Thursday, August 31, 2023

This Day in Bovina for August 2023


116 years ago today, on August 1, 1907, Rev. William Robb was married to Orlena Russell, the daughter of James A. Russell. A few months before her marriage Orlena had been teaching in Apache, Oklahoma at an Indian missionary school. A few months after the wedding the Robbs sailed for China as missionaries, arriving Tak Hong Chau, South China in December 1907. Rev. Robb would die in China in 1929. Orlena came back to the United States and settled in Walton for several years. She died in 1982 in Florida.


Seventy-four years ago today, on August 2, 1949, Walter G. Coulter and Arnold Van Dusen were seriously injured while working on the home of Arch Hunter in Bovina Center. While on the scaffold, it broke, tossing both men several feet to rough and rocky ground. Coulter got the worst of it, with a dislocated shoulder, and a sprained and bruised back. Van Dusen broke his wrist. Both men were taken by ambulance to Delhi. Coulter spent a few days in the hospital before returning home.


Seventy-nine years ago today, the Delaware Republican-Express Bovina column in its August 3, 1944 issue reported that "Miss Jane D. Hilson spent from Monday until Wednesday in Philadelphia. She has accepted a position as a nursery school teacher and expects to begin her work on Sept. 1st.


108 years ago today, the August 4, 1915 Delaware Gazette reported that "Margaret S. Monroe, wife of James Monroe, died at her home in Bovina, Wednesday [July 28] at the age of 47 years. She had been ill for a long time with a complication of diseases. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Coulter, both of whom are dead. Mrs. Monroe is survived by her husband and several children. The funeral was held Friday morning." She was the mother of Loruhannah, Henry, Martena and James Monroe.


Eighty years ago today, the August 5, 1943 Delaware Republican carried this Bovina column: 




134 years ago today, on August 6, 1889, John Downie died in Norfolk, Virginia. Born in Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1819, he came to Bovina and for a number of years was a shoemaker in the then hamlet of Brushland, living in the house now occupied by the Foster family (formerly owned by Ken and Barbara Brown). He was married twice, first to Elizabeth Thompson, who died in 1862 after having five children, and later to Mary Ann Scott, who survived him, dying in 1900. The family left Bovina by 1880, spending some time in Iowa before moving to Virginia.


100 years ago today, the August 7, 1923 issue of the Glimmerglass Daily (Cooperstown) reported that "G. D. Miller, who is a resident of Bovina Center, claims and probably with justice, that he is the oldest dealer in hides in this section of the state. He has been in the business for 65 years." This is Gilbert Dickson Miller, son of Scottish immigrant William Miller. Born in 1843, he was a veteran of the Civil War. Gib died in 1931.


Eighty-three years ago, the August 8, 1940 Bovina column of the Delaware Republican reported that "Charles A. McPherson, who has been a patient at the Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown more than a year and a half returned to his home here this week. Mr. MacPherson suffered injuries to his back from a fall in the haymow from which he is not entirely recovered. His many friends are glad that he is again able to return home." Sadly, he would be confined to his home for the rest of his life. McPherson, born in 1873, would survive another nine years, dying on August 3, 1949 at his home.


Fifty-six years ago today, in the early morning hours of August 9, 1967, Vera Storie died. Her death was unexpected. As the Delaware Republican later reported, "Mrs. Storie had phoned her sister-in-law, Mrs. [Fletcher] Davidson the previous evening to say that she was not feeling well, but it was a casual remark made during the conversation." It was noted that she had had friends visit her that afternoon. This image of Vera was taken by Bob Wyer in November 1943. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 



149 years ago today, on August 10. 1874, Wilhelmina B. Cooke was born, the daughter of William Cooke and Ellen Knox Laidlaw. Better known as Mina (pronounced Minie), she married Walter Wilson and had three children. For more about Mina, look at the Bovina NY History blog for November 11, 2013: http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2013/11/bovinas-first-female-office-holder.html


112 years ago today, the August 11, 1911 Bovina column in the Andes Recorder reported that "The town's traction engine was put on the work of putting the highway in shape between the Rockafeller place and Eugene Storie's." This highway is the current Reagan Road.


Fifty-nine years ago today, on August 12, 1964, Agnes Draffen died. Born in 1872, my "Aunt Aggie" was the daughter of Alexander Burns and Nancy Miller. She married David Draffen in 1895. Here is her obituary, as published in the August 20, 1964 Delaware Republican Express. The surviving aunt, Lib Blair, would die the following year.



Seventy-one years ago today, on August 13, 1952, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Catskill Mountain News, "About 40 ladies, including her Sunday school class, came on Wednesday … to wish Mrs. Elizabeth Blair happy birthday. The occasion was her 85th birthday." Lib Blair would celebrate birthdays for over a decade, dying in 1965 at the age of 98. 


113 years ago today, August 14, 1908, Bovina resident John Hobbie died in Fulton, NY at the home of his son Charles Hobbie.  He had come to visit his son and took ill soon after arriving, dying a few weeks later. His obituary was in the August 19 Delaware Gazette: "Mr. Hobbie was born in Bovina in December 1838, and nearly all his life has been a resident of that town. He was a successful farmer and very progressive in the management and care of fine cattle. He was also one of the best citizens of the town always taking a decided interested in its best welfare. A member of the United Presbyterian church, he was a regular attendant and a generous contributor to its support." Some time after the death in 1881 of his wife, the former Emily Josephine Reynolds, he sold his farm, spending part of the year in Bovina and part of it in Fulton at his son's home. He was survived by his son and two daughters, Mary Hobbie and Sarah Hobbie Archibald. He was buried in Bovina. 


Margaret McDonald was born 200 years ago on August 15, 1823 in Dundee, Scotland.  She was the daughter of Henry McDonald and Margaret Donald.  The family emigrated to Bovina where Margaret would marry William Archibald in 1845.  They would take over the McDonald family farm at the Butt End about ten years later.  Widowed in 1883, Margaret died in 1907 at the age of 84 and is buried in Bovina. 



112 years ago today, on August 16, 1911 the Bovina Board of Health met concerning "certain conditions caused by a drain near the well at the hotel." The board served notice and "suggested a cesspool." It is not clear which hotel this might have been.


Seventy-one years ago today, on August 17, 1952, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News Bovina column, "June Reinertsen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leif Reinertsen, was given a party Sunday in honor of her 11th birthday. Thirty-two were present. Out of town guests were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Swantak of South Kortright and Linden Kelly of Hamden. There were many gifts, best of eats, a nice time and many good wishes to a nice girl."


144 years ago today, on August 18, 1879, Alexander McEachron died at the age of 83. As later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "[The] Decease[d] was one of the oldest residents of Bovina, having lived on the farm where he died for upward of fifty years." McEachron lived in later became the home of Howard and Laura LaFever.


Ninety-four years ago today, on August 19, 1929, the funeral of Mrs. Nettie Hilson took place at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred Henderson. Mrs. Hilson had broken her hip a few weeks previously and had a heart attack on August 9. She passed away a few days later at the age of 87.


Eighty-one years ago today, the August 20, 1942 Delaware Republican-Express reported in its Bovina Center column: "Misses Rae Storie, Katherine Burns, Anna and Mary Boggs returned Saturday from the New Wilmington Missionary conference."


140 years ago, the August 21, 1883 Bovina column in the Stamford Mirror reported that "An artist from New York is at work on a piece of painting on canvas for the U.P. Church, of Bovina." What canvas this was cannot now be determined.


174 years ago today, on August 22, 1849, the Bovina Methodist Church's new church building was dedicated. The building, located across from where the community hall is now, cost $1,397.50 to build. The trustees at the time of the building’s completion were James Seacord, Thomas W. Dennis, Sylvenus Bramley, Alphonso Lee and Edward McKenzie. The dedication took place though not without incident. The pastor of the Bovina Associate Presbyterian Church, Reverend John Graham, received a notice about the dedication and made his feelings known in no uncertain terms from his pulpit. He condemned the consecrating of churches as “heathenish and popish in its origin.” In his autobiography, he proudly noted that “some diseases need strong medicine at the beginning to prevent them spreading and injuring the whole system; and which, if used in time, prevents much trouble and perplexity afterward.”


Seventy-eight years ago today, on August 23, 1945, a victory dance was held in the parish hall of St. James' Church at Lake Delaware. As later reported in the Delaware Republican Express, "…a pleasant time was had by all. Music was by Mead's orchestra."


187 years ago today, on August 24, 1836, Elizabeth Hastings was born, the daughter of James Hastings and Elizabeth Elliott. She married William T. Miller in 1864. They had one daughter, Jennie, in 1870. She was widowed in 1900 and passed away in 1927, survived by her daughter and six grandchildren and a great grandchild.


138 years ago, the August 25, 1885 issue of the Stamford Mirror had the following item in its Bovina column: "Our new postmaster has broken ground near his residence in Brushland for the new post-office building and expects to have it ready for business about October 1st." I am not 100% where this was built, or if it was. The postmaster was William McCune, who had just been appointed the month before. He was postmaster for four years.


Seventy-eight years ago today, on August 26, 1945, as later reported in the Delaware Republican Express, "A collision of the cars of John Lee and Almiron Goss occurred at the Lake Delaware bridge….Both cars were badly damaged but none of the occupants were seriously hurt. The Goss car, driven by his brother-in-law, Donald Gemmel who was accompanied by Mrs. Goss and niece, Miss Mae Sitts. The Lee car was driven by Mrs. John Lee, accompanied by her aged aunt, Mrs. Birdsall, her sister-in-law, Mrs. James Meighan and Miss Lura Fisk. All were badly shaken up."


Ninety-eight years ago today, on August 27, 1925, the Bovina town picnic took place. As later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Addresses were made by Attorney Ernest Bergman, of New York, and H.W. Harper of Walton."


133 years ago today, on August 28, 1890, Nancy Miller Burns, wife of Alexander Burns, gave birth to their second son. He died only three days later and was never named.


Fifty-three years ago today, on August 29, 1970, the Town of Bovina celebrated its Sesquicentennial - its 150th birthday. Here are some pictures from that celebration: https://www.flickr.com/photos/30793716@N06/sets/72157714660491841/


Eighty-eight years ago today, the August 30, 1935 Catskill Mountain News reported on the "fourth annual 4-H Flower show." Here's the full report: 



141 years ago today, on August 31, 1882, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "Six or seven hundred people were present at the grand picnic in Bovina last Thursday. The Stamford Cornet Band furnished the music. The Bovina ladies supplied an abundance of excellent refreshments, and Russell Frost, of Delhi, and Rev. Mr. Hawk, of Pepacton, delivered the addresses. Everything passed off in a most enjoyable manner and everyone seemed desirous to congratulate those who had the management in charge, and to wish most heartily that they may enjoy a repetition of the day's pleasure at some future time."



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