This Day in Bovina for September 2024

Here's the compilation of the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page entries for September 2024:

139 years ago today, on September 1, 1885, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, "…a large crowd assembled on the farm of Robert Thompson to witness the trial of Andrew Johnson's new engine and thresher.  It worked to perfection and bid defiance to the wet sheaves of oats and rushed wildly on."

123 years ago today, on September 2, 1901, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "The Bovina and Elk Creek teams played a good game of baseball on the Academy grounds…notwithstanding the rather unfavorable weather. At the close of the ninth inning the score stood at a tie. Consequently, the tenth inning had to be played to settle the contest. It was closely contested, but the Bovina boys won the score, standing 10 to 9."

173 years ago today, James Renwick posted an ad dated September 3, 1851 to sell his farm: "The subscriber offers for sale the Farm on which he now resides, in the town of Bovina, containing about 180 acres. There are two good dwelling houses and three good barns and other out buildings. It is mostly fence with stone wall. Also, a large orchard of bearing apple trees - well watered and well calculated for a grain or dairy farm. Terms easy. For further particulars enquire of the subscriber. He would be willing to take a small farm in part payment." This farm was on what is now Pink Street, likely what later became Suits-Us farm. Renwick had leased it from the Livingston family since about 1822. It was a few years before he was able to sell it.

155 years ago today, the Delaware Republican reported in its issue for September 4, 1869 under the headline "Lightning Raid on a Sugar Camp" that "The lightning struck a Maple Sugar Camp belonging to Mr. John T. Miller, Bovina, felling some fifty trees."

Seventy-two years ago today, the Bovina column in the September 5, 1952 Catskill Mountain News reported that "Mrs. William Sellhorn Sr., accompanied by Mrs. William Sellhorn Jr., Monica and Renate Rabeler, grandchildren of the former Sellhorn, are leaving for New Bern, N.C. on Tuesday. They will return the two children to the home of their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Rabeler Jr., after spending several weeks in the South. The Mrs. Sellhorns will visit here for some time before returning home."

Eighty-nine years ago today, the September 6, 1935 Catskill Mountain reported in its Bovina column that "Mr. and Mrs. Millard Russell, Mr. and Mrs. G.H. Russell attended the Syracuse fair on Tuesday."

118 years ago, the September 7, 1906 Catskill Mountain News carried this item under the headline "Dr. Lee Back to Bovina:" "Will Spend the Remaining Years of Hist Life There. Rev. James B. Lee, D.D., for thirty-two years pastor of the United Presbyterian church in Bovina Centre, previous to 1888, was given a farewell reception at Franklinville, where he has been since leaving Bovina, Wednesday evening of last week. Dr. Lee had contemplated for some time spending the remainder of his life among the Bovina hills and with Mrs. Lee will soon take up his residence there. He will occupy rooms in George Gladstone's house, better known as the Kennedy House." Lee died in 1914. 

138 years ago today, the September 8, 1886 Delaware Gazette reported that "The beautiful village in the town of Bovina, previously known as Brushland, will hereafter be known as Bovina Centre. Brushland was a misnomer for the place, for it was never a land of brush but always a land of cattle. We understand that it was through the personal efforts of Rev. Dr. Lee that the name has been changed from Brushland to Bovina Centre by the Postmaster General. We congratulate the inhabitants of our neighboring village on this change of names, for it certainly is much more appropriate." Brushland got its name from Alexander Brush, the first settler in what is now Bovina Center. Bovina Center was known as Brushland from 1849 to this reported change in 1886.

Eighty-one years ago today, September 9, 1943, the Delaware Republican Express carried this Bovina column: 

111 years ago today, on September 10, 1913, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "…a Downsville man named W.C. O'Brien, who was employed in the blacksmith shop of Gideon Miller, Bovina Center, suddenly fell unconscious while at work in the shop. He did not revive and died about two hours later." William O'Brien was 59 years old.

161 years ago today, on September 11, 1863, William McCune, trustee for Bovina School District Number 2 (Pink Street) signed this order to pay Elisabeth Colgan $18.12 for teaching in the school for a four month period.  

124 years ago today, the September 12, 1900 Delaware Gazette reported that "Commodore Elbridge T. Gerry has ordered the manager of his estate at Lake Delaware to have the public highway between Bloomville and Bovina Center repaired, he himself paying for the same, preparatory to his coming to his country seat at that place, which will be in the near future. It is his purpose to come over the Ulster & Delaware railroad to Bloomville and from there by carriage to Lake Delaware."

134 years ago today, the Bovina column of the September 13, 1890 Delaware Republican reported that "A.F. McPherson has leased the M. Dickson lot opposite A.T. Strangeway's store, and is building a blacksmith shop." A. Fitch McPherson was born in 1832 and was married twice. He died in 1903. McPherson is the great grandfather of Sandra Cole and Ruth Ann Avery.

160 years ago today, on September 14, 1864, Supervisor Alexander Storie issued this receipt to pay Miss Jeanette Wilbur for teaching in the District 11 school (Coulter Brook).

143 years ago today, on the afternoon of September 15, 1881, Mrs. Orr Sloan died at the home of her son-in-law, James Aitkin in Bovina Center, exactly one year after she was widowed. She was born Sarah Collins in Belfast, Ireland and was the mother of seven children, most of whom survived her.

132 years ago today, the September 16, 1892 Delaware County Dairyman reported some mischievous in Bovina, under the title "Bad Bovina Boys:"  "On Sabbath morning last a strange sight greeted the gaze of the Bovina people when they arrived at church. Perched up on the top of the church sheds was the wagon of one of Bovina's young men who had been on a visit to his lady, when his wagon mysteriously disappeared to reappear upon its lofty perch. Upon it were the words 'Here we are, Platner Brook.' How is she, Russy?"

190 years ago today, the September 17, 1834 Delaware Gazette had the following item: "Prolific - Mr. Robert Mitchell of Bovina, in this county, has raised, the present season, three calves from one cow. It is seldom that an instance of this kind occurs, particularly where the calves all live and do well, as in this case."

Fifty years ago today, the Bovina column in the September 18, 1974 Stamford Mirror Recorder reported that "Burns Brothers have donated an eleven week old calf to be raffled off as a benefit for the Bovina fire department. The winner may decide to have the calf cut and wrapped or on the hoof. Tickets may be purchased from any fireman for $1 donation. The drawing will be held at the "Oktoberfest” on Oct. 13 at Catskill ski slope."

135 years ago today, the September 19, 1889 Hobart Independent reported "Bovina is a great town for accidents happening to those who go 'sparking.' Recently, a young man, after bidding his sweetheart a fond adieu, fell down stairs. People in the neighborhood thought it was an earthquake, but it was only 150 pounds falling about ten feet."

121 years ago today, on September 20, 1903, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "Stephen Russell died at his residence…in the 82d year of his age. He had always lived in Bovina, being born in that town January, 1822. Mr. Russell was a very substantial farmer and one of the excellent citizens of the locality. His wife died a few years ago, but he is survived by a family of several children." The dates in the death notice are a bit off. Stephen's wife, the former Mary Armstrong, died only about a year and a half before he passed. The couple had seven children.

114  years ago today, the September 21, 1910 Delaware Gazette reported on "An Unhappy Matter" concerning a former Bovina resident. "Charles Oliver, with a very large family, recently moved from Bovina into a house on the rear of the Pitcher block [not sure, but likely this was in Delhi]. Their habits were soon found not very creditable. Sunday evening about a dozen chickens, two ducks and a saw were stolen from John Strangeways. Monday evening Sheriff Austin and Police Justice Hewitt went to the Oliver house. When they rapped at the door the light was put out. The sheriff demanded entrance and they were admitted. They found the saw, and the chickens were on the table. Oliver admitted that he stole the saw and five chickens but denied as to the rest. He is notorious for not being willing to work. In Bovina a notice was tacked on the door to move out or go to work, signed White Caps. It is said they are preparing to go to Walton. There are seven or eight children living, and it is said a dozen or fifteen have been born."

Seventy-one years ago today, on September 22, 1953, the Democrats and Republicans in Bovina held their primaries and selected these slates for town office.

Fifty nine years ago today, the Bovina column of the September 23, 1965 Delaware Republican Express reported that "Mrs. Jennie B. Elliott returned home with Mrs. Walter Campbell and her brother, Glen Dyer, on Sunday afternoon after spending the past ten days with relatives and friends in Gilbertsville, Walton, Bainbridge and Unadilla."

Sixty years ago today, the September 24, 1964 issue of the Delaware Republican-Express carried this article about the hiring of Gus Pelletier to teach English at Delhi Tech (now SUNY Delhi). 

154 years ago today, on September 25, 1870, Margaret Miller Doig gave birth to twin boys, James Lee and John Timothy Doig. Their father was William S. Doig. Margaret died when the boys were 23 years old. James Lee Doig married Emma Louise Smith in 1916 and died in 1953. John Timothy died in Detroit, Michigan in 1923. Both brothers are buried in Bovina.

116 years ago today, on September 26, 1908, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "there arrived in Delhi….from Montana, an antelope 3 months old. It appeared to have been well taken care of on its long trip and was quite a curiosity to a good many of our citizens, especially the children. It was sent to the father of Mr. Ed. Russell, in Bovina, on the Andes stage Monday morning."

167 years ago today, late the night before or early on September 27, 1857, as later reported in the Delaware Gazette, "the proceeds of a year's produce of the farm of John Bramley, of Bovina, was burned to the ground. It is believed to have been the work of an incendiary, but nothing has occurred to fix the crime upon any individual."

Sixty-seven years ago today, on September 28, 1957, Rev. David Hamilton Murray died in Hancock. The last surviving child of Bovina natives Henry Murray and Elizabeth Coulter, he was born in Andes in 1872. He married Jessie M. Cheney. Murray is buried near his parents in the Bovina Cemetery.

216 years ago today, on September 29, 1808, James Coulter was born, the last child of early Bovina settlers Francis and Nancy (Glendenning) Coulter. He also was the last surviving child of Francis and Nancy, dying in 1898 at the age of 90. He married Nancy D. Thompson in 1832. She predeceased him in 1891. They would have 13 children, six of whom survived their father. James and Nancy lost a son in the Civil War (Solomon) and another to tuberculosis (Andrew). [UPDATE: James was not the last-born child of Francis and Nancy Coulter. In fact, he was the fifth child out of nine that were born to Nancy. Thank you to Naomi Coulter Casali who caught this error.]

Seventy-five years ago today, the September 30, 1949 Catskill Mountain News reported that in Bovina, "Rains which have benefitted pastures, meadows and lawns have not been sufficient to raise water where springs and wells have gone dry."

A Week with Bovina People - September 1899 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

Here’s what was happening in Bovina 125 years ago, September 1899, from the pages of the Andes Recorder.

September 1, 1899

• Adam Maxwell was in this place on Monday.

• William Cooke visited in Colchester over Sabbath.

• Fred Johnson has returned from a visit to Sweden.

• Gilbert Bramley and family started for home Tuesday.

• Dr. Phinney visited his old home in Greene county this week.

• Alex. Hilson was at Delhi the first of the week taking in butter.

• John W. Blair and wife were at the Margaretville fair Friday.

• Rev. H.F. Brown returned home on Friday from his vacation. 

• William L. Ruff was judge of the cattle at the Shavertown fair.

• Irving Phinney will enter the Walton High School next term.

• Michael Miller has eight rowed corn that has stalks 12 ½ feet high.

• Will L. Clark and J.L. Strangeway were over from Andes Thursday.

• Thomas Ormiston and Alex. Burns were at the County seat Saturday.

• A large number from this place were at the Shavertown fair Wednesday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Fowler and Mrs. Herbert were over from Andes Tuesday.

• Mrs. George Cable and a daughter of Robert Feiro were at Andes Tuesday.

• John Elliott, of Glenburnie, and a son of George Elliott, of California, were in town Friday.

• James Robson and family and Robert Robson were at the Margaretville fair last Wednesday.

• A grand concert is to be held in the opera house at Bovian Centre, Friday evening, September 1st.

• It is reported that the place Thomas Ormiston was to have in Maryland has been filled by another man.

• Threshing is all the rage, D.C. Worden and Herman Thompson with their engine make things lively. 

• Mrs. Logan, Misses Helen Blair and Lulu Hastings have returned from a visit at Alexander Bailey’s at Delancey.

• Cards have been issued by Mrs. Amos Northrup for the marriage of her daughter, Christina E., to Gideon Miller, of Andes, on Wednesday evening, September 6, at 7:30.

• The following are the delegates top Sabbath School convention at Sidney next week: William Hastings, Mrs. Elliott Thompson, Mrs. James L. Coulter, Mrs. W.L.C. Samson, Miss Sarah Phyfe, Miss Mary L. Thompson. Alternates; James W. Thompson, D.L. Thompson, Misses Jennie Miller, Margie Strangeway, Lizzie Strangeway, Thomas Ormiston, T.C. Strangeway. 

September 8, 1899

• Frank Graham was in town Saturday.

• Thomas Gordon was down at Delhi Sabbath.

• William Black has commenced to sell milk.

• William Black was at the County Seat Thursday.

• J.K. McDivitt was in this place on Friday from Andes.

• Work on Archie Maynard’s new carriage house.  It is progressing.

• The Butt End school opened Tuesday with Bert McNair, of Andes, teacher.

• Alex Myers has just completed painting F.R. Coulter’s house on his farm.

• John Smith Arrived in town Friday to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Smith.

• William Hastings took his Sabbath School class to Lake Delaware Saturday for a picnic.

• Thomas C. Strangeway has put a new foundation wall under his wagon house and is making other repairs.

• It is said that after telling him the deal was off, Thomas Ormiston’s man in Maryland now wants him to come.

• The village school will open next week with James A. Gow and Miss Gilchrist, as teachers for the present.

• John Blair, Peter McNair, Elliott Thompson and James A. Gow were at Hobart last Thursday to the convention.

• Dr. Phinney visited his old home in Greene county last week, returning on Friday. His father died while he was there.

• John L. Gordon, of the New York police force arrived in town Sabbath for a vacation and to renew old acquaintances.

• Now that the conventions are over and a good ticket has been placed in the field, let every Republican help to support the nominees.

• Quite a number went to Andes Saturday to see the ball game. The boys came back feeling fine, as they had done the Arena boys up in fine shape. 

• William McPherson, son of Ferris McPherson of this town, has sold the Roscoe-Rockland Review to Rev. L.W. Hones and Henry Schrier of Roscoe.

• Miss Irene Forrest has secured a position as assistant teacher in the Grammar department of the Margaretville High School. She will also take some studies in the school besides.

• Miss Jane Stott died on Wednesday morning at the residence of Thomas Hilson, aged somewhere about 60 years.  She had been in poor health for a number of years previous to her death. [This Jane probably was the daughter of George Stott and Ellen Storie, but I’m not sure. Mrs. Thomas Hilson was Jeanette Orr Stott, another daughter of George and Ellen, but my records do not list this Jane. George and Ellen had a daughter named Jane in 1828 but she died before she was two years old. This Jane was born around 1834. It was not uncommon for families to name a child after a previous one that they lost.]

• Last Wednesday morning Miss Jennie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elisha B. Maynard, until a year or two ago residents of this town, now of Hobart, was married to Willard Dean at Oneonta by Rev. Welch. [Jennie was born in Bovina around 1864 and died in Binghamton in 1920. Willard survived her by 22 years, dying in 1942.]

September 15, 1899

• Our village school opened Monday.

• Robert R. Scott was at Delhi on Friday.

• Miss Jennie E. Hoy visited at Hobart last week.

• Dr. Schumann was in town Saturday from Delhi.

• John G. Russell was at the County Seat Saturday.

• Some from here are attending the Walton fair this week.

• William Clark, editor of the Delaware Express, was in this place Saturday.

• William Bramley, Alter Phyfe and wife were in this place from Delhi on Sabbath. 

• Walter D. Miller has been putting the slate roof on Archive Maynard’s wagon house.

• B.S. Miller returned Friday evening from the Grand Army Encampment at Philadelphia.

• Dr. Phinney has been at Delhi as a witness on the William Hunt and Alex Burn’s lawsuit.

• Henry Archibald and family, of New York city, have been visiting his mother and other relatives in town.

• The trouble in the Ed Coulter district has finally been settled and school opened Monday with E. Laidlaw, Jr, teacher. 

• James Hastings and wife started for Minnesota last week, where they will visit her brother, Charles Cunningham.

• Among those who we noticed in town Saturday were, Rev. George Gordon, Nelson Reynolds, William Hunt.

• Ferrington, of Hamden, was here on Saturday and bought six dairies of butter.  There are not many dairies left in town.

• Irving Phinney, Wilson and Chauncey McFarland have entered the Walton High School. Archie Coulter will go to Margaretville.

• Dennis Brothers exhibited fifty pair of fowls at the County Fair last week and did not miss a first premium on geese or goslings.  They received thirty first premiums and twenty seconds.

September 22, 1899

• Fall weather.

• James Boyd was at Delhi Saturday.

• Elmer Close visited the County Seat Friday.

• Last Thursday J.K. McDivitt was in town.

• Jennie E. Miller went to Walton on Monday.

• John Oliver was over at Andes on Saturday.

• Fred Bramley made a trip to Delhi Tuesday.

• A large potato crop is anticipated this year.

• John K. Russell and wife, of Delhi, were here Thursday.

• Thomas Gordon’s house is nearly ready for occupancy.

• William L. White was down at the County Seat Monday.

• Charles Tuttle and Oliver Dickson were at Delhi Saturday.

• Rev. Samson is attending the meeting of Synod at Walton this week.

• Michael Miller and grandson, Earl Miller, returned from the Walton fair Friday.

• Adolphus Banker, wife and son visited his sister, Mrs. G.D. Miller, over Sabbath.

• Dennis Brothers took 37 firsts and 14 seconds on poultry at the Walton fair last week.

• John L. Gordon returned to New York city Wednesday to resume his police duties.

• Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Swart, of Treadwell, visited in town Wednesday and Thursday.

• George McNair went to New York city Thursday, where he expects to get a job on the street cars.

• Henry Archibald, wife and granddaughter returned to their home in New York City Saturday.

• A number went to the Oneonta fair from here and report a fine fair with a good display and big crowds.

• Mr. and Mrs. Wells, of Albany, were visitors in town the first of the week. Mrs. Wells was a daughter of John F. Graham who lived near the Hook.

• Rev. Philip Germond, D.D. Presiding Elder of the Kingston District, will preach and hold the second quarterly Conference in the Methodist Episcopal church on Sabbath, September 24, at 2 o’clock p.m.

• A Mr. Dart, from Meridale, has rented the Bell farm below the Hook, possession given November 1.  Messrs. Graham and Covert, who now occupy it expect to move to the town of Andes.

September 29, 1899

• John Bramley is in poor health.

• Dr. Seacord was at Perch Lake on Tuesday.

• W.C. Russell was over at Andes on Tuesday.

• John Oliver and wife visited at New Kingston Friday.

• William L. White and Elmer Close were at Delhi Monday.

• Alex. Fowler and wife were in town on Sabbath from Andes.

• A Mrs. Hunger and two children are visited at Rev. Samson’s. 

• Rev. Samson returned from meeting of Synod at Walton Friday.

• Elmer Elliott and Ella Lee were over from Glenburnie on Sabbath.

• Thomas Ormiston has shipped his household goods to Glencoe, Maryland.

• Dennis Brothers talk of exhibiting their poultry at the fair at Binghamton.

• David Draffen is now in possession of Thomas Ormiston’s farm for one year.

• Douglas Davidson was at Walton last week attending a meeting of Synod.

• Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Miller are visiting relatives at Garrettsville, Otsego county.

• John B. Whitson and wife, of Matteawan, were visitors at W.T. Black’s last week.

• Miss Belle Strangeway entered the Delaware Literary Institute at Franklin Monday.

• Henry Murray and Frank Crispell were here Monday fixing water pipes for W.C. Russell.

• A musicale is to be held in Strangeway’s Hall, Friday evening, September 29.  Admission 15 cents.  

• Communion services will be held in the United Presbyterian church on the second Sabbath in October. Rev. E.M. Mulligan will assist the pastor.

• Philip Jencks, of West Oneonta, has been engaged to succeed James A. Gow as principal of the village school and will begin his duties October 9.

• Clarence Thomas and Miss Elizabeth Hoy were married at the bride’s home in Walton, Wednesday evening. Miss Hoy is a granddaughter of the late Peter Clark of Bovina. [Clarence and Elizabeth had five children and would be married just short of 50 years. Elizabeth died in June 1949, Clarence in 1958. They both died in Middletown, Pennsylvania, and are buried in Philadelphia.]

• An accident occurred at William S. Thomson’s, Coulter Brook, Friday afternoon.  D.C. Worden and Herman Thompson had just finished threshing and started to move their machine.  William S., hitched his team onto the cleaner and the hired man got on to drive and drove out onto the road, where the water tank wagon was tied on behind and when they started again this commenced to rattle and roar and frightened the horses so that they started to run and had gone but a short distance when the cleaner upset and was smashed so that it is probably useless and cannot be repaired.  The hired man was considerably shaken up, and the horses after they broke loose ran as far as W.T. Black’s.

Farming in Early Days

 

125 years ago this month, "M. Dickson" wrote a lengthy letter to the Delaware Gazette concerning farming in the old days, entitled "Farming in the Early Days." This likely was a gentleman named Michael Dickson. He was born in Scotland in 1824 and came to the U.S. with his parents in 1831. He spent the rest of his life in Bovina, dying about six months after he wrote this letter. 

I do not know what spurred him to write this, but it is interesting to see the recollections of someone who remembered Bovina in the early 19th century. 

Bovina Centre, Sept. 18, 1899

Editor Gazette: We hear a great deal about what our forefathers did in their day. I don’t mean any disrespect to our forefathers, but they had advantages that the farmers of today have not. The country was mostly new and covered with timber sixty five or seventy years ago; that was the condition of the country at the time I have reference to. In Bovina the farmers would slash down the timber on 8 or 10 acres every winter and clear off the timber in the summer. In the fall they would sow part to rye and part to wheat, and in the spring they would sow the balance to oats and buckwheat. When harvest came they had a big crop of rye and wheat which furnished all the bread they needed for themselves and families for a year. They didn’t need any fertilizers 60 or 70 years ago. I have helped reap rye that was seven feet high; the straw was strong enough to hold up a heavy woolen coat when thrown on top. Oat and buckwheat were a sure crop, so were potatoes. The farmers plowed up a piece of sod ground for potatoes and corn and spread what manure they had on it and they were sure of a big crop of both corn and potatoes; they had all the potatoes they needed for their families and to fat 3 or four yearling hogs with. A little cracked grain and what little milk they had some kept 3 and some 6 or 8 cows, just as they had winter feed for them. 

In those good old days, they didn’t need to buy any mill feed for their stock. They fatted their own pork, beef and mutton. They produced everything they used or needed on their own farms. They raised their own sheep, clipped the wool, spun the yarn, and wove their own cloth. They raised flax and made it into cloth for summer wear and for sheets. They cut the garments and made them in the family. They got their beef hides tanned into upper leather. They bought a side of sole-leather and made and mended all their boots and shoes. If they had a fat hog or barrel of pork more than they needed, or a quarter of beef, or a few bushels of potatoes or grain, they took their team, sometimes an ox team, and took what they had to dispose of to some leather manufacturing establishment and disposed of it for the cash. Their outlay was small, their taxes were not worth naming, and in some cases not as many cents as they are dollars to-day. 

The farmers kept no more cows than they had winter feed for. In the summer the cows got all their feed in the woods. In the fall the butter buyer came around and bought their butter, and the farmer knew just what he was to get and how much it would amount to when he took it to market, and he got his cash for it. Under the present system the farmer doesn’t know what he is to get for his butter nor how much it will amount to when he sends it to market. One thing he does know that he will get just what the commission man sees fit to send him. 

The farmers used silver, paper and gold as money in those good old times and they were happy. Every man sat under his own vine and fig tree. Their public servants were honest. There was no stealing of the public money. There was no one to make them afraid. It is true that our forefathers bought the land, cleared off their farms and paid for them. They paid about $1.25 per acre for the land, but you will note that the conditions were favorable for the farmer. How is it to-day? The earth refuses to yield her increase, she refused to yield the fruit for the support of man. In this town the farmer can’t raise wheat, rye nor oats; the plant food that was in the soil 60 or 70 years ago is exhausted. The straw is small and soft, it crinkles and breaks down; the heads don’t fill. The farmers of to-day can’t raise one half the crops that they did 70 years ago. The result is the farmer has to buy all he uses. He buys all the grain he feeds his cattle and it costs him hundreds of dollars. He buys all the bread he uses in his family. He has to buy all the clothing the family needs, and he pays more duty on the clothing he buys to-day than it cost him to clothe his whole family 60 or 70 years ago. Seventy years ago everything was income, now everything is outgo. His taxes have increases a thousand fold. Now all the money the farmer can get is paper money. Silver is not money, gold we don’t get, we can’t get; the result is he has to use dishonest money. It is very bad to practice any kind of dishonesty. 

Now Mr. Editor you will see that time and practice has changed the conditions; the change is against the farmer. Some of the conditions the farmer has brought about himself through neglect and ignorance and political mismanagement in voting for big appropriations for unnecessary purpose, and in voting for dishonest, corrupt and vicious men for office, and they make corrupt, unjust and vicious laws to the damage of the farmers. There are conditions that the farmers have no control over, such as the seasons. If it is a favorable season all well, if unfavorable the farmers have no control, no remedy. But he can increase the volume of money, he can decrease the taxes, he can reduce the public expenses, and some other conditions he can change such as the bonding law. We in the State of New York have the power to make new laws and to amend old ones. The farmers in this State can make and amend our laws so as to benefit all classes. The present law is unjust and vicious. It enriches one class at the expense of the farmers. Five or six years ago the taxable property in New York State was valued at nine billion dollars. Three billion paid all the taxes, six billions did not pay one dollar of taxes. The six billion was held by millionaires and baking institutions. The three billions was owned by the farmer. This evil the farmers can remedy.

M. Dickson

I have to question some of his recollections - he doesn't seem to remember that many farmers in that era were tenants.

About a week after his letter was published, the Andes Recorder for October 6, 1899 questioned Mr. Dickson's recollection about how butter was bought in the old days:

Last week’s [Delaware] Gazette contained a letter stating the great change in things as compared to what they were sixty or seventy years ago.  In the item in which the writer states that in the fall butter buyers came around and bought the butter his memory must have played him tricks.  In those days butter buyers were as “scarce as hens teeth”, and butter had to be hauled to Catskill and they had to take just what they could get for it, perhaps 10 or 11 cents and if left unsold some got six cents per pound, and yet those are the good days that are gone and we hope they may never return.

September 1924 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

Here's what life was like in Bovina 100 years ago this month – September 1924 – from the pages of the Andes Recorder.

September 5, 1924

• Miss Jane Archibald has gone teach[ing] at Ossining to teach the coming year.

• The interior of the United Presbyterian church is being decorated this week.  

• Miss Catherine Hastings of Oneonta visited her uncle, Milton Hastings, the past week.

• The Bovina annual town picnic was held last Thursday.  The Delhi band furnished the music.

• The Bovina Center school opened on Tuesday with Gladys Worden and Edith Liddle as teachers.

• Edward L. Coulter, a native of the town, was here this week from Sidney, calling on old acquaintances.

• Mrs. and Mrs. Raymond McNair, of Binghamton, spent from Saturday until Monday at John McCune’s.

• Edith Erkson, daughter of Claude Erkson, living up-town, is visiting her grandmother in Johnson City.

• Rev. H.K. Galloway, a former pastor of the United Presbyterian church, now of Buffalo, with his family, were visitors here last week. 

• R.G. Peck, a former principal of Bovina Center school, now of Springfield, Illinois, accompanied by his wife, were recent callers here.

• James W. Archibald and wife of Ilion, spent over Labor Day with his sister, Mrs. Boggs, and niece, Mrs. S.K. Ferris. Mr. Ferris was also here from Albany.

• Dr. and Mrs. Trader and children have been visiting her father, Jas W. Thomson. Mrs. Trader is also a doctor and they are located at the Craig Colony, Sonyea, N.Y. [Mrs. Trader was Ella Mabel Thompson. Born around 1889, she married William Trader in 1918. She died in June 1934 after an operation. Her husband died 8 years later.]

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Myers and Mr. and Mrs. William Thomson, of Endicott, visited at Alex Myer’s over Labor Day. Mr. Myers returned home with them to do some painting.

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are Jane Lauren Dickson to Thomas C. Strangeway, $2,500; Executors of John M. Miller to William S. Redman $425; William S. Redman and wife to John H. Hilson and another $1.

• Those who entered Delaware Academy this week are as follows; Courtney Currie, Arthur and Grace Coulter, Marjorie and Marian Ormiston, Ross and Grace Bramley, Harold Aitkens, Margaret Gorden, Helen and Ruth Gladstone, James Hoy and Donald Boggs. 

September 12, 1924

• Miss Jane Hilson left Tuesday for school duties at South Orange.

• Miss Emily Hyatt, of New York, is spending her vacation with her father F.W. Hyatt.

• William J. Crosier has gone to Steubenville, Ohio, to spend several weeks with his son.

• Wallace Hyatt, who has been in New York for the past two years is here on a vacation.

• Mr. Hitchcock who has been working in [the] dry milk plant [this was behind the Bovina Center creamery], has gone [to] work for the Dairymen’s League.

• James C. Mabon has a new Chevrolet car, and with his wife and son enjoyed a trip to Oneonta on Saturday. 

• Jack Myers, who is traveling salesman with headquarters at Springfield, Mass., spent a few days with his parents recently.

• Mrs. Fred Thomson underwent an operation [for] the remove of her tonsils at Oneonta last Thursday, and came home on Friday.

• A number of the friends of Captain Billings, superintendent of the Gerry estate attended a birthday party held in his honor Tuesday evening. 

September 19, 1924

• Ted Fuller and wife, of Utica, were recent visitors here.

• Clark Hillis and Don Covert, of Delhi, were in town on Sabbath.

• Mrs. John Hilson and James Hilson were at Oneonta on Wednesday.

• Miss Grace Hyatt, of New York, is spending her vacation in town.

• Mr. and Mrs. G.D. Miller were visitors at the County Seat on Monday.

• Robert E. Gladstone and Robert E. Thomson spent the day Wednesday at Andes.

• Mrs. William Armstrong, Mrs. Geo Decker and Mrs. Arthur Decker were Walton visitors Tuesday. 

• The Woman’s Missionary Society held an all-day meeting with Mrs. C.S. Gladstone on Wednesday.

• Frank Armstrong, of Walton, is visiting his son, William Armstrong, and old acquaintances in town.

• Lauren Dickson, who recently graduated from Yale Law School, left Wednesday for Saratoga where he will enter a law office.

• Mrs. Robert Brown and Mrs. Harvey Hafele, from Fall Clove, spent over Sabbath with Mrs. Thos Gordon, the cousin of the first named.

September 26, 1924

• Mr. and Mrs. D.G. Miller were Andes callers last Saturday.

• Mrs. James T. Aitken, of Andes, was a visitor here on Wednesday.

• Mrs. and Mrs. Robert R. Gladstone spent Friday with Andes relatives.

• Quite severe frosts visited this section Wednewsday and Thursday mornings.

• John Aitken’s is having an addition built to his residence, which was the former Kennedy house. 

• Mrs. Joseph S. Forrest and Miss Mary Davis, of Andes, spent Wednesday calling on friends here.

• Edward Gladstone, of Andes, has rented the rooms in G.D. Miller’s house and will move next week.

• Mrs. Thos. Gordon has closed her house and will spend the winter with Mrs. G.J. Dickson, who is also alone.

• Mrs. Cora Tripp, of Oneonta, spent the weekend with her sisters, Mrs. Frank Brown and Mrs. C.S. Gladstone. 

• David Currie has purchased what is known as the Cable house, adjoining the Firemen’s Hall.  He had rented the place. 

• William S. Gordon left Monday for Brooklyn where he entered Pratt’s Institute to take a course in mechanical engineering.  

• Harry Robinson has rented his house in the lower part of the village to Mr. Martin, of Hamden, who will run the pan at the dry milk plant of the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery.