Eighty one years ago today, the Delaware Republican Express for October 1, 1942 published this Bovina column:
120 years ago, the October 2, 1903
Otsego Farmer (Cooperstown) had the following report: "Prosperous Delaware
county creameries are those of the co-operative companies at Bovina Centre and
Bovina. The one at Bovina Centre receives 17,500 pounds milk daily. Average
test, 5.2. The patrons receive the skim milk back free if desired. Twenty-four
and one-half cents was paid for butter fat for the month of August. At the
Bovina co-operative creamery, 70 cans of milk are taken in each day, the
average test is 5.2, and the price paid for butter was 22 cents a pound.
Patrons are allowed both skim milk and buttermilk back free. The butter is put
in one-pound prints for the Philadelphia market." The Bovina Center
creamery is the one in the hamlet. The Bovina creamery was on Bovina Road and
closed sometime in the 1920s. The building has been gone for some time.
159 years ago today, on October 3, 1864, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "A McClellan Club was formed in Bovina…and the following gentlemen elected as officers: F.McFarland, President; James McFarland, Michael Dickson, Vice-Presidents; E.A. Boggs, Secretary; R.F. Scott, Treasurer." McClellan clubs were formed to support the candidacy of General McClellan in the 1864 presidential election. McClellan lost the election to Abraham Lincoln, who was re-elected to his second term. In Bovina, McClellan lost, too, receiving 67 votes to Lincoln's 210.
141 years ago today, on October 4,
1882, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Delaware Gazette, "a
shameful - yes, disgraceful affair took place in town on Wednesday night. Two
parties began the small business of running horses, kept it up until they
reached the village, where it ended in a smashup, turnover and runaway. Two
outside parties might have been killed, but fortunately escaped with knocks and
bruises; children endangered; Prof[essor] given a lively run to escape, and the
doctor's fence badly demolished. Such a history should be a lesson to such
young men." Who the professor is I cannot determine.
199 years ago today, on October 5,
1824, Thomas Landon posted the following ad in the Delaware Gazette:
"Merino Bucks for Sale. The subscriber has for sale at the Fish Lake [Lake
Delaware], a number of full bred MERINO BUCKS, of pure blood as imported from
Spain. Those who wish to purchase, must apply previous to the first of
November, as on that day such as are unsold, will be removed to the
eastward." In case you don't know, Merinos are a breed of sheep, popular
in Bovina's early history.
Seventy-nine years ago today, the
October 6, 1944 Walton Reporter in its Bovina column reported that "Mr.
and William Samderson and children of Delhi and Miss Leona Edwards of Turnwood
were week end guests of their brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Boggs." The same column also reported "Old clothes were collected in
town Thursday by the drivers of the milk trucks, and taken to the community
hall. After being sorted and packed by a committee consisting of Mrs. Floyd
Aitkens, Mrs. John Hilson and Mrs. Agnes Draffen, they will be shipped to New
York, where they will be sent to help the people of European countries."
139 years ago today, the Bovina
column of the October 7, 1884 Stamford Mirror reported "A grand banquet
was held at the residence of A. Liddle one fine evening recently. Waterville
was well represented and tripped the light fantastic until the wee sma hours
had rolled around." Waterville was a briefly used term for the Butt End of
Bovina.
114 years ago today, an ad
appeared in the October 8, 1908 Catskill Mountain News: "For sale - The
hotel at Bovina Centre with 4 1/2 acres of flat land adjoining. Only hotel in
town. Posession given Nov. 1, 1909. J.L. Dickson, Bovina Center." This hotel
was located across Maple Avenue. It was demolished around 1920 and the
residences of Jim and Margaret Hilson and Julie Hilson and Mark Schneider stand
on the spot where it was located.
138 years ago today, on October 9,
1885, the "baseball clubs of Hamden and Bovina" were due to play the
"last game for the best two in three on the fair grounds" in Delhi.
The Delaware Gazette reported that "they have played two games…that at
Hamden was won by the Hamden club, and the one at Lake Delaware by the Bovina
club." The paper concluded "as they are quite evenly matched the game
will be watched with interest." I have not been able to find the result of
this final game.
Ninety-two years ago today, on October 10, 1931, the house of Dr. Sarle was damaged by fire. The house is now the home of Chef Deanna at 1645 County Highway 6. Here's the report of the fire from the October 15, 1931 Stamford Mirror.
158 years ago today, on October 11, 1865, a team from Delhi and Bovina played against a Hamden and Walton team at a game of Quoits in Hamden. It appears the Delhi and Bovina team prevailed. Here's the scoring from the Delaware Gazette:
.
Seventy-nine years ago today, the
Bovina column of the October 12, 1944 Delaware Republican-Express reported that
"Mrs. Robert Erkson and Mary Anne Snell of Albany were here on Friday.
Mrs. Erkson stopping with Mr. and Mrs. Claud Erkson and Miss Snell with Mrs.
Frank McPherson."
Fifty nine years ago today, on
October 13, 1964, as later reported in the Delaware Republican Express,
"…Mrs. John Hilson was honored at a luncheon at the home of Mrs. William
Storie by the King's Daughters' S.S. Class of the Bovina United Presbyterian
Church. She has retired as a teacher after many years of faithful service…In
the afternoon letters from absent friends were read, games were played and much
time spent in reminiscing."
160 years ago today, the October
14, 1863 Delaware Gazette reported on the premiums won at the county fair and
awarded by the Delaware County Agricultural Society. Miss Minnie Graham of
Bovina won $1.00 for "1 crayon sketch, 1 water color sketch, 1 oil
painting."
157 years ago today, on October 15, 1866, Jane Archibald Boggs, wife of Thomas R. Boggs, gave birth to a daughter, Margaret E. Boggs. Margaret would marry Thomas J. Ormiston on Christmas Day, 1890 and would have seven children, including two sets of twins. Her daughter Ruth Ormiston married Henry Monroe on her parents' 30th wedding anniversary and daughter Lois would marry Fletcher Davidson. Margaret was widowed in 1919 and would die in 1966, less than three months shy of her 100th birthday. Her grandchildren include Frances Monroe Burns, who turned 100 in July and Ed Davidson, who was 96 at his passing in 2019. Must be those Ormiston genes. Here's a clipping from the Walton Reporter for October 14, 1965 reporting on her 99th birthday.
173 years ago today, on October
16, 1850, Bovina farmer John Laughran was nominated for the State Assembly as a
Democrat. As later reported in the Delaware Gazette, he "was nominated
against his wishes, but has consented to accept the nomination…." The
paper went on to report that "he is a farmer of Bovina, possessed of good
talents and a business man of the right stamp; just such a man as we need in
the Legislature - fearless, upright and high minded…" In another item in
the same issue, a letter from a democrat in Roxbury noted that "The
nomination of Mr. Laughran, for Assembly, meets the warm approval of almost
every Anti-Renter…He will carry this town by a large vote." Laughran
ultimately lost the election, though the November 13, 1850 Delaware Gazette
noted that Laughran "made a gallant run and well nigh upset his
competitor. He may well feel proud of his vote."
Seventy years ago today, on October 17, 1953, Lauren Monroe married Lois Hogg from Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. Happy 70th Wedding Anniversary Lauren and Lois! Here is the announcement of their marriage and a picture from the wedding.
136 years ago today, on October 18, 1887, Michael Miller received this bill as Bovina highway commissioner from T.E. Hastings for 300 feet of planking. The same day he received another bill from D.L. Thomson for another 240 feet of planking. Planks were used for roads in the 1840s. By this time, the planks were more likely used for bridges.
119 years ago today, on October 19, 1904, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "Miss May Belle Logan and David G. Currie were united in marriage at the bride's home in Bovina Center, Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock. They are very estimable young people." David and May Belle would be married until May Belle's death in 1953. David died in 1958. Both are buried in the Bovina cemetery. Here's the invitation to their wedding, received by Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hilson:
171 years ago today, the October
20, 1852 issue of the Delaware Gazette reported in its list of premiums awarded
by the Delaware County Agricultural Society at its Annual Fair that "Miss
M. Laidlaw, Bovina" won a $2.00 premium for "worsted bureau cover,
crotchet mats, worsted footstool cover, etc." I'm not sure who M. Laidlaw
was, but the most likely candidate is Margaret Laidlaw, daughter of David
Laidlaw and Helen Hart. She married George Currie in 1859 and would have six
children. Sadly, four of her children all died in 1870, one in March and three
in December. Her last two children were born after the death of the other
children. They would both survive to adulthood.
138 years ago today, the October 21, 1885 Delaware Gazette carried this ad for the sale of the farm of Jonathan Adee. The ad ran for several months. In 1887, Adee leased the farm to Joseph Birdsall. The farm was finally sold by his daughter after Adee's death in 1907. The farm was at the top of Cape Horn Road.
183 years ago today, on October 22, 1840, the Democratic Whigs of the Town of Bovina met at the home of P.G. Vanderberg. "Hon. James Cowan being called upon to address the meeting. [H]e preferred reading to the meeting the speech of W.H. Harrison delivered at the great meeting of the Whig at Chilicotha, Ohio." A committee of five was "appointed to draft resolutions expressing the sense of this meeting." The committee comprised A. Cowan, John Erkson, Jr., James Rich, Jr, Walter Coulter and A. Storie. Harrison was elected President of the United States the following month, only to die one month into his administration. In Bovina, the Harrison received 149 votes, while the Democrat candidate, President Van Buren received 104 votes.
118 years ago today, on the evening of October 23, 1905, the Montauk Ladies Quartette gave a concert at the Bovina Methodist Church. The concert was part of a concert/lecture series held by the church. Image of the Montauk Ladies Quartette from University of Iowa. Libraries. Special Collections Dept., Redpath Chautauqua Collection.
135 years ago today, the October
24, 1888 issue of the Delaware Gazette reported the following sad story:
"William A. Amos, of Bovina, and Mrs. Matilda Gibbs, of Harpersfield were
married October 3. She was soon taken ill with typhoid fever and died Oct. 10,
aged 24." A little over a year later, William was married to Mary A.
Dowie. In 1910, William applied for a homestead in Alberta, Canada and settled
his family there. He died in 1934 and is buried in Saskatchewan, Canada.
168 years ago today, on October
25, 1855, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "Thomas Secord, of
Bovina, crossed the Ferry from New York to Jersey City, intending to take the
cars on his way home…..and in stepping from the boat his foot slipped and was
caught between the boat and dock, crushing the leg from the knee downwards, in
a shocking manner. He was taken to the New York Hospital, where, we are
informed, he is doing well, with a prospect that the limb may be saved."
Unfortunately, Thomas died on October 31st from his injuries. The November 7,
1855 Delaware Gazette reported his death, noting his remains were brought to
Bovina for interment, though where he is buried, I cannot now determine. Thomas was listed in the 1855 census as a
speculator.
195 years ago today, the October
26, 1828 Delaware Gazette published a letter from James Cowan of Bovina. Dated
the 21st, it concerned his nomination by the Republicans to run for the state
assembly: "Dear Sir, Your communication in regard to my nomination for a
member of Assembly, has taken me on surprize, and is what I have neither asked
for nor expected. I have made it the rule of my conduct, not to decline any
station to which it may be the pleasure of my friends to call me. If my name,
therefore, will add any thing to the cause, you are at liberty to use it. Allow
me to assure you that I appreciate as I ought the honor which my friends have
conferred on me, and ma fully sensible fo the kind manner in which you have
been pleased to communicate the result of their deliberations. JAMES
COWAN" At the time of the election, Cowan was the Bovina Town Supervisor.
I can't find the results of this election, but it seems Cowan did not win,
since he was reelected Bovina Town Supervisor the following February.
137 years ago today, the October
27, 1886 issue of the Delaware Gazette printed the following letter from Bovina
Center dated October 23, 1886: "Editors Gazette: - Can you explain why
D.L. Thomson, the great temperance Republican, when challenged for a joint
debate by the Prohibition candidate, has not a word to say? Yours for the
right, Anti-Saloonist." Thomson (usually Thompson) was elected to the
Assembly the following month but his career there was brief. More about David
Low Thompson is in my blog at
https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2019/03/i-dont-know-whether-i-dare-to-go-back.html
125 years ago today, on October
28, 1898, Allison Crosier died at the age of 90 from old age. She was born in
Scotland and came to the U.S. in 1839 on the ship Carroll of Carrolton, sailing
from Liverpool to New York City. She traveled with the Andrew Chisholm family,
listed as a servant. She stayed with the family the rest of her life, listed on
various census records as the housekeeper. Andrew had been married to Annie
Crosier, who died in 1843, so it's likely that Allison was a relative of
Andrew's wife. Allison is buried in Bovina next to the Chisholm family.
103 years ago, the October 29,
1920 Bovina column in the Andes Recorder reported that "Voters in Bovina
next Tuesday will receive four ballots - presidential, the state ticket,
amendments and a town proposition." The town proposition was for the
purchase of a "Steam Road Roller." The result for the vote on the
purchase on election day was a tie. At a special town meeting the following
March voters finally approved purchasing the roller.
Ninety-six years ago today, on
October 30, 1927, Charles Loughran Dickson died in Binghamton. Born in Bovina
in 1887, he was the son of Dr. Gilbert Dickson and Jane Loughran Dickson. He
went to law school and became an attorney in Binghamton. His death was
unexpected. As later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, he had attended a
play with some friends and had just said goodbye to them about a half hour
before he was found dead in his room. He was dressed for bed when death came.
The paper went on to note that "He began the practice of law in Binghamton
only recently, but had already established an excellent reputation for himself
and was said to have a brilliant future before him."
127 years ago today, on October 31, 1896, James A. Gow tendered this resignation as Justice of the Peace for the Town of Bovina.