A Week with Bovina People - December 1900 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

 

December 7, 1900

• Vern Dumond was at John Oliver’s on Sabbath.

• W.B. Scott was in town from Delhi on Sabbath.

• Alex. Archibald passed through this place on Sabbath.

• John Miller’s hired man is seriously ill with pneumonia.

• A daughter of Richard Fuller has been visiting in town.

• Bovina’s tax rate this year is $7.72 on each thousand assessed.

• Adam Scott and wife were up from Delhi the first of the week.

• Miss Jennie Campbell was home from Hobart over Thanksgiving.

• Born on Tuesday, December 4, to Mr. and Mrs. Milton Doig, a son.

• Rev. Samson attended the meeting of the Presbytery at West Kortright Tuesday.

• Alex. Johnson, a brother of the late Thomas Johnson, has been visiting in town.

• Thomas Gordon is in Delhi assisting B.F. Gerowe with the laying of the taxes, etc.

• Elder T.C. Strangeway attended the meeting of Presbytery at West Kortright this week.

• G.D. Miller was at Pine Hill Tuesday attending the funeral of a child of Adolphus Banker.

• Robert Foreman and Miss Dora Boggs were married Wednesday evening at home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Boggs, in upper Bovina at 7:30 o’clock, Rev. W.L.C. Samson officiating. Over 100 guests were in attendance and many valuable presents were received. A wedding trip was taken to Albany. 

Gordon-Rogers

Mr. and Mrs. T. Gordon and B.S. Miller returned last Saturday from New York, having been attending the marriage of John L. Gordon of the New York police force, and Miss Lizzie Rogers, daughter of William Rogers, of N. 41, East 62d street. The ceremony was attending by over 100 guests and took place in St. Vincent Ferrer’s church. The bride was attired in white silk, covered and trimmed with white and cream lace, and the groom in conventional black. They were attended by the bride’s brother, James, as best man and Miss Mamie Levy of Bridgeport, Conn, a cousin of the bride, as bridesmaid, also attired in white silk. The bride carried a magnificent bouquet of white roses and the bridesmaid one of pink roses. Afterwards a royal reception took place at the bride’s home, where tables were set for 105. The presents were numerous and valuable. The young couple have commenced housekeeping in their flat at No. 225 East 71st Street. 

December 14, 1900

• A.O. Butts was at Bloomville Sabbath.

• Charles Barker was in this place on Monday.

• R.A. Thompson went to Kingston Monday.

• W.G. McNee is ill at John Irvine’s with pleurisy.

• Rev. Marvin J. .Thompson arrived in town Monday.

• John Blair and Alex. Hilson were at Delhi Tuesday.

• R.A. Thompson and A.O. Butts have traded horses.

• Thomas Gordon and wife returned home from Delhi Monday.

• The musical entertainment Monday evening is said to have been very fine.

• Presiding Elder Germond preached in the Methodist church Saturday afternoon.

• Supervisor Irvine is at Delhi attending the meeting of the supervisors this week. 

• Mrs. W.J. Doig and Mrs. E. George Galdstone went to New York city Monday on the excursion.

• James Townsend and family have moved from the Samuel Adee farm to Covert Hollow, Hamden.

• Marshall Gladstone and Smith Hillis of Delhi, were in town Saturday doing some work for F.G. Bramley. 

• Winter weather is here and Monday morning the thermometer registered from 2 to 5 degrees below zero.

December 21, 1900

• A.A. Johnson visited Delhi on Tuesday.

• John Irvine was at the County seat Tuesday.

• John Blair and wife visited Delhi on Saturday.

• Commissioner Gow was at Stamford Thursday.

• James Armstrong was here Saturday from Andes. 

• John Storie was down at the County Seat Thursday.

• Dr. Seacord and Orrin Reynolds were at Andes Monday.

• Robert Laing was seen in town from Andes Wednesday.

• Mrs. Alex Hilson and son, John, visited Delhi Saturday.

• Mrs. Barnhart has been visiting her son, Jeremy Barnhart.

• E.F. Thompson, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, is in this vicinity.

• John Douglas and John Glendenning were up from Delhi Monday.

• Thomas Miller visited Walton and Norwich the first of the week.

• Mrs. William Crosier and Mrs. M.M. Boggs were at Delhi Saturday.

• Michael, Berry S. and Gilbert D. Miller visited Delhi Wednesday.

• A Christmas tree will be held next Tuesday evening in Strangeway’s Hall.

• Rev. Williams arrived home Tuesday after an absence of about a fortnight.

• W.W. Hoy, wife and children, from Oil City, Pennsylvania, are guests of his parents, Mr. and John R. Hoy in this village.

• Among those at Delhi Wednesday were Rev. Samson and wife, Mrs. J.I. Coulter, Miss Jennie Gladstone, Frank R. Coulter and wife, and Fred Thompson.

• Wesley Williams, who had been ill with pneumonia at John M. Miller’s died Thursday morning.  The remains will be taken to his home at Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

• Rev. Minch of Delhi, will deliver a lecture on the “Battle of Gettysburg” in Strangeway’s Hall, Thursday evening, December 27.  Admission 25 cents and proceeds for the benefit of the soldiers’ monument fund.

• William Strangeway died Saturday morning at his home on Federal Hill, near Delhi with heart trouble, and had he lived until January would have been 64 years old.  He was born in Bovina.  The funeral was held at his home Tuesday, his pastor Rev. Samson, officiating. Interment was made in the cemetery at this place.

December 28, 1900

• Bert Elliott was at Andes Tuesday.

• Charles Palmer was down at Delhi Friday.

• Robert Biggar was over at Andes on Monday.

• Mrs. James Boyd visited Andes on Tuesday.

• Leonard Sloan and wife visited Delhi Friday.

• William Coulter was here Wednesday from Andes.

• Arthur Burns is home from school at Kingston.

• The Centre school is enjoying a two weeks’ vacation.

• W.M. Johnson visited relatives at Walton last week.

• Mr. and Mrs. John M. Miller were at Delhi Friday last.

• Milton Hoy, of Oil City, Pennsylvania, is visiting his parents here.

• Robert Brown and Elliott Liddle, of Andes, were seen in town Saturday.

• John Smith, of Walton, visited his parents here the latter part of last week.

• Hon. E.T. Gerry has made J.W. Coulter a present of a very fine gold watch.

• Rev. John H. Lee has received and accepted a call at Columbus, Ohio, and will be installed sometime in January. 

• Hon. E.T. Gerry will build a large new barn with all modern improvements at his summer home at Lake Delaware.

• Some of those home for a vacation are, Miss Jennie Campbell, Misses Anna and Bertha Phyfe, Irving Phinney and Leslie McNee.

• Night Cap social will be held at the residence of Peter McNair on Monday evening, December 31, under the auspices of the Ladies Aid Society, for the benefit of the Methodist church.

• Alex. Crosier, A.O. Butts and Will Maynard have each put in a bid to carry the mail for the next four years from Bovina to Bloomville.  We understand that the bids range from about $390 up to $500.

• January 1.  J.W. Coulter who has for many years been manager at the Gerry summer home at Lake Delaware will retire and move to rooms in A.T. Strangeway’s store.  He will be succeeded by Mr. McWilliams who will institute many radical reforms.

Bovina and the American Revolution - James Vanderburgh (1758-1840)

The second revolutionary war burial in the Brush cemetery is James Vanderburgh. Like Samuel Ludington, his time in Bovina was relatively brief. James was born in 1758 in Beekman, Dutchess County, NY. In April 1776, he joined the company of Captain Durling, re-enlisting in 1777 and 1779. He was a guard over military stores in the Town of Beekman and participated in the taking of two robbers or, “cow boys as they were usually called, named Weeks and Ackerly.” They actually were British spies and were hanged at Poughkeepsie in April 1781. The whole time he was in service, as he later noted in his pension application, he did not attend to any civil pursuit, saying that “his business was solely that of a soldier…” 

While in service, he found time in October 1779 to marry Jane Rosecrans. After the war, he settled in Columbia County, where he filed for his Revolutionary War pension in 1831. His pension was $40 a year. 

One of the people writing to support his application wrote: “Mr. Vanderburgh is an honest & very respectable old man, all who know him feel a very deep interest in the success of his application because he is poor & meritorious. It would afford me very great pleasure to be able to take home with me a certificate that he is to be one of the recipients of his Country’s bounty and thus gladden the heart of the good old patriot.” 

We don’t know when he came to Bovina but by 1840, he and his wife were living in Bovina with their son Clarence. James died later that year, as did his wife. He’s buried in the Brush cemetery, next to what is now the Bovina library, as likely is his wife, though her grave is not marked. 

December 1925 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

 

December 4, 1925

• John Aitken’s jr. is on the sick list.

• Gilbert Banker motored to Pine Hill on Friday.

• Frank Coulter and family were Delhi visitors Tuesday.

• Mrs. Carrie Doig is visiting her brother in Walton.

• The Thank Offering at the U.P. church amounted to $528.

• A.P. Lee is preparing to erect a modern barn on the Lee homestead.

• From a supper the Young Woman’s Missionary Society cleared $32.70.

• Elmer Hastings, of Saranac Lake, is renewing acquaintances in town.

• Mrs. Walter G. Coulter had her toe severely injured when a soap stone fell on it. [This is Margaret Strangeway Coulter, mother of Ruth Coulter Parsons and Celia Coulter.]

• The friends of Mr. and Mrs. Benj Schofield made them a visit Monday evening.

• Harry Robinson and Miss Mary Thomson were at South Kortright on Tuesday. [This might be Harry Robertson, not Robinson, but I’m not sure.]

• Mr. and Mrs. Arnold VanDusen, of Oneonta, spent Sabbath with his parents here.

• Mr. and Mrs. James A. Gow spent over Thanksgiving with their sons in Endicott.

• Robert E. Thomson and wife and Norton Forrest spent Thanksgiving at George Cable’s in Delhi.

• It is reported that Mr. Miner, who has been living in the A.B. Phyfe house, will move to Big Indian.

• Mr. Smith, who has been on Barney Johnson’s farm in the upper part of the town, has moved to John Blair’s farm.

• Frank Drake has moved from the Dickson house to the A.W. Baker farm uptown, known as the Fred Johnson place.

• Owing to the absence of the pastor there will be no preaching in the U.P. church on Sabbath. Sabbath school at 12 o’clock.

• Edgar Lee, who has a position as a pharmacist in Buffalo, spent over the weekend with his father, John B. Lee in Tuttle Hollow. [Edgar became a successful pharmacist in Delhi, running Lee’s Pharmacy for many years. His daughter Lucile would marry Willard Frisbee.]

• Mrs. Lucy Coulter spent Thanksgiving with her son Ward Coulter, at Walton, and also attended the 30th anniversary of the marriage of her brother, William Ward at Colchester Station.

• Mrs. Dixon Thomson and Mrs. Wm Armstrong received word Monday that their brother, Frank Kaufman, died in Kingston on Sabbath, November 29. Death was due to shock. He was connected with the Kaufman ice cream business. 

• Professor Leon Taggart and family, of Oneonta, Frank Dickson and family, from Little Delaware, were at T.C. Strangeway’s on Friday. Mrs. Dickson remained until Monday to help care for her mother, who is confined to her bed with grip poisoning.

Had Delicate Operation

Wm. H. Irvine, a Former Bovina Boy, Has Operation for Tumor on Brain

William H. Irvine, a former Bovina boy, now a business man of Seattle, Washington, is improving in St. Mary’s hospital at Rochester, Minn, after an operation for tumor at the base of the brain, performed on November 26.  He was on the operation table three hours and went through a very painful and trying ordeal, only a local anesthetic being used so that he was conscious during the entire time.  A partition of the skull over and above the tumor was removed and a quantity of the fluid drained from the tumor, but the tumor itself was not taken out.  The surgeons hope by radium and x-ray treatment to dry up the tumor in time, but think it will likely continue to fill up with the fluid may have to [be] drained several times before recovery is complete.  When the section of the skull that was removed was replaced a small opening was left over the spot where the tumor is, before the flesh and skin were replaced.  This will allow easy drainage of the tumor without the severe operation that was performed last week.  [Bill Irvine recovered enough to make a trip back east a year later. He had a second operation in 1928 but sadly, it was all for naught. He died in 1929 at the age of 41.]

December 11, 1925

• Mr. and Mrs. Loron Maxim visited his mother at Fleischmanns on Sabbath.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Guy Rockefeller, Thursday morning, December 10, a son. [This was Bill Rockefeller. He married Marge Thomas and passed away in 2005.]

• Robert Robinson was at Andes on Tuesday attending the funeral of his sister-in-law.

• Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Gladstone and daughter attended church at Andes on Sabbath evening.

• Thomas Miner, who has been employed at the dry milk plant, moved to Big Indian on Tuesday.

• Mr. Hoyt, who has been living on the James Henry Dean farm for past two or three years, is very low with cancer of the stomach.

• Mrs. M.M. Wright, who teaches in the Armstrong district, had an exciting experience Tuesday morning.  In coming down the hill on the state road from Andes her car skidded on the slippery road and went around and into the ditch.  One tire was torn off.  Fortunately Harry Robinson came along and put on another tire for her and helped her get righted.

Resolutions on the Death of Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor Raitt

The Women’s Missionary Society of Bovina Cener desire to pay this tribute of love and respect to the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor Raitt, wife of John Raitt, ruling Elder in this congregation for a great number of years.

In the passing of Mrs. Raitt we have had taken from among us, and from our membership one who was truly a saint of Israel.

She was a Charter member of the Women’s Missionary Society; quiet and unassuming in her nature but always interested in the activities that were for the building up of Christ Kingdom at home in the mission fields. Her long life of over ninety years was truly a benediction and the fragrance of it remains with us.

For a number of years feebleness of body and distance from the place of meeting prevent her from meeting with us, but she always maintained her interest in the work, and what was and will be accomplished by her prayers and liberality will only be revealed in the future. In the closing of life, she could truthfully say;

It pays to live in Gods service

Faithfully day by day,

Cheerfully bearing the Chalis

Which shows to others the way.

To the only son and aged Brother we extend our sincere sympathy and commend them to Him who said; As one who his Mother comforteth so will I comfort you.

Mrs. Lucy Coulter, Mrs. Mary Gordon, Mrs. Eliott Thomson; Committee

[Mrs. Raitt had been widowed for many years. She had two children. Her daughter Anna predeceased her in 1910. She was the grandmother of John Raitt, who was Delaware County Historian and wrote several volumes of local history, including his “Ruts in the Road” series.]

December 18, 1925

• The Willing Workers made Mrs. W.B. Smith a surprise Monday.

• Mrs. Everett Joslin and Mrs. Hull are spending the week in New York City.

• Mrs. Walter McDivitt , of South Kortright, has been visiting in town a few days.

• Mrs. William T. Forrest, of Lake Delaware, is spending a few weeks in New York City.

• George Miller is improving his barn on the old Kinmuth place, re-siding it and making other repairs. [This was later the residence of Clark and Gladys Lay. George Miller was Clark’s maternal grandfather.]

• The second number of the Bovina lecture course was a lecture by Ward Flexington last Friday night.

• Mrs. William M. Armstrong, who has been ill several months, does not improve as her friends would wish.

• Supervisor Wallace B. Smith is in Delhi this week attending the closing sessions of the board of Supervisors.

• Mrs. and Mrs. Abram Foremeu and Mr. and Mrs. Ed McCumber, of Poughkeepsie, spent the weekend with their parents in town. [Foremeu might be Foreman but I’m not sure.]

• Mr. and Mrs. Collin Reside of Shavertown and Mrs. Bell Reside of Andes, were visiting their cousin Mrs. David D. Liddle, Tuesday.

• Mrs. Anna Ruff, formerly of this town, who lives in Delhi, has gone to Abescon, N.J. to spend the winter with her brother, M.H. White. [Anna was the widow of William Ruff, who died in 1912. Anna died in 1943.]

• Mr. and Mrs. E.G. Gladstone, who left Bovina about 16 years ago and went to Crested Butte, Colorado, have moved to Farr, Colorado, where another of the Fuel & Iron Co. mines is located.  The altitude of their new location is about 2,000 feet lower.

Gerry House Started

Henry Connor, of Walton, has the contract for the cellar of the new house of Miss Angelica Gerry at Lake Delaware, and it must be finished in April.  The location is on the highest point of the J.K. Russell place, the former Hogaboom farm.  It is found the foundation is on solid rock and the stone blasted out will be used to build a road to connect with the stone highway running thru the original Gerry estate. [This was Ancram House, which stood until the early 60s.]

Bovina Boys at Cornell

Sheldon Budine, Walton; Howard Dickson, Delhi, and Hugh McPherson, Bovina Center, were the members of the team which represented Delaware at the State Poultry Judging contest at the Cornell Poultry show December 1-3. Their total score was 1,810 which gave them third place with Orange First and Chenango second. 

Was Lake Delaware Girl

Mrs. Bertha Landon died at Great Barrington, Mass., December 3, from cancer. She was born at Lake Delaware and is a daughter of Charles A. Lee. Besides her father she leaves three daughters and two sons. Last spring she was granted a divorce from her husband Dr. F.D. Landon, a veterinary. 

December 25, 1925

• Fred Thomson was a Delhi caller Monday.

• C.S. Gladstone and family were Andes shoppers Saturday evening.

• A Christmas tree and exercises were held at the U.P. church Thursday evening.

• Frank Palmer has moved from the Dickson big house to Arch Phyfe’s tenant house.

• Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Burgin visited her sister, Mrs. Harvey Robertson at Andes on Friday.

• William C. Russell, who had been helping his sisters in southern Bovina returned home Saturday.

• Mrs. and Mrs. Alfred Russell and children and Mr. and Mrs. William C. Russell were at Delhi on Monday. 

• Paul Furhman has purchased the McCune house and lot for $1,250 and will open a barber shop in the old grocery building. [This was later owned by Florence and Clayton Thomas and currently is owned by Tom Hetterich.]

• John Northrup, who lives on what is known as the Margaret Hoy farm, underwent an operation for appendicitis at Delhi last Thursday afternoon.

• Mr. and Mrs. Millard Gow and son, and Mr. and Mrs. Willard Gow, of Endicott, are here to spend over Christmas with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jas A. Gow.

• C.J. Hoyt, who for about two years had been employed at Len Smith on the former James Henry Dean farm, died on Thursday afternoon, December 17, from cancer of the stomach. His age was about 60 years.

• Those home for the holidays are: Mabel Thomson, Winstead, Conn; William Gordon, Pratts Institute, Brooklyn; Margaret Gordon, Albany Teachers’ College; Jane Hilson, South Orange, J.J.; Caroline Dickson, Vermont; Professor and Mrs. Geo Baldwin, Spring Valley.

This Day in Bovina for November 2025

Ninety-six years ago today, the Catskill Mountain News on the front page of its November 1, 1929 issue printed an article that originally appeared in the Delaware Republican with the headline "CITY ENGINEERS PLAN DAM ON THE LITTLE DELAWARE." The paper noted that if the plans reached fruition, "properties at the 'Hook' including the beautiful St. James' chapel and community house erected by Miss Angelica Gerry…" would be flooded. The article went on to note that "nothing may come of all this…." but noted that "there may be 'more truth than fiction' in the rumors of the Little Delaware dam project; the fact may be nearer than we think."

166 years ago today, on November 2, 1859, Robert J. Forrest, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Forrest, died at the age of 4 years, 6 months and 19 days. He died as the result of being scalded. The hired girl had left a pail of water on the floor while getting more. The little boy was playing with the water in the pail when he heard the girl coming back. He was afraid he would be scolded and backed away from the pail, falling against a pot of boiling water which proceeded to spill on him. He lived for a couple of days after the accident.

167 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. 

This image of Edwin LaFever taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in 1940. My great uncle Ed was born in 1914, the son of Sylvan A. LaFever and his second wife, Alice Smith. He married Thelma Reinertsen in Bovina the year this photo was taken. Ed and Thelma would have five children and were married until Ed's death in 1975 at the age of 61. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

About 100 of the 212 women voters in Bovina voted 107 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.

117 years ago today, the Bovina column of the November 6, 1908 Andes Recorder reported that "A monument has been erected in the Center cemetery to memory of John and Barbara Lewis." Here's the stone today. 

These two images are of the Bovina Center creamery in the 1910s. They come from Chuck McIntosh's postcard collection. 

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

These passport images of Mrs. Henry Menke were taken by Delhi photographer Bob Wyer in 1960. Mrs. Menke was born Frieda Petsche and married Henry Menke in 1952. She was born in the former Yugoslavia in 1921 and came to the U.S. after World War II. She was widowed in 2000 and died in 2012 at the age of 90. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

161 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 hotel/tavern was located where the Jardine house is now located. 

Gordon Coulter entered the blacksmith shop of Gideon Miller to learn the trade 118 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.

This image of the Francis Coulter family was in the collection of images from Martena Monroe Kellem. Francis was a grandson and namesake of the original Coulter settler. Born in 1831, he married Loruhama Henderson in 1857. They had five children, all of whom made it to adulthood. This image shows the five children. Hannah (1870-1933) and Walter (1862-1900) are in the back row, James (1872-1900) is in the middle and Margaret (1868-1915) and Elizabeth (1860-1937) are in front. Martena was the daughter of Margaret Coulter, who married James Monroe in 1893.  Sadly, the two brothers, Walter and James, died 11 days apart in March 1900, both of pneumonia. James' wife, Minnie Miller, died a few days after her husband and two days before her brother-in-law, also of pneumonia. Loruhama died in January 1909 and her husband followed her to the grave six months later, after an illness of over 10 years. 

128 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.

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. This is an image of Lake Delaware at the Gerry estate. The Lake House is partially hidden by trees. Lee Hollow is at the upper right. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. Wyer Aerials 058 Gerry Estate

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

Eighty-six 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.

104 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

Sunset View Farm on Russell Hill Road was one of the earliest boarding establishments. Run by Martha Bergman Russell, she started the business in the 1920s. The late Dorothy Ryder was introduced to Bovina by spending summers at Mrs. Russell’s. The rate was $12.50 per week for adults and children over ten years old. Children aged five to ten were $8.00 a week; children under five were charged $5.00 per week. Today it is a private residence. 

146 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.  

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. This is a view of Tunis Lake when the Tunis Lake Camp was still in existence. Established by Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Mirski in 1922, they sold it in 1944. The camp, originally a boys’ camp, became co-ed in the 60s. It operated until 1970. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

205 years ago today, on November 21, 1820, William Murray was born in Bovina, the son of William Murray and Jean Black. He married Rachel Merwin in 1850 and died in Delhi in 1887 at the age of 66.

 

148 years ago today, the Andes Recorder, November 22, 1877, reported that "A number of cases of typhoid fever and other diseases, thirteen cases in all, are reported from Bovina.”

124 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.

132 years ago today, the Andes Recorder's November 24, 1893 issue, reported that "A son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Gow, and a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Barnhart, all of Bovina." Sadly, the son of James and Willamina Gow died a couple of days after this was reported. The Barnhart daughter was my grandmother, Anna Bell, who died in 1980 at the age of 86. 

Earl Harold Miller, son of John M. Miller of Bovina, and Miss Rachel Mary Sullivan, of St. Paul, Minnesota, were married 111 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-eight 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."

142 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 169 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.

107 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."

Eighty-one years ago today, the Bovina column in the November 30, 1944 Delaware Republican Express had this item: "Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hilson have a son, born on November 24th; his name is James Alexander." This is Jim on the left with his parents and siblings, taken in 1952. 

 

 

A Week with Bovina People - November 1900 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

November 2, 1900

• John Hewitt was down at Delhi on Friday.

• James More, of Hamden, was here on Sabbath.

• Mrs. Thomas Miller was over at Andes on Friday.

• Peter McNair and wife were at Margaretville over Sabbath.

• George Bell, from Otsego county, was in town last Thursday.

• W.T. Black, the next County Clerk, was at Margaretville Tuesday. [William T. Black had served as the Bovina Town Supervisor from 1893-1898. As will be noted later in November in the Recorder, he moved from Bovina to Delhi because of his new duties. He would be county clerk until 1907. He continued living and working in Delhi until his death in 1938.]

• Mrs. Robert Mallory, of Hamden, visited her parents on Sabbath.

• John Taylor and Mrs. Colin McNaught visited Walton last week.

• Mrs. Robert Forrest and Miss Irene Forrest visited Delhi on Saturday.

• Marion Robertson and wife and David Oliver were over at Andes Saturday.

• Mr. and Mrs. John R. Hoy have returned home from their visit at Oil City, Pa.

• Rev. Levi Bird, from Scranton, Pa, gave a temperance address here Tuesday evening.

• Arthur How, Howard McPherson and Douglas McCune were at Bainbridge on Monday.

• Mrs. Elmer Hastings and Miss Jennet Ellen Hoy are spending the week in New York city seeing the sights.

• Among those in town Friday were Harvey Smith, of Bloomville, and Dan R. Liddle and Bert Gladstone, of Andes.

• Alex Hilson has placed gasoline lights in his store – four double burners and two single ones.  Rev. Samson has also placed a single burner in his house, which can be set on the table or carried around like a lamp.

November 9, 1900

• Dr. Gates was in town Monday.

• Alex. Hilson was at Delhi Thursday.

• James Gladstone was in town Wednesday.

• William Miller returned to Walton on Saturday.

• Frank R. Coulter and wife were at Delhi Wednesday.

• William Dennis has been visiting his brother, John P.

• Richard Smith returned from a visit at Walton Saturday.

• Some went to Walton Saturday to hear Senator Depew.

• Thomas Gordon went to Delhi Saturday after the ballots.

• Hon. E.T. Gerry returned to New York city Saturday.

• Gideon Miller, of Colchester, has been visiting in town.

• Mr. Swift of Scranton was in town last week buying butter.

• John Blair started Thursday with another drove for Kingston.

• Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Miller visited in Otsego county this week.

• Dr. W.J. Phyfe and wife, of Delhi, were visitor here on Sabbath.

• Alex. Myers commenced Monday to paint G.D. Miller’s residence.

• J.L. Hughes has been painting F.R. Coulter’s new wagon house.

• Gideon Miller and wife spent Sabbath with his parents at Andes.

• Mrs. Kennedy Warren visited in town the latter part of last week.

• Wesley Miller and wife, of Oneonta, were guests at G.D. Miller’s on Thursday.

• At the sociable at G.D. Miller’s last Friday evening for the benefit of the Methodist church, amounted to about $19.

• Mr. and Mrs. William D. Thompson celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage Wednesday evening, November 7. [William would die in 1902, and his wife, the former Agnes Murray, in 1905.]

• On election day the ladies of the Methodist church served meals in A.T. Strangeway’s rooms and the receipts were about $15.

• Rev. Levi Bird, of Scranton, preached in the United Presbyterian church Sabbath evening.

• Colonel Copeland will deliver the first lecture in the course here on Tuesday evening, November 15.

• William Northrup and men of Walton, have been giving the Methodist church a new dressing of paint.

• Peter McNair has the contract to do a job of grading for Mr. Feder at Margaretville. The contract price is $1,550.

• Quite a number went to Delhi last Friday to hear M. Linn Bruce, and all were highly pleased with the speech. [Bruce, who had grown up in Andes, was elected Lieutenant Governor of New York for one term, 1905-06.]

• Last Thursday Drs. Gates, Phinney and McNaught performed an operation for appendicitis on, George, son of Jas. B. Thompson.  The operation was a difficult one, but the patient is doing as well as could be expected.  

• The whole number of votes cast in Bovina Tuesday were 262 a gain of 11 over four years ago.  There were two void ballots and 11 Prohibition votes.  Of the total vote McKinley received 190, a gain of 11, and Bryan 58, Odell 190, Sanchfield 56, and the remainder of the state ticket received the same vote as that of Governor.  On the county ticket Axtell received 166, Warner 78, Grant 165, Andrus 79, Smith 161, Kilpatrick 86, Black 197, Tway 50.

Bovina Lecture Course.

The Bovina lecture course is evidently going to be a grand success.  140 course tickets have been sold and seats secured.  Colonel L.F. Copeland will deliver the opening lecture November 15.  More money has been expended in securing the speakers and entertainments than ever before, and the course will be the best offered a Bovina audience. [Colonel Copeland of Harrisburg, PA was a noted Chautauqua and lyceum lecturer. Born in 1841, he died suddenly in July 1904.]

November 16, 1900

• W.J. White was at Andes Wednesday.

• Fred Bramley was over at Andes on Friday.

• Jennie Campbell was home over Sabbath.

• David Miller, of Delhi, is visiting his son, David J.

• John E. Gladstone was in town the first of the week.

• Mrs. Daniel McMullin was a visitor in this place Saturday.

• Andrew Franklin and George Persons, of Delhi, were in town Saturday.

• Leslie McNee and Arthur Burns went to Kingston Monday to enter school.

• Miss Alice Oliver went to Deposit Monday, where it is stated she will attend school.

• Among those at Delhi on Tuesday were W.T. Black, James Forman, J.B. Lee and John H. Hewitt.

• Wednesday at noon, Mina J. daughter of Alex Bryden and William Hogg [Hoag] were united in marriage, Rev. Samson, officiating. [They would have two children and were married until William’s death in 1944. Mina was 90 when she passed away in 1966.]

• Supervisor John A. Irving went to Delhi Monday to attend the meeting of the supervisors. John looks well to the interests of the town.

• Side walls are being built on the culvert across the deep ravene near Clark Hogaboom’s, and the roadbed has also been raised considerable.

• The amount of town audits this year is $294.37, and the amount of sheep audits agains the dog fund are $112.75. One man had $60 for sheep killed. 

• Saturday W.J. Doig started for Bloomville and when going up the pitch above R.A. Thompson’s one of his horses dropped down dead in the road.

• George Thompson, upon whom an operation for appendicitis was performed two weeks ago died Monday morning aged 15 years.  The funeral was held Wednesday.

November 23, 1900

• Peter Arbuckle was up from Delhi Saturday.

• William T. Black will move to Delhi next week.

• Archie Dickson was in town Friday from Andes.

• Barton Jackson was seen in this place Monday.

• Miss Maggie Archibald was a visitor at Andes Tuesday.

• Jacob Pintoff, of Philadelpia, has been town delivering fine enlarged pictures.

• Supervisor Irvine was at Delhi Monday and Tuesday attending a meeting of the Board.

• Otis McCumber, wife and daughter, of Andes, were guests at Mrs. Muller’s over Sabbath.

• Miss Linda Laing of Andes, who has been visiting relatives here during the past week, returned home Tuesday.

• The wife of William McPherson, son of Ferris McPherson of this town, died at Roscoe, November 14, with consumption. [This was the former Elizabeth Stott. She was born in 1863 and married William in 1891. She was the daughter of William and Mary (Neish) Stott. More about the Stott family https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2014/07/stories-from-bovina-cemeteries-stott.html.]

• Are the Democrats now satisfied of what they saved out of the sheriff’s bills as against the bills of Youmans and Patterson? This is reform.

• Cards are out announcing the marriage of Miss Elizabeth Rogers to John L. Gordon, Wednesday evening, November 28, at 6:30 o’clock, in St. Vincent Ferres church, New York city. [The sad story about John Gordon is in the Bovina NY History Blog: https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2014/05/stories-from-bovina-cemeteries.html]

• The following list of grand jurors for this town have been selected by Supervisor Irvine: T.C. Strangeway, Jacob Bailey, R.A. Thomson, Andrew Doig, W.B. Smith, David Liddle, W.L. White.

• Among Bovina people at the County Seat Saturday, were Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Miller, Mrs. Pinney, Mrs. Mary A. Russell, F.C. Armstrong, Frank Brown, James Robson, Peter Robson two daughters. 

• James Foreman and Miss Jennie Archibald were united in marriage at the home of the bride in upper Bovina Tuesday, Rev. W.L.C. Samson officiating.  The couple took the afternoon train from Arkville for New York city where they will spend their honeymoon. [James and Jennie would be married until her passing in 1941. They had six children, three of whom survived to adulthood, including Isabella Foreman, who would marry Delhi doctor Orin Q. Flint.]

November 30, 1900

• John Blair was at Delhi Monday.

• F.R. Coulter visited Andes Friday.

• G.D. Miller has his house nearly painted.

• Jackson & Mason’s team was in this place Friday.

• Ward Coulter and mother were over at Andes Friday.

• Grant Maxwell and wife were in town on Sabbath.

• Mary Ann Dean has been visiting relatives in town.

• A.O. Butts and Alex. Thompson have traded trotters.

• Miss Lillian McNaught of Delancey, is visiting relatives in town.

• David J. Miller purchased a matched team of colts at Hobart last week.

• Union Thanksgiving services will be held in the Methodist church on Thursday.

• William T. Black moved his household goods to Delhi this week.  Bovina loses and Delhi gains a good citizen.

• The next entertainment on lecture course will be concert by the Norton Wald Musical company December 10.

• Thomas Gordon and wife and B.S. Miller attended the Gordon-Rogers wedding in New York City this week.

• The hall was well filled last Thursday evening to listen to Colonel Copeland in his lecture “Snobs and Snobbery.” [I don’t know the content of this lecture, but it appears it was a regular one given by Colonel Copeland around the country.]

• Rev. Robb, a former pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian church, who has been a missionary in China, is visiting in town. [Rev. William Robb was a missionary in China for much of his life, even after his marriage in 1907. In fact, Robb would die in China in 1929.] 

• Among recent real estate transfers in town was George W. Redmond to William Rogers, $950. Property is at Lake Delaware.

• Oliver Dickson and sister will move next month from their farm on Pisgah to Delhi to spend the winter, and will move back again in the spring. 

• The old soldiers were invited to John P. Dennis’ last Thursday evening, and spent an enjoyable evening together.  The inner man was well cared for and an excellent repast served. [Old soldiers is a reference to veterans of the Civil War.]

 

Bovina and the American Revolution - Jesse Purdy (1748-1840)

Jesse Purdy, also known as Justus Purdy, is believed to have been born in Westchester County in 1748. A year after the Declaration of Independence, he enlisted in Dutchess County in 1777, serving in the Second Regiment, Artillery, Capt. Samuel Lockwood/William Steven’s Company. He was discharged in 1780. Jesse was in at least one battle, but he could not remember the name of it when he applied for his pension in 1826. By 1800, he was living in Delaware County, likely in what later became Bovina. 

Most of the information we have about Jesse Purdy comes from his pension application He noted that he was old and infirm (he was 76) and so was his wife, Deborah. 

His personal property included a bed and bedding, 4 very old chairs, a table, and a pot and kettle. Jesse also had “two suits of clothes of woolen and cotton, cheap and coarse in quality and worn.” He also noted that he had about 40 acres of land but never had a title to it.  In an amended filing from 1827, he said that until just before he filed his claim, that he "had sufficient bodily ability to labor" and that through "the kindness of the widow of General Richard Montgomery" he was allowed to occupy "a small piece of land belonging to her."  For the past three years, however, he claimed that old age and a rupture had made it almost impossible for him to support himself and that he "has now no means of subsistence save the charity of his country."  Purdy was placed on the pension rolls in 1828, receiving $96 a year.  

A problem developed with the pension a few years later when he claimed that his daughter-in-law, Ann Purdy, who had power of attorney for her father-in-law, refused to pay the funds to him. She held a certificate or warrant from the war office which authorized the pension, but she threatened to burn it up. 

The total sum he received was $594.57.  Purdy was in his 90s at his death in 1840, Bovina’s oldest revolutionary war soldier.

We are not totally clear as to where Jesse is buried. His name appears on the Hogoboom family monument in the main Bovina cemetery. The stone was installed in the early 20th century. Along with Jesse, the stone includes Elizabeth Hogoboom, who was Jesse’s granddaughter (and likely the daughter of Ann Purdy, who was withholding pension funds from her father-in-law). Elizabeth’s husband was John Hogoboom. Also on the stone is their son Henry, who was a Civil War veteran. 

November 1925 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

Life in Bovina 100 years ago this month, from the pages of the Andes Recorder. 

November 6, 1925

• Mrs. Hamilton Russell is nursing at Walton. [Mrs. Russell, formerly Margaret Doig, was the mother of Cecil Russell.]

• The poles are being set for the electric light line.

• Mrs. William Armstrong is under the care of a nurse.

• Mrs. Patrick Doig, is visiting her nephew, C.S. Gladstone.

• George Gladstone has gone to Delhi to visit his son, Walter Gladstone.

• Some thermometers are reported to have reached zero Saturday morning.

• The Woman’s Missionary Society realized about $12 at their bake sale on Election day.

• George Cable, of Delhi, has been helping Norton Forrest lay water pipe to take the water into his stable.

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are Jessie Bryden to Floyd Rockefeller $1; Floyd Rockefeller and wife to John Bopp and another $1.

• Charles McPherson and wife, Oscar Felton and wife, C.S. Gladstone and wife, Thos C. Strangeway, William Strangeway, and Mrs. W.G. Coulter attended the funeral of John Strangeway at Unadilla on Monday.

• Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Gladstone entertained at a dinner party last Thursday the following: Dr. and Mrs. Whitcomb and son, of Walton, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dickson, of Little Delaware, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brown and children, of Delhi, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Burgin and Mr. and Mrs. John Hilson, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Thomson, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Miller, of Bovina, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Taggart, of Oneonta. 

VanDusen-Liddle, from our Bovina Correspondent

Miss Edith Liddle and Leon VanDusen were married by Rev. F.N. Crawford on Saturday, October 31. The newlyweds went to Niagara Falls on a wedding trip, returning home on Tuesday night. The bride is primary teacher in the Bovina Center school. [The couple spent most of their lives in Broome County. Leon worked for IBM for 29 years. Edith and Leon had one daughter, Ellen. Edith died in 1968, Leon in 1977. They were buried in Bovina.]

Election in Bovina

There was considerable interest in the election in Bovina on Tuesday and below is the result:-

• Supervisor – W.J. Storie, r, 208; Wallace B. Smith, d, 156.

• Town Clerk – David G. Currie, r, 262; John W. McCune, d, 87.

• Justices of the Peace – John W. Storie, r, 192; M.T. Hastings, r, 149; Howard McPherson, d, 164; James A. Boggs, d, 160.

• Justice (to fill vacancy) – T.C. Strangeway, r, 231; Rema Hobbie, D, 107.

• Collector – Isabelle Myers, r, 128; Jennie I. Hoy, d, 233.

• Assessor – W.J. Archibald, r, 228; Harold Campbell, d, 114.

• Assessor (to fill vacancy) – William C. Russell, r, 291.

• Superintendent of Highways – W.G. Coulter, r, 237; Guy Rockafeller, d, 82.

November 13, 1925

• Mrs. Gideon Miller, of Hamden, is visiting in town.

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are Jennie B. Doig to Lena Doig, $1.

• Harry Frisbee, of Walton, was in town Tuesday in the interest of Farm Bureau.

• The Young Ladies Missionary Society held an all day meeting with Mrs. Alfred Russell on Friday.

• Misses Kate and Freda Muller spent over the wek end with their sister, Mrs. Otis McCumber, at Andes.

• Supervisor Wallace B. Smith is in Delhi this week attending the annual meeting of the board of supervisors.

• The Pickwick farm Lake Delaware, has been sold to John Ballard, of the town of Kortright. This is the former Franklin farm.

• There will be a chicken pie supper in the U.P. church parlors November 27, under the auspices of the Young Ladies Missionary Society.

• About 60 were present at a surprise party given the newlyweds, Mr. and Mrs. Leon VanDusen last Friday evening. All reported a good time.

• Dr. N.B. Whitcomb, medical missionary to Egypt, who is home on a vacation, will speak at the Thank Offering service at the U.P. church on November 22. 

Bovina Man Injured

Thursday forenoon while Sloan Archibald was working on the telephone line in Bovina Center the pole broke and threw him to the ground. It is feared that his hip may be broken. 

November 20, 1925

• From a social last Friday night the sum of $23 was realized.

• The Gerry house at Lake Delaware has been closed for the winter.

• Miss Edith Russell is employed in the home of Fletcher Davison.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Benson LaFever, November 15, a 5 ¾ pound son – Howard James.

• Mrs. Cora Tripp, of Oneonta, spent over the week end with her sister, Mrs. C.S. Gladstone.

• Robert Forrest and sisters, Misses Mary and Margaret Forrest, from the Little Delaware, were callers in town Monday.

• There was considerable damage done by high water caused by a heavy downpour of rain in the thunder storm Sabbath night.

• In the estate of Frank C. Armstrong late of Bovina, the estimate is $3,200 all of which is given to the son, William Armstrong.

• It is reported that Miss Lena Doig, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Doig, and Benj. Schofield, were married November 18.

• Mr. and Mrs. Milton Liddle, and Mr. and Mrs. David Liddle visited the brother of the last named’ William A. Liddle, at Andes on Sabbath. 

• The town of Bovina has had the following sums levied against it: Town audits $1,010.36; Library $100; Street Lighting $430; Compensation Insurance $300.

Helda-Hennings

Miss Inez Hennings, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hennings, of Bovina, and Louis Helda, of Brooklyn, were married November 14, by Rev. T.C. Bookhout at Delhi.

Surprise Bovina Newlyweds

A very pleasant evening was spent by the King’s Daughters’ Sabbath School class, their husbands, and many other friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Van Dusen on Friday evening. The party numbered over sixty. The class presented Mrs. VanDusen with a beautiful framed picture “Dawn”. The bride was also given by her class a large bride’s cake decorated with orange blossoms and a wedding bell. Underneath the bell on top of the cake reposed a miniature bride and groom. Many other useful and costly gifts were left as a reminder of the occasion with best wishes for a long and happy married life. Mrs. VanDusen was Miss Edith before her recent marriage. 

November 27, 1925

• Bovina Center is now lighted by the new electric lights.

• Union Thanksgiving services were held in the R.P. church.

• Norton Forrest and John Robinson have each purchased a truck.

• Dr. Lester Irvine has been in town the past week examining dairies.

• Frank Brown and family, of Delhi, spent the week end at C.S. Gladstones.

• Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Thomson, of New Kingston, attended church here on Sabbath.

• The first entertainment of the Bovina Lecture Course will be held in Hillis’ Hall on November 28.

• Mrs. William Armstrong, who has been ill for several weeks, is now able to sit up for a very short time. [This likely is the former Mary Kaufman. She would survive another four years, dying in December 1929.]

• Mr. and Mrs. Milton Liddle and daughter, Dorothy Bergman, Mr. and Mrs. David Liddle were callers at Alex Anderson’s at Delhi on Sabbath.

• Mr. and Mrs. Thos C. Strangeway and Mr. and Mrs. John Hilson spent Thanksgiving with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dickson on the Little Delaware.

• Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Oliver and family, of Peak’s Brook, Delhi, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Oliver and Mrs. James Oliver were Thanksgiving guests of their sister, Mrs. Alfred Russell.