A Foot Race at the Hook - 1867

152 years ago, the Delaware Republican published three letters to the editor concerning a race on December 3, 1867 at “The Hook,” the area known today as Lake Delaware. The race being mentioned likely is a foot race. The first letter, dated December 5, was published in the December 14, 1867 Delaware Republican:

We think the race of Tuesday, 3d inst., worthy of note; it was a dash of fifty yards, between Horace C Hogeboom of this place and Ed Mason of Delhi, for a purse of $20. The score was won by Hogaboom by about four feet, Mason having won a race here some two weeks previous, with James Elliot, (who had been playing base ball all day, and from other causes, was in no condition for running) by about two feet, claimed the championship, and came on Tuesday, wit[h] his friends, and challenged the town for fifty dollars, Hogaboom did not wish to run, and they prepared to leave, saying that there was no one who dared to run; his friends then raised a purse of $10, and insisted that he should run for it, to which he finally consented, it being the first thing of the kind he had attempted.

The following week, the December 14 issue of the paper had another letter about the race from W.G. Wood of Delhi:

Mr. Editor:—In looking over your paper of last week I saw an article headed "A foot race at the Hook," and in that article it was stated that Horace C. Hogaboom of the above named place beat E. R. Mason of Delhi in a fifty yard dash, for a purse of $20; and it also stated that on a previous occasion Mason ran with James Elliott (and beat him,) after Elliott had been playing base ball all day, and for other causes was In no condition for running. Now it seems from the tone of this article that neither Mr. Hogaboom, Elliott, or their friends are satisfied. I have heard a number of times, and from good authority, that Mr. Hogaboom's friends are desirous of matching him against any man in Delhi, or in Delaware County. I do not propose to blow, nor do I claim to be a first class pedestrian, but I will state this for the benefit of Mr. Hogabcom, Elliott and their friends, that I will match E. B. Mason, Clark or myself against any man in the town of Bovina, for a race of from fifty to one hundred yards, flying start, for not less than $100 and as much more as they choose to make it. I propose to make the three matches; —the first to come off at Delhi, and the others as we may agree. A forfeit of fifty dollar's Will be placed in the hands of Mr. LeValley of the Globe Saloon. This challenge will he left open for ten days. I mean business. "Stamps talk." W. G. WOOD

Mr. Hogaboom finally weighed in two weeks later, the letter published in the December 28 issue:

Bovina Valley, Dec. 24, 1867

Editor Republican:—I see in your last week's paper s challenge for myself or any man in Bovina to run with either of Messrs. Clark, Mason or Wood of Delhi for $100 a side. The challenge was to be open ten days, I will now close that challenge by accepting it. The race not to come off before the first of May, 1868. The one of the three whom I wish to run with I will designate a[t] some future day. H.C. Hogeboom.

Unfortunately, I can find no evidence that the race accepted by Hogaboom actually took place.

Horace Clark Hogaboom was born in 1839, the son of John Hogaboom and Elizabeth Purdy. The family moved from Otego to Bovina around 1841. His father died while Horace still was a child. His mother continued working the family farm in Lake Delaware for years. Horace had a brother, Henry, who fought in the 144^th NY Volunteers during the Civil War.

Horace shows up in the local papers again in 1873. Around 1870, Bovina had essentially become a dry town, meaning the sale of alcohol was forbidden. In 1872, Horace had bought six acres of land just over the town line in Bovina from his mother. The following year, in July, the Delaware Gazette reported that Horace, also known as Clark Hogaboom, was building a house just over the town. In September, he applied to the Board of Excise in Delhi for a license to sell alcohol – he was denied. It appears, however, that he continued living in this house, or at least owned it, until 1886, when he sold it. When he died in 1913, he still was living at Lake Delaware (his death is recorded in the Town of Bovina).

Here's the report from the May 7, 1913 Delaware Gazette:

The death of Clark Hogaboom at Lake Delaware, last week,-removes a good citizen, an accommodating and straightforward neighbor and a reliable friend from the scene of his long life work. Mr. Hogaboom was positive in his ideas of right and wrong, despised hypocrisy, warm-hearted and true to those who he deemed, worthy of his respect. The world is better of such men and while he made no pretentions of being perfect, his many good traits of character are worthy to be commended. He leaves a widow and many friends to regret his death, the writer being among the number who cannot forget many kindly manifestations of his generous nature.