This Day in Bovina for November 2021

Here's the compilation of the daily entries on the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page for November:

120 years ago today, the November 1, 1901 Andes Recorder reported that Bovina veteran "Frank Gowanlock, late of Co., E., 144th Regt., has been granted a pension of $6 per month, with back pay from July 1900."

Twenty-seven years ago today, the November 2, 1994, Catskill Mountain News carried this news article about Bovina's oldest ever citizen, Helen Thompson, noting her 105th birthday. Helen would go on to celebrate two more birthdays before dying just shy of 108.

163 years ago today, November 3, 1858, Edward O’Connor signed this document submitting his claim for expenses as commissioner of highways.  O’Connor is noted in history as one of the two men sentenced to hang for the killing of Undersheriff Osman Steele during the Anti-Rent War in 1845.  O’Connor’s sentence was commuted to life in prison and he was released from prison within about a year.  He had been a town official before going to prison and resumed participating in town government after his release. 

The widow of the late John W. Bramley was found dead in bed 122 years ago this morning, November 4, 1899.  As later reported in the Andes Recorder:  “[Mrs. Bramley] had not been feeling well for a few days and had complained of her stomach. The doctor was there Wednesday but it was thought she would be better in a few days. Thursday morning her son Fred, went to her room about 4 o’clock and spoke to her and receiving no answer, thought she was asleep. About an hour later he went back and found her dead. She was cold and must have been dead when he was in the first time. She was 72 years old.” Her husband John had just died two weeks previously on October 19.

About 100 of the 212 women voters in Bovina voted 103 years ago today, November 5, 1918.  As reported later by the Andes Recorder, “Their votes did not change results in the town except to swell the Prohibition vote by about 40.”  Women in New York gained the right to vote in the November 1917.  This was the first time in New York that women were able to vote.  Women suffrage became nationwide in 1920.

Ninety-two years ago today, the November 6, 1929 Delaware Republican in its Bovina Center column reported that "Delbert Dickson had his car badly damaged driving into a hole on the Liberty road which is under construction."

Sixty-eight years ago today, the November 7, 1953 Oneonta Star carried on its front page a report of a fire that destroy my grandfather LaFever's chicken house: 

138 years ago today, on November 8, 1883, James R. Shackelton was paid $1 for taking a quarantine notice to E.L. Dean. 

Seventy-seven years ago today, the Bovina column of the November 9, 1944 Delaware Republican Express included this item: "Miss Jane A. Hilson, who teaches English in the schools of East Orange, N.J., spent the week-end at her home here. She was accompanied by her friend, Miss Elsie Penton."

157 years ago today, on November 10, 1864, tavern keeper Dorcas Aitkin presented this bill for various services to the town, including lodging four recruits likely receiving town bounty to help Bovina meet its quota (who these men were, we do not know).  Her 

Gordon Coulter entered the blacksmith shop of Gideon Miller to learn the trade 114 years ago today, November 11, 1907.  Gordon probably is Elton Gordon Coulter (1891-1945), the son of David and Lucy Coulter and an uncle to Grace Coulter Roberts.

130 years ago today, the November 12, 1891 Andes Recorder had this Bovina column: 

120 years ago today, November 13, 1897, as later reported in the Delaware Republican: "Lester Hoy, son of Thomas Hoy of Bovina, died of consumption Sunday, aged 22. Mr. Hoy was a very exemplary young man, and had a wide circle of friends who will mourn his early death." Two years later, his brother William’s wife Robena gave birth to a son who was named for his uncle Lester. This later Lester Hoy is the one who lived in the Hoy family home, now the home of Tim and Tamara McIntosh.

189 years ago today, the November 14, 1832 Delaware Gazette carried this article about the ordination of the Bovina's Associate Presbyterian Church new pastor, Rev. John Graham. Graham would serve for over 20 years.   More about Rev. Graham may be found in the Bovina NY History Blog. Part I is at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2009/12/reluctant-reverend-part-i.html.  Part II is at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2009/12/reluctant-reverend-part-ii.html

Twenty-six years ago today, the November 15, 1995 Walton Reporter carried this Bovina column by Ann Cairns: 

Eighty-two years ago today, the Bovina column of the November 16, 1939 Delaware Republican reported that "Mrs. Elizabeth McNair has returned to Binghamton to spend the winter with her son, Raymond, and family after spending the summer with her daughter Mrs. J.W. McCune." She would die at her son's home a few months later in April 1940. Mrs. McNair was born in 1852, the daughter of James and Jane Crosier. She married Peter McNair in 1869 and would have four children. Peter died in 1908. She is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

100 years ago today, on November 17, 1921, Mina Wilson signed this oath of office as the Tax Collector for the town of Bovina. She was the town's first female office holder. More about Mina can be found on the Bovina NY History blog at http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/11/bovinas-first-female-office-holder.html

Seventy-three years ago today, November 18, 1948, burial services were held for Mary Dickson Baldwin. She had died three days earlier at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, DC. She was born in Bovina, the daughter of Gilbert and Jane Dickson. She married George F. Baldwin and was an English teacher for many years in Ossining, NY. She had moved to Arlington, Virginia two years previous to her death.

142 years ago today, November 19, 1879 Alexander Meyers was married to Isabelle Laing.  The couple would be married for almost 68 years.  In 1939, the couple celebrated their 60th anniversary with a party given for them in the Bovina UP Church parlors.  Bob Wyer photographed the event. Alex died in 1947 at the age of 91.  His wife Isabelle died 4 years later in 1951, when she was 90 years old.  

142 years ago today, on November 20, 1879, Isabella Coulter Armstrong died in Bovina, aged 81 years. She was the daughter of Francis Coulter and Nancy Glendenning and was the only one of their children to be born in Scotland. She was married to John Armstrong and was widowed in 1864. She was survived by six of her eleven children at her death. (Isabella is my 4 greats grandmother.)

Thirteen years ago today, the November 21, 2008 Delaware County Times carried this picture of Joe Dibble showing off his prize turkey. 

Fifty-eight years ago today, November 22, 1963, Isabell Russell recorded in her diary: "Another grand day.  I put tulips in.  M[arjorie] went & got eggs this A.M.  President Kennedy was shot in Texas where he was in a parade.  Was shot by a communist."  Isabell also recorded the shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald on the 24th and the funeral on the 25th:  “Everybody that had television was glued to them all day [to] see the funeral of Pres. Kennedy.  We closed store from 11 o’clock until 2 o’clock.”

120 years ago today, the November 23, 1901 Walton Reporter carried this article about the new Bovina Center Creamery: "The Bovina Center Cooperative creamery building is completed and the company will open it for business on January 1, 1902. The buildings are all first class and satisfactory and the outlook is very good. The officers are Wm. A. Hoy. president; Douglas Davidson, vice president; Jas. A. Thompson. secretary and treasurer. The directors are, W. A. Hoy. Alex Hilson, Silas T. Rockefeller, Douglas Davidson and James A. Thompson.

Seventy-two years ago today, the November 24, 1949 Stamford Mirror-Recorder carried an article about sixth annual 4-H Club Leaders' Recognition Dinner, held at Delaware Academy. The article included this paragraph: "Miss Marian McPherson of Bovina Center received the diamond clover pin for 20 years of service as a 4-H Club leader in Delaware County. This is the highest award ever presented to a 4-H Club leader in this county."

Earl Harold Miller, son of John M. Miller of Bovina, and Miss Rachel Mary Sullivan, of St. Paul, Minnesota, were married 107 years ago today, November 25, 1914, in Minnesota. Miller was living in Minnesota by then, but had grown up on Pink Street, the son of John and Bertha Miller, at the farm that later became Suits Us Farm. He was a lawyer in St. Paul and ran for congress there (unsuccessfully) in 1920. Earl died in 1955 in Walton and is buried in Bovina.

Eighty-four years ago today, the November 26, 1937 Otsego Farmer (published in Cooperstown), carried this item on its front page: "Residents of the upper end of Delaware county are looking forward to uninterrupted, sleep following the arrest of Walfred Hansen, aged twenty-four of Bovina, picked up by Corp. Harold Bentley and Trooper Russell Coons of the Stamford outpost of Troop C, State Police, who charged him with having a siren on his private car. Arraigned before Justice of the Peace Omar Edwards at Stamford, Hansen pleaded guilty, paid a five dollar fine and promised to remove the noise-maker from his car."

137 years ago today, the Bovina column in the November 27, 1883 issue of the Stamford Mirror reported that "D.L. Thomson has finished his job of tinning the roof of the R.P. Church." This church stood where the playground and fire hall now stand. It was taken down in 1943.

Charles F. Smith was married to Christina Lamont 165 years ago today, November 28, 1856.  This was his second marriage.  Born in Scotland in 1824, he first married Annie Williamson, by whom he had two children before her death in November 1855.  There were no children from the second marriage.  Charles was widowed again in 1898 and he died 10 years later in 1908.  He ran the hotel at what is now Jardine's for many years.

103 years ago today, on November 29, 1918, John Elliot moved from his house on Maple Avenue "to the Thomas Miller house."  The following Monday, Mrs. John Irvine, the mother of Isabell Russell, moved into the Elliott house (now the home of Tony and Norma Gabriele).  Note:  I'm still trying to figure out which house was the "Thomas Miller house."

141 years ago today, on November 30, 1880, Fred Henderson was born in Walton, the son of James Henderson and Mary Arbuckle. He married Nellie Hilson on 30 December 1903. They farmed for a number of years at a farm about a mile out of the Bovina Center hamlet. They sold the farm to my grandparents, Benson and Anna Bell LaFever, in 1928 and moved into the old Phyfe farm just outside of the Bovina Center hamlet (now the home of Tim and Kristin Schneider). Fred and Nell were married for almost 68 years at the time of his death in 1971.

November 1921 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

November 4, 1921

• A victory social will be held at C.A. McPherson’s on Friday evening.

• Cecil Russell is having the interior of his store re-decorated and also wired for electric lights.

• Clarence Lafever and Benson Lafever have returned from the north woods.  The latter shot a deer.

• The Elk Cheese Co. commenced making pot cheese Tuesday at the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery.

• The little child of Lon Joslin, aged about two years, fell into a pail of hot water this week and was severely scalded.

• C.S. Terry went to Vermont deer hunting Saturday. Tuesday he telephoned for his partner, Fletcher Davidson, to come, and he went Wednesday.

• …Robert Smith has moved into the M.E. parsonage, vacated by Mr. [Marshall] Scott.

• A community Hallowe’en party and supper was held in the hall at Lake Delaware on Monday evening.  A party was held at Herman Joslin’s the same evening.

• Fine Hunt has sold his farm (the old Tuttle place) up Coulter Brook to New York parties.  It is reported that Mr. Hunt has purchased the John G. Thomson house and lot at the entrance to the Center cemetery.

• William F. Boggs, who owns the old Gow house, had just finished putting up new steps and railing.  Monday night those out for Hallowe’en tore out the railing from the concrete and bent and twisted the pipes, doing much damage.

• Rev. and Mrs. A.I. Robb, who for 15 years were Missionaries to China, and who have been spending the summer with her people – the Campbells – left last week for southern California, where they will spend the winter, for Rev. Robb’s health.

November 11, 1921

• Frank Miller is having a furnace installed in his residence.

• Charles Boggs, of Andes, is cheesemaker at the Center creamery.

• C.S. Terry, the garage man, has returned from a hunting trip to the North Woods.

• George Cable was home from Bainbrige this week and exercised the right of franchise.

• Edward L. Coulter and son, Walter, who have been at Sidney, returned home this week in time to vote.

• The new residence of Thomas C. Strangeway is ready for the plasterers.  He is having a pipeless furnace installed.

• James A. Gow and wife, from Charlotteville, were here this week looking after their property interests here, and voting.

• George Decker has torn down the old brown building which stood at the rear of his residence, recently purchased of Elliott Thomson.

Bovina Farmer Dead

William S. Thomson passed away at his home on the old homestead farm up Coulter Brook at 5 o’clock on Monday afternoon, November 7, from pneumonia.  He was ill about a week.  Deceased was born and had always resided on the farm where he died.  His age was 60 years.  He married Jennie Archibald and she died several years ago  He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Gailie Hafele, in Bovina, and two sons, Ralph, in Watertown, and Archibald, in Walton; also by two brothers, Edward, in Walton, and Bert, in California, and one sister, Mrs. Andrew T. Doig, in Bovina.  The funeral was held Thursday afternoon from the house with interment in the Center cemetery.  

Died at Lake Delaware

Richard James died at his home at Lake Delaware on Tuesday night, November 8, aged 80 years.  A few weeks ago he suffered a shock and last Saturday had another from which he never rallied.  His parents came from Wales and lived on the mountain back of “The Lake.”  He is survived by two daughters.

A Hot Election in Bovina

Thos C. Strangeway Elected Supervisor by 10 – W.G. Coulter Supt of Highways by 18

The election in Bovina on Tuesday furnished plenty of excitement and the largest vote ever cast in the town as polled – 346.  On the head of the ticket 336 votes were counted and Strangeway won for supervisor by 10 majority.  Three times during the canvass there was a tie.  Coulter won for superintendent of highways by 18 majority.  Mina Wilson, for collector, came through with flying colors and has the distinction of being the first woman elected to office in the town.  Arbuckle, for sheriff, had a majority of 51.  

November 18, 1921

• The work of putting in the stone road up-town was stopped last Wednesday.

• Able Knapp, an aged man who has been at Guy Rockfeller’s, went to the County Farm this week.

• Matthew Elliott, of Delhi, was here on Friday having some repairs made to his Cadallac at the garage of Terry & Davidson.

• Norton Forrest is wearing a black eye as a result of a kick from a horse.  He was stooping over making some repairs to the stall and was hammering when the horse landed him one in the eye.  Fortunately it was at close range and no serious damage was done.

Lake Delaware

• The Gerry cars were all taken to New York the past week.

• Alex B. Jardine is suffering from blood poisoning in his hand.

November 25, 1921

• Mrs. F.N. Crawford was taken ill on Sabbath and has been under the doctor’s care.

• The Village school closed Wednesday for the Thanksgiving recess and will re-open again Monday.

• George Decker now lights his newly purchased residence with electricity, having installed a Delco plant.

• William F. Boggs is making improvements about his residence, putting lattice around his veranda, etc.

• William T. Gordon, who has been here for the past three months recovering from illness, returned Saturday to New York City.

• Ethel, the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Burgin entertained seven of her little girl friends Saturday, the occasion being her birthday.

• Edward L. Coulter, who recently sold his farm on the turnpike, has purchased a small fruit farm near Sidney, among other things on the place is an acre of strawberries.  He moved his household goods thereto this week.