was tacked on the door to move out or go to work, signed White Caps. It is said they are preparing to go to Walton. There are seven or eight children living, and it is said a dozen or fifteen have been born."

Sixty-three years ago today, on September 22, 1953, the Democrats and Republicans in Bovina held their primaries and selected these slates for town office. 

Fifty one years ago today, the Bovina column of the September 23, 1965 Delaware Republican Express reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hilson and Christine attended the World's Fair the past week-end." The same column also reported that "Mrs. Agnes Burns visited a few days at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Fred Phillips in Latham (Norma Phillips is Agnes' daughter).

Fifty-four years ago today, on September 24, 1962, Rema Hobbie died on the family farm on Cape Horn Road in Bovina. His obituary was published a few days later in the Catskill Mountain News. 

146 years ago today, on September 25, 1870, Margaret Miller Doig gave birth to twin boys, James Lee and John Timothy Doig. Their father was William S. Doig. Margaret died when the boys were 23 years old. James Lee Doig married Emma Louise Smith in 1916 and died in 1953. John Timothy died in Detroit, Michigan in 1923. Both brothers are buried in Bovina.

108 years ago today, on September 26, 1908, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "there arrived in Delhi….from Montana, an antelope 3 months old. It appeared to have been well taken care of on its long trip, and was quite a curiosity to a good many of our citizens, especially the children. It was sent to the father of Mr. Ed. Russell, in Bovina, on the Andes stage Monday morning."

159 years ago today, late the night before or early on September 27, 1857, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "the proceeds of a year's produce of the farm of John Bramley, of Bovina, was burned to the ground. It is believed to have been the work of an incendiary, but nothing has occurred to fix the crime upon any individual." Though not positive, I think this farm was on Pink Street, about a mile or so outside Bovina Center.

Fifty-nine years ago today, on September 28, 1957, Rev. David Hamilton Murray died in Hancock. The last surviving child of Bovina natives Henry Murray and Elizabeth Coulter, he was born in Andes in 1872. He married Jessie M. Cheney. He is buried near his parents in the Bovina Cemetery.

208 years ago today, on September 29, 1808, James Coulter was born, the last child of early Bovina settlers Francis and Nancy (Glendenning) Coulter. He also was the last surviving child of Francis and Nancy, dying in 1898 at the age of 90. He married Nancy D. Thompson in 1832. She predeceased him in 1891. They would have 13 children, six of whom survived their father. James and Nancy lost a son in the Civil War (Solomon) and another to tuberculosis (Andrew).

Sixty-seven years ago today, the September 30, 1949 Catskill Mountain News reported that in Bovina, "Rains which have benefited pastures, meadows and lawns have not been sufficient to raise water where springs and wells have gone dry."

Wedding from 100 Years Ago - Cecil and Isabell Russell

100 years ago, on September 20, 1916, Cecil and Isabell Russell were married. Best known as the owners and proprietors of Russell's Store in Bovina, their marriage would last over 65 years, ending at Cecil's death in January 1982 (Isabell died 3 years later in November 1985). Here's the newsclipping from the Delaware Express (Delhi):

Fifty years later, to the day, Cecil and Isabell would celebrate their Golden Wedding anniversary at a reception held in the Bovina U.P. Church. Here's the news clipping from the Delaware Republican-Express (Delhi).

In 1976 they observed their 60th wedding anniversary. By then, Cecil was experiencing health problems, so no party was planned. They were photographed by a Daily Star (Oneonta) reporter for this article below.

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September 1916 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

From the Andes Recorder

A major wind storm did significant damage in Southern Bovina, while a former Bovina pastor returned for a visit and Charles Russell took over the family farm. At the end of the month, Mrs. John Elliott barely made it back to Bovina after unsuccessful cancer treatment in New York City. 

September 1, 1916
·       Most of the schools in town will open next Tuesday.
·       The chief attraction for our people this week has been the fair at Delhi.
·       Mrs. Earl Shaw, of Albany, is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Thomson.
·       Thursday the Bovina and Roxbury nines played ball at the latter place and Roxbury won by a score of 13 to 6.

Cyclone Hits Southern Bovina
Eighty-Eight Trees Blown Down at Thos A. Raitt’s- other damage
            A cyclone struck southern Bovina Sabbath afternoon and did considerable damage.  Starting at the Boy’s Camp conducted by Robert l. Gerry on what is known as the Wight place, it blew down the doctor’s tent and uprooted some twenty apple trees.
            The greatest damage was done on the farm of Thos A. Raitt where 88 trees were either up-rooted or twisted off.  Trees eighteen inches to two feet in diameter went down before the fury of the storm.  Among the trees were twenty apple trees and five or six pear trees and the others were in the woods.  Nearly all the apples were whipped off the remainder of the orchard.  The other trees taken were in the woods but fortunately the sap bush escaped.  A rocking chair which was in the front yard was picked up and carried about eight rods.
            From Raitt’s the cyclone skipped over the hill and again swooped down at E.R. Worden’s at the top of the hill on the Turnpike.  There an apple tree, a maple tree and an elm were its victims. The next swoop of the instrument of destruction was made into the head of Gladstone Hollow.  At James L. Doig’s two chimneys were torn off his residence, an oak tree fell onto the milk house and smashed it, and some fruit trees and smashed it, and some fruit trees were torn up by roots.  What damage was done further on we have not learned.

September 8, 1916
·       The frame is up for John Hilson’s new house.
·       Miss Maggie Storie is having her residence re-painted.
·       Robert G. Thomson has purchased new automobile – a Saxon six.
·       Charles Mullnix will soon move to Illion, N.Y., where he has employment in a gun factory.
·       Mason W. Pressley preached in the U.P. church Sabbath morning to a large audience. Many former Bovina people were in town to hear him. 
·       A new bridge with steel stringers and concrete floor will soon be put in on Miller avenue.  This has always been a dangerous place with its high banks and no fenders and a continual mud hole.  The bridge will be raised. 

September 15, 1916
·       Mrs. John T. Miller, who has been spending some time with her dauter, Mrs. Fred More, at Hobart, has returned to Bovina.
·       Mr. and Mrs. Charles Russell will move here from Binghamton and take possession of the farm of this father, Hamilton Russell, in upper Bovina. [Charles was the brother of Cecil Russell.]
·       On Friday, September 22, the J.W. Coulter Hose Co will have a ball game, a Chicken Pie supper and an entertainment in the evening. Come and help the fire laddies.
·       Mr. and Mrs. John A. Irvine have issued invitations for the marriage of their daughter, Isabel, to Cecil Russell son of Hamilton Russell, at their home on Coulter Brook, September 20.

September 22, 1916
·       Farmers are busy filling silos.
·       The Chapel at Lake Delaware is receiving a new dress of paint.

September 29, 1916
·       Miss Shirley Miller is visiting her brother at St. Paul, Minnesota. [Shirley lived on the John Miller farm on Pink Street. She was the daughter of John M. and Bertha Miller. This farm later became Suits-Us farm.]
·       Charles Russell will take possession of his father’s farm next Monday.
·       Mr. Henry has taken possession of William Boggs’ farm which he recently purchased.
·       From their entertainment last Friday night the J.W. Coulter Hose Company netted $40.  A ball game in the afternoon between Bovina and Delhi resulted in favor of the home team by a score of 7 to 6.
·       Mrs. John Elliott died at her home in Bovina Center at 1:30 Sabbath morning, September 24, aged 55 years.  About a month ago she underwent an operation for cancer in a New York hospital but with no beneficial results.  She was brought home Saturday evening in charge of Dr. Whitcomb and a nurse and died about five hours later.  Her maiden name was Ella Squires and she was born in New Kingston, and married Mr. Elliott 33 years ago.  Besides her husband she leaves one daughter, Mrs. William C. Burns.  The funeral was held Tuesday with interment in the Center cemetery.

Stories from Bovina Cemeteries - Little Arthur Taggart

In scanning photos from the late Celia Coulter, I came across this interesting and rather heartbreaking photograph taken just over 100 years ago. It's the flower covered grave of Arthur Leon Taggart, the three year old son of Professor and Mrs. Leon Taggart, likely just after his burial in the Bovina cemetery.  

Arthur Taggart died on September 7, 1913 when he was age 3 years, 8 months and 24 days.  Death was the result of an attack of whooping cough.  Arthur’s mother was Jennie Strangeway. His aunt was Helena Strangeway Hilson, so Arthur was a first cousin to people like Jack and Alex Hilson, Jane Hilson Hoy and Louise Hilson Mole. 

His death was reported in local papers, including the Catskill Mt News, quoting from the Delaware Gazette: “Arthur L. the young son of Prof. and Mrs. Leon Taggart, died Sunday evening, Sept. 7th, at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. T.C. Strangeway, near Bovina Center, aged three years and six months. The child had whooping cough and recently had been ill of cholera infantum, which had reduced his strength so that he was unable to combat the paroxysm of coughing and died as stated….The parents have two other children, one a boy less than a year old.” The CMN noted that Prof. and Mrs. Taggart are well known in the Margaretville area "he having been Principal of the local High School."

From photos of Celia Coulter, courtesy of Jean Merenberg. Arthur Taggart grave, 1913

Same location in 2016. Arthur's headstone is in the lower right of this image.

The Taggarts had another son, William in 1917. In 1929, Leon and Jennie Taggart moved to New Mexico because of Professor Taggart's health. They both died in Albuquerque - Leon in 1953 and Jennie in 1968. Jennie would also be predeceased by her son Thomas, who died in 1965 at the age of 52. Leon and Jennie are buried in Bovina next to their son Arthur. 

Update (March 16, 2024): Tom Taggart, grandson of Leon and Jennie Taggart (and nephew of little Arthur) shared this image of Arthur with his mother Jennie.