James Archibald Boggs was born 141 years ago today, October 1, 1884, in Bovina, the son of Thomas Boggs and Jane Archibald Boggs. He would spend his whole life in Bovina and run the family farm. James was married three times. He first married Elizabeth Felton in 1913. They had one son who died at the age of two months. Elizabeth died in 1918. The following year, James married Edith Barnhart (my great aunt). They would have five children, daughters Anna, Mary, Grace and Helen and son Clifford. Grace died at the end of 1929. In early 1930, Edith died after giving birth to Clifford (he died in 1933). James married for the third time in 1947 to Catherine Cameron Kelsey. He died in 1972 at the age of 87. This portrait of James with his wife Catherine was taken by Bob Wyer in December 1951. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.
113 years ago today, on October 2, 1912, Helen Miller was married to Marshall W. Thomson in Bovina. They were married for 50 years, until Marshall's death in 1962, less than two weeks after celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Helen would live another 35 years, dying in 1997 at the age of 107, two days after the 85th anniversary of her wedding. Here's the invitation to the wedding, received by John Hilson and his sister Jane.
These images of Rev. and Mrs. Charles Lay were taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s. Rev. and Mrs. Lay were the parents of Clark Lay, who was the Bovina Highway Superintendent for many years. Rev. Lay was born in 1877 in England and died in Margaretville in 1946. He married Maude Miller in Bovina in 1913. Maude Miller was born in Delancey. After she was widowed, she was remarried in 1951 to John Rockwell, who died the following year. She died in 1968 while being taken to Fox Hospital in Oneonta. Charles and Maude had four children. The couple lived in Vermont for a time, where their two sons were born. They also lived in Hamden and in Bovina, though Rev. Lay never was a minister in a Bovina church. As well as Clark, they had two daughters, Evelyn and Ida and a son Charles, who died in 1942 of tuberculosis at the age of 26. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.
143 years ago today, the October 4, 1888 Hobart Independent reported that "T. Ormiston's carriage team took the first premium at Delhi and Hobart fairs. The team was first put together when two years old, since then they have taken five prizes, and were not shown when three years old. One of them took the first at Hobart, and second at Delhi when one year old.
131 years ago today, October 5, 1894, a baseball game was played at Indian Rocks. Given that it was the Sabbath, it caused some controversy. The Andes Recorder, when reporting this game in its Bovina column, stated that “how the game succeeded we do not know, but such actions as this should be stopped immediately.” This image of Indian Rocks dates from around 1906.
Lake Mohigan, also known as Silver Lake and Cole’s Lake, is on Route 28 heading towards Andes. The lake was manmade, built in 1909 by a group of men hoping to promote it as a resort spot, mainly for fishing. The partner-ship did not last long – they sold it in 1915. These two postcard views of the lake are courtesy of Chuck McIntosh.
105 years ago, on October 7, 1920, the Bovina Town Supervisor and Highway Superintendent requested that a proposition be placed on the November ballot to appropriate money for a “Steam Road Roller.” The proposition was placed on the ballot, but the Andes Recorder later reported that on election day "Bovina taxpayers voted down a proposition to appropriate the sum of $4,680 for the purchase of a steam roller for use on the road. The vote was a tie – 64 to 64." The appropriation was approved the following March at a special town meeting.
Forty-five years ago today, the October 8, 1980 Delaware County Times reported in its Bovina column that "Thirty farmer breeders from Holland arrived at the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Inman last Wednesday. The tour was arranged through the Holstein-Friesian Association of Brattleboro, VT. The farmers also visited the Dreamstreet herd at the Bond Farm in Bloomville. They left for the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisc."
122 years ago today, October 9, 1903, the Catskill Mountain News reported in its Bovina column that “Hamilton Russell of Bovina is building a fine two-story house, 22 x 44 feet, with piazza in front, and equipped with all the modern improvements. John Tweedie is the mason and James Scott of New Kingston is the carpenter.” This house was on Mountain Brook Road and was later the Charles Rabeler farm.
118 years ago today on October 10, 1907, the first load of freight shipped to Bovina via the new station on the Delaware and Eastern at Andes was brought to town by Milton Hastings. Previously, items shipped by railroad had to be picked up in Delhi.
130 years ago today, the October 11, 1895 Andes Recorder in the Bovina column had the following item: “A letter recently came to this point office addressed to, Miss Maggie, Bovina Centre, N.Y. This shows one of the many thousands of examples of carelessness that floods the Dead Letter Office every year.”
Thirty-two years ago today, the Bovina column from the Delaware County Times for October 12, 1993 carried this item: "Beth Rossley, club news reporter for the Bovina Happy Hearts 4-H club reports that there will be a meeting for new members from ages 8 to 18 on October 22nd at 7:30 at the Bovina community hall. Mrs. Carol Brannen is the leader."
132 years ago today, on October 13, 1893, James Coulter headed out for the Chicago World’s Fair. In reporting this its Bovina column, the Andes Recorder noted that “others talk of going. We say go, you will never regret it.” Also known as the World Columbian Exposition, Coulter likely went to the New York Agriculture pavilion at the fair. More information about why he went is on my blog at Here's an entry from July 2015 about Bovina at the World Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893: http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2015/07/bovina-at-world-columbian-exposition.html
In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. This is the Herbert Huggins farm at the intersection of Miller Avenue and Lee Hollow. Herbert Huggins was born in 1902 in the Beaverkill area and farmed in Bovina from 1931 until his death in 1964. The small building at the lower center where Miller Avenue and Lee Hollow meet is the Bovina District 5 School house. The building was later moved across the road and is a residence today. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.
159 years ago today, on October 15, 1866, Thomas Gordon became a citizen of the United States. More information about Gordon can be found at:
https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-people-of-county-who-knew-him-will.html
Eighty-four years ago today, the October 16, 1941 issue of the Delaware Republican carried this item in its Bovina column: "Miss Stella Sluiter and Mrs. Mary Anne Snell, teachers here, spent the week-end in New York City." (Stella Sluiter was married a couple of years later to Frank McPherson.) The same Bovina column also reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hilson arrived home from their western trip the first of the week." Also reported was that "Miss Ida Lay has finished her work at the Lovett's, at Lake Delaware, and has taken a job at Delhi with the Bruce Pitchers."
Eighty-five years ago today, on the Bovina column of the October 17, 1940 Delaware Republican reported that "John McCune has been ill the past week. David Roberts has been caring for the U.P. Church in his stead." John W. McCune was born in 1866 and married Ida McNair in 1896. The couple lived in Bovina on Maple Avenue. John died in 1942. This undated image of John is courtesy of Jim and Tom Hoy.
164 years ago today, October 18, 1861, Christina Smith was paid 29.72 for teaching in the Coulter Brook School district between May 1 and September 30, 1861. Here’s the receipt for her payment.
John W. Bramley died 126 years ago today, October 19, 1899, of diabetes, age 81 years. Fifteen months earlier, in July 1898, he was found passed out on the side of what is now Route 28, with his wagon and team about a mile or so ahead. It was likely that the diabetes caused him to pass out. After his death, the Andes Recorder reported that, “He was born and always lived in this town and was one of our most extensive and best farmers. He leaves a widow and four children – three sons John G, William and Fred and one daughter, Mrs. E.C. Dean. The funeral will take place on Saturday at 11 o’clock from his late residence.” He was living in the Bovina Center hamlet at his death but spent much of his life on his farm on Bramley Mountain, which likely was located in the area of Reagan Road.
Forty-eight years ago today, the October 20, 1977 Delaware Republican Express carried this item in its Bovina column about the Bovina Girl Scout Troop 534.
This picture from the Monroe family shows the adult children of James and Margaret Storie Monroe in 1939 - Jim (1899-1973), Martena (1898-1988, married to Arthur Kellam), Henry (1896-1992) and Amy (1894-1987, actually named Loruhamah, she was married to Lewis Jocelyn and later to Howard Samuels).
October 22, 1961, sixty-four years ago today, as later reported in the Delaware Republican Express, “Walter Reinertsen and his cousin Sverre Reinertsen of New York, were week-end guests at Walter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Reinertsen.”
205 years ago today, on October 23, 1820, Mary Ann McPherson was born in Bovina, the daughter of Alexander McPherson and Eliza Yeomans. She married James Rutherford in 1847 and died in Franklin, NY in 1902 at the age of 81. She was the mother of five children, two of whom survived her.
115 years ago today, on October 24, 1910, this bill was issued to the Town of Bovina for bridge decking. This appears to be the decking for a new bridge to the Bovina Center creamery. The bridge was completed in November 1910.
In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. This is the John Burns farm at the upper end of Crescent Valley Road. Moses Burns settled on this farm in the early 19th century. The farm stayed in the Burns family for over 100 years. My grandfather, Benson LaFever, was born in the house in June 1900 (his mother was the former Ella Burns). John Burns, the owner of the farm in 1946, was the great grandson of Moses and the father of Agnes Burns and Mary Lounsbury. The farm is now owned by Mike and Heidi Goggins. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.
148 years ago today, on October 26, 1877, Andrew T. Archibald was born in Bovina. He would marry Mabel E. Johnston in 1901 and would have seven children, including an infant who died in 1913. His surviving children included Mary (1903-1999), George (1905-1978), Elizabeth (1906-1986), Leonard (1909-1990), Marvin (1911-1987), and Herman (1913-1983). Andrew died in 1963 and is buried in Bovina. This image is of Andrew later in life with his granddaughter, Joan Archibald Townsend.
114 years ago, the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder for October 27, 1911 reported that "Miss Jennie E. Hoy is visiting Andes relatives." She wasn't the only person reported as going to Andes. The same column noted that "J.T. Barnhart made a trip to Andes early in the week." Also reported in Andes during the past week were Mrs. Alex Crosier and daughter and Thomas C. Strangeway. The latter was there to purchase two cows.
116 years ago today, at 1 pm on October 28, 1909, W.J. Doig, of Bovina Center, had for sale at an auction the following items, as advertised in the Andes Recorder: “5 cows, 2 horses, surry, rubber tired buggy, 2 buggies, 2-seated buckboard, lumber wagon, truck wagon, mowing machine, 3 set single and 1 of double light harness, heavy work harness, bobs, 2-seat pleasure sleigh, 2 cutters, buffalo and lap robes, blankets, whips, harrow, cultivator, grind stone, chains, crow-bars, sledge hammers, whiffletrees, hay rigging, straw from 95 dozen oats, 10 barrels apples, 3 piece parlor suit, stoves, bedsteads, springs writing desk, 2 bracket lamp, hall rack, hall map, etc.” The Recorder later reported that the sale could not be completed on the 28th and was continued on election day. Doig was selling these items before heading out west to Crested Butte, Colorado, which he did by mid-November. He settled in Gunnison, Colorado, where he was a coal miner, a rancher and then a hardware merchant. He died in California in 1939 and was buried in Colorado.
Eighty-two years ago today, October 29, 1943, was the start of two days of distribution of "War Ration Book No. 4." These were issued at the Bovina Center school (now the Bovina Library). People coming for their new book were asked in the Delaware Republican Express to "bring War Ration Book 3 properly filled out." The paper went on to note that "Applications for War Ration Book 4 may be secured at the stores or at the Post Office or the schools. Fill out only one application for each family group."
138 years ago today, the October 30, 1883 Stamford Mirror reported in its Bovina column that "On Monday last the family of John Hastings, was much frightened at the appearance, without wagon or driver, of the horse which John had left home with a short time before. Friends at once started out to find John and met him near the village, and learned that his horse had kicked and caught his foot behind the cross-bar of the thills and then tried to run. The wagon was overturned and John thrown out, and the harness broken, so that the horse became loosened from the wagon and soon arrived at home without doing very serious damage." This John is likely the son of James Madison Hastings and Elizabeth Elliott. Born in 1825, he died in 1891.
This image of school children dressed for Halloween comes from the Archibald collection and likely dates from the 1940s or early 1950s. At least it probably is Halloween. The masks somewhat resemble the masks worn by the Calico Indians during the Anti-Rent War in the 1840s.
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