This Day in Bovina for May 2020

Here's the monthly compilation of the entries on the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page:

119 years ago today, on May 1, 1901, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder, "Dr. J.D. Frisbee, of Andes, was in this place doing dental work.  He expects to visit this place every two weeks."

109 years ago today, on May 2, 1911, as later reported in the Andes Recorder Bovina column, a son was "born to Mr. and Mrs. A. Thomas Archibald, Mountain Brook…" This son was Marvin Archibald. Marv married Eleanor Burns in 1942 and would pass away in 1987.

200 years ago today, May 3, 1820, Bovina's first ever Liquor license was issued to John Hastings at a meeting of commissioners of excise. 

Eighty-four years ago today, on May 4, 1926, two Bovina farms hosted woodchuck killing demonstrations held by the Farm Bureau. One at 10 am at the farm of James Boggs, the other at the W.J. Storie farm. The Catskill Mountain News, in reporting these under the headline "Woodchucks are Facing Death" noted that the demonstrations showed "how woodchuck dens are treated with calcium cyanide…" Farmers were being encouraged to use these "effective methods of ridding farms of the destructive animals."

258 years ago today, on May 5, 1762, Nathan H. Hilton was born in Connecticut. He was married around 1780 to Mary Pierce. Around 1795, they settled in Bovina. Nathan and Mary had eight children. She died in 1836 and Nathan the following year in 1837.

148 years ago today, on May 6, 1872, the Bovina Board of Excise met to review applications for licenses to sell liquor. No applications were presented. It likely is at this point that Bovina became a 'dry town' and would stay so until after the end of Prohibition.

131 years ago today, the Stamford Mirror for May 7, 1889 reported that "Word has been received that Wilson and Maggie Atkins, of Bovina, reached their journeys' end in due time. The latter is at J.L. Ormiston's, Raymore, Mo., and Wilson is at his sister's, in Jetmore, Kansas." Wilson and Maggie were the children of Isaac Atkin and Nancy Blair. Wilson was born in 1851, his sister in 1849.

137 years ago today, the Stamford Mirror for May 8, 1883 reported that "Gilbert D. Miller has purchase the Halstead place at Bovina Valley, for $1,650, and will go to work thereon at once."

200 years ago today, on May 9, 1820, Margaret Bryce Russell gave birth to an infant, who sadly died the same day. Her husband was James Russell, Jr. The baby was buried in Bovina.

Seventy-one years ago today, in a notice dated May 10, 1949 in the Catskill Mountain News, it was reported that "Those who are driving new cars the past week are James Hilson with a Cadillac convertible, Martin Rabeler a Mercury sedan, Frances Schabloski a Ford sedan."

159 years ago today, May 11, 1861, the Delaware Republican had the following item: "We understand that several gentlemen of the name of Stott, formerly of Bovina, passed through here a few days ago, having been driven from their late residence in Chantilly, Fairfax Co., Virginia, for being Union men. They left most they had behind them and were even pursued and a horse taken away from them." I can't be sure but this likely was the family of John Elliot Stott. Born in Scotland in 1804, he came to Bovina and started his family. It seems the family moved south in the 1850s. Stott's wife Jane Hendry Ormiston died there in 1856. They lost two children there also. And I don't think John was one of the family who ran back north. He is reported as dying in Falls Church, Virginia in 1863. The gentlemen may have been his sons George, James and William.

Sixty-six years ago today, on May 12, 1954, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "Mrs. Fred Thomson held a brush party at her home…"

Seventy-one years ago today, the Bovina column of the Catskill Mountain News for May 13, 1949 reported that "Miss Jennie Hastings is spending some time at the home of her brother, Milton Hastings, and assisting Lillie Happy with her work while she is recovering from her recent illness."

122 years ago today, on May 14, 1898, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Woodburn & Smyth set up a monument… in the cemetery for Mrs. Muller, in memory of her late husband." Here's a photograph of the monument.  

138 years ago, on May 15, 1882, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "Snow was reported to be over an inch deep on Bramley hill, Bovina…"

Fifty-seven years ago today, the May 16, 1963 Delaware Republican-Express reported in its Bovina column that "Volunteers and carpenters will begin this week in remodeling the church basement."

Seventy-one years ago today, it was reported in the Catskill Mountain News in an item dated May 17, 1949 that "We had several hard frosts in town last week. They did considerable damage to tender growths. It is hope this is the last for the season."

Eighty-one years ago today, the May 18, 1939 Delaware Republican reported in its Bovina column that "Edward Snyder is to teach in the Herbert Huggin's district next year." Snyder actually was Edward Schneider. He later was the last teacher at the Maynard district on Bovina road lived to the age of 102, dying in 2016. The Huggins district was Bovina District 5, located at Lee Hollow and Miller Avenue.

Two hundred years ago today, May 19, 1820, Grace Elliott was born in Bovina, the daughter of John Elliott and Christiana Mabon. She married Lewis Knapp in 1851 in Bovina. The Knapps would have three children. She died 1882 in Hamden.

Fifty-five years ago today, the Bovina column of the May 20, 1965 Delaware Republican-Express had the following notice: "The auxiliary of the Bovina Fire Department request that ladies having old sheets or pillow cases no longer usable please donate the same to use as cancer dressings. Please leave at the home of Mrs. Florence Thomas or at the Firemen's Hall soon."

Ninety-eight years ago today, on May 21, 1922, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Triplets were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher Davidson ....  All were girls and two of them have since died." The surviving girl was Jane Davidson. She survived to adulthood but died in in childbirth in December 1955.

Ninety-one years ago today, the Bovina column of the May 22, 1929 Delaware Republican reported that "the post office inspector has recommended a change of mail route for Bovina. I am sure everyone will be glad."

Eighty years ago today, the May 23, 1940 issue of the Delaware Republican had in its Bovina column this item: "Mrs. Ralph Barnhart remains in a serious condition at present writing." Mrs. Barnhart was born Anna Irene Ruland and married Ralph Barnhart in 1921. They had one son, Donald. Anna was suffering from breast cancer and would pass away the following March in her home in Bovina. She was 40 years old.

138 years ago today, the May 24, 1882 Delaware Gazette issue included the following: "We regret to learn that David Black, Supervisor of Bovina, is not so well, in fact that his friends are very anxious and consider his condition critical." He would survive for a little less than a year, dying in April 1883.

147 years ago today, on May 25, 1873, Sarah Eliza Seacord died. Born in 1842, she was the daughter of Alexander Dean and Phoebe Ann Bramley. Married in 1862 to William Seacord, she had two children before her death at the age of 30. She's buried in the Bovina cemetery.

Sixty-seven years ago today, on May 26, 1953, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, the young son of Howard and Theresa Conklin, Marty, "was burned on both arms and hands when he fell into a pail of water at his home last week Tuesday. He was rushed to Margaretville hospital where he remained overnight for treatment."

Fifty-five years ago today, the Bovina column in the May 27, 1965 Delaware Republican-Express reported that "James Hoy of Bainbridge has been transferred from the Bainbridge branch of the National Bank and Trust Company of Norwich to the Grand Gorge branch as branch manager. He will move there this week." Jim was the son of James and Margaret Hoy and grew up in Bovina.

Sixty-eight years ago today, on May 28, 1952, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "Around 15 of the Bovina firemen attended the Elk's celebration at Oneonta Wednesday evening and took part in the parade with 16 other companies."

115 years ago today, on May 29, 1905, Mina Cook submitted this bill for $100 for her services as a teacher at Bovina District number 1 (the Maynard school). 

127 years ago today, on May 30, 1893, Bina Liddle died. Born in 1819, she was the daughter of Henry McDonald and Margaret Donald. She married Alexander Liddle and would have eight children. Bina was widowed in 1884.

144 years ago today, the May 31, 1876 Delaware Gazette reported that "Mr. Alexander Kinmouth, of Bovina, thinks a great deal of his Ayershire cow, which gives 48 lbs of milk a day. He makes 18 lbs of butter a week after using all the milk he wants for the family."