This Day in Bovina for March 2017

130 years ago today, the Stamford Mirror for March 1, 1887 reported that "Jonathan Adee, of Bovina, has rented his farm to Joseph Birdsall, son of Isaac Birdsall, of New Kingston." The Adee farm was on Cape Horn Road.

218 years ago, on March 2, 1809, Peter Clark was born in Perthshire, Scotland. The son of William Clark and May Dewar, he likely came to the United States with his parents. He married Elizabeth Raitt in 1842. They had nine children and had a farm on Lee Hollow Road. He relocated to Walton after 1880, where he died in 1898 (he had been widowed in 1892). He is buried in Bovina.

154 years ago today, on March 3, 1863, this receipt was created certifying that David Nichol, a volunteer in the Civil War, was entitled to $150 from the town bounty. Nichol had volunteered the previous September in Battery E Light Artillery Regiment in Pennsylvania. Nichol left the area after the war and died in Iowa in 1929.

Fifty-two years ago today, the March 4, 1965 Bovina column in the Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Mrs. Jennie B. Elliott is showing improvement as a patient at the Sidney Hospital." Jennie died two years later in April 1967. She had lived for many years in the house at the corner of Pink Street and County Route 6, now owned by Joe and Connie Dibble.

136 years ago, the March 5, 1881 Delaware Republican reported that "A glass ball shooting match at Bovina recently caused some excitement." The paper went on to report that "the best scores were made by Walter Graham and Andrew Thomson - seven broke out of ten. Geo. Cable and Alex. Bryden broke six out of ten." Glass ball shooting was popular in America from about 1866 to the 1880's. The ball was launched similar to later clay shooting matches, which replaced the glass ball. The goal was to break as many of the balls in a set period. The sport fell out of favor quickly, partly because the ease with which the balls could be hit and partly due to the unwanted dangerous glass that had to be cleared after.

Seventy-six years ago today, on March 6, 1941, Anna Ruland Barnhart died of cancer. The daughter of Orson Ruland and Addie Smith, she was married to Ralph Barnhart. She was 40 at her death, leaving her husband and son Donald as survivors.

135 years ago today, the Bovina column of the March 7, 1882 Stamford Mirror reported that "A quantity of flaging (sic)

for walks has been delivered at the U.P. Church."

Sixty-six years ago today, the Bovina column in the March 8, 1951 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "We are glad to learn that Mrs. John Burns is home again from New York, and that the treatments have been beneficial." Mrs. Burns died the following July at the age of 63.

197 years ago today, the March 9, 1820 Delaware Gazette reported the creation of "a new town by the name of Bovina…" If you do the math, you'll realize that Bovina is only three years away from its Bicentennial.

131 years ago today, on March 10, 1886, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Stamford Mirror, "At a special school meeting, held in the Brushland district … a tax of $2,000 was voted for the purpose of purchasing a new site, and building a school house large enough to accommodate two teachers." The school was built, but it was seven years before this was accomplished.

106 years ago today, the March 10, 1911 Andes Recorder reported in its Bovina column on renters in the Gow House. One item noted that "Harry Martin has rented rooms in a part of the Gow house." The same column later noted that "Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Thomson will commence housekeeping in rooms in the Gow house."

Eighty-seven years ago today, the March 12, 1930 Delaware Republican reported that "The farmers are busy hanging the sap buckets. A fine run on Monday."

129 years ago, the March 13, 1888 Stamford Mirror reported in its Bovina column that "Robert Fiero has been quite sick with pneumonia but is recovering." Fiero recovered from this attack. He left Bovina in the 1920s and died in Bainbridge in 1935.

Seventy-seven years ago today, the Bovina column of the March 14, 1940 Delaware Republican reported that "Jane D. Hilson was…ill last week. Barbara Hotchkin has been sick with the grip." Jane was the daughter of John and Helena Hilson. Barbara was the daughter of Malcolm and Ruth Hotchkin. Jane and Barbara would become in-laws in 1947 when Barbara married Jane's brother Jack.

129 years ago today, on March 15, 1888, a "Surprise Party Sociable" was held at the Methodist Church Parsonage "for the benefit of Rev. E.M. Kniskern…" This is the invitation that was sent to Alex Hilson and family. The invitation also included Adam Laidlaw. Likely he was living with the Hilsons at the time, may working as a hired hand. 

137 years ago today, the Bovina column in the March 16, 1880 Stamford Mirror reported that "Miss Margaret Hoy is dangerously ill with erysipelas and other diseases." I am not sure which Margaret Hoy this is. There are three possibilities, all of whom lived for some time after 1880. There was Margaret Jane Hoy, the daughter of J.R and Isabella Hoy. Born in 1866, she married Douglas Davidson in 1889 and died in 1936. Then there is the Margaret Hoy who was the daughter of Thomas and Julia Hoy. Born in 1869, she married Frederick Bramley in 1892 and died in 1899. The final Margaret is the oldest, born in 1836, the daughter of Robert and Nancy Hoy. She died in 1923.

Sixty-seven years ago, the Bovina column in the March 17, 1950 Catskill Mountain News reported on illnesses: "Mrs. W.J. Storie, who has been confined to her home th epast two weeks with grippe, is still unable to be out." The paper also noted that "Fred Thomson has been confined to his home with grippe since his return from Florida, and is under the care of Dr. Flint."

140 years ago today, on March 18, 1876, Joseph Ludington died in tragic circumstances. As later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "Joseph Ludington, or 'Jo.' as familiarly called, was employed by Stephen Russell, of Bovina, to assist in driving home some cows he had purchased from an auction in Andes. Mr. Russell kept along until they reached the top of the hill this side of Andes village when he left Ludington to come on with the cows, while he went a short distance out of the way for his wife at a neighbor's. The cows not reaching Mr. R.'s house, he went in search and found them in a field of a Mr. Coulter, but nothing was found of Ludington till Sunday morning, when it seemed he had to chase the cows into the lot and got lost and overcome by cold, died. Ludington was between 50 and 60 years of age."

Eighty-seven years ago today, the Bovina Center column of the March 19, 1930, Delaware Republican reported on the illnesses of several people. "Mrs. Margaret D. Russell is at home sick with grippe." It was believed she caught it while nursing two daughters of James Boggs' and his sick mother-in-law, Kate Barnhart. Mrs. Russell recovered and died three years later, but Mrs. Barnhart died the day this news item came out. Another victim of grippe was Mrs. T.C. Strangeway. The paper noted that "Nettie Doig is with her." Mrs. Strangeway survived this attack, dying in 1936.

117 years ago today, on March 20, 1900, James H. Coulter died. Born in 1872, he was the son of Francis Coulter and Loruhannah Henderson. He married Minnie Miller in 1895. Minnie died nine days after her husband died. James' brother Walter died two days after that.

176 years ago today, on March 21, 1841, Louisa McFarland was born in Bovina, the daughter of Andrew McFarland and Jane Russell. She lived in Bovina her entire life, dying of gastritis in 1911. She is buried in Bovina.

134 years ago today, on March 22, 1883, Alexander F. Storie signed this oath of office as town supervisor, using an altered oath form from the town of Delhi. The oath was signed late because the original person elected to the position, David Black, had not qualified to serve, likely due to illness, so a new supervisor had to be appointed by the Justices of the Peace. He was the son of Alex Storie and was known more commonly as Freemont Storie, probably to avoid confusion with his father. 

163 years ago today, the March 23, 1854 Syracuse Evening Chronicle reported on a report from the Delaware Express concerning interest by "citizens of Andes, Bovina, Middletown, Delhi, etc" in a railroad from Syracuse to Newburgh and New York City. The paper noted that "we have seldom seen more enthusiasm and confidence manifested on any occasion." They noted that among those interested was "Dr. J.C. Calhoun, of Bovina" who presided over a meeting held in Delhi of people interested in a railroad. "Measures were taken to secure a thorough and prompt survey of the Little Delaware and Elk Creek route."

Ninety-seven years ago today, the Cobleskill Index for March 24, 1920, reported that "William T. Russell, who lives on the Dysart farm in Bovina, went out into his orchard and picked up a dozen Roxbury russet apples in as sound and perfect a condition as they were last fall. Pretty good for March 24."

127 years ago today, the Bovina column in the March 25, 1890 Stamford Mirror reported that "Alex Crozier is soon to commence keeping a grocery at Bovina, in a part of John Johnstons wagon shop building." Though not clear exactly where this was, this likely was located in the Mountain Brook area of the town.

153 years ago today, on March 26, 1864, Edward Boggs was paid $54 for his teaching services in the District 4 school in Bovina. Boggs was the son of William H. Boggs and Elizabeth McKenzie. He married Nancy Murray in 1866 and died in South Kortright in 1908.

134 years ago today, the Bovina column in the March 27, 1883 Stamford Mirror reported that "Rev. James Black, of Canada, is in town visiting his brother, David Black, who is still quite sick." The same column reported that Rev. Black would be preaching at the Bovina United Presbyterian Church.

135 years ago today, the Bovina column in the March 28, 1882 Stamford Mirror noted that the "District School No. 3 is closed for a vacation of three weeks." This is the school located at Bovina Road and County Route 6 in the Mountain Brook area. The same column also reported that the "writing school is also closed, Mr. Gordon received a fifteen-dollar present for his services." Gordon was noted for his beautiful handwriting.

Sixty-six years ago today, the Bovina Center column of the March 29, 1951 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Nancy Worden of Albany is spending the Easter holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Worden."

137 years ago today, the March 30, 1880 issue of the Stamford Mirror reported that "A Bovina woman, owning a farm of 100 acres, has refused to take $2,000 for it." This probably was Nancy Cathels. She is the only women to own 100 acres in Bovina in 1880. Her husband had died in 1865 (see this blog for November 30, 2011 for more about Nancy and the loss of her husband). She never did sell the farm and still owned it at her death in 1888.

191 years ago today, on March 31, 1826, Sally Adee was born in Bovina, the daughter of Darius Adee and Harriett Jewell. We don't know much else about her. She lived with her widowed mother but by 1870 was living in Davenport with what appear to be a niece and nephew.