This Day in Bovina for March 2026

 

Here's the monthly compilation of the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook daily entries for March 2026:

Charles and Elizabeth Adee were married in Bovina on September 1 1887. Charles was the grandson of early Bovina settler Darius Adee. He was born in 1852, the son of Samuel Adee. Elizabeth Coulter was also a descendant of an early Bovina settler, being the great granddaughter of Francis Coulter and Nancy Glendenning. She was the daughter of the early settler's namesake, Francis Coulter and Loruhamah Henderson. Charles and Elizabeth had two sons, Chester, who died in 1916 at the age of 25 and Marshall, who died in 1957. The couple started their married lives in Bovina but a few years after they had their children they purchased a farm near Kelly Corners, which became their home. Charles died at his home in 1922 in Hubbell Hill in the town of Middletown. His widow survived him for almost 15 years, dying in 1937.

 

217 years ago, on March 2, 1809, Peter Clark was born in Perthshire, Scotland. The son of William Clark and May Dewar, he likely came to the United States with his parents. He married Elizabeth Raitt in 1842. They had nine children and had a farm on Lee Hollow Road. He relocated to Walton after 1880, where he died in 1898 (he had been widowed in 1892). He is buried in Bovina.

Amanda Burgin died 158 years ago today, on March 3, 1868.  The daughter of Stephen Seacord and Abigail Canfield, she was married to Homer C. Burgin in 1849.  She had four children and was 37 years old at her death.  Amanda is buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

103 years ago today, on March 4, 1923, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Miss Margaret Hoy, one of the oldest residents of Bovina, died on Sabbath, March 4, at the home of her nephew, Arthur Hoy, where she had lived since her health failed a year or so ago, so that she could not live alone.  She was the last of her generation and was born in Bovina 85 years ago and had always resided in the town.  The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon, from the United Presbyterian church, of which she was one of the oldest members."

148 years ago today, on March 5, 1878, the following letter appeared in the Andes Recorder: "Messrs Editors: - It is some time since I have written to the Recorder, but having good will to all men, I wish to occupy a brief space in your columns to show your readers that Brushland is still in a prosperous condition, owing, first, to the fact that we have no liquor license; second, we can’t get a license; third, we don’t want a license, consequently we are a sober, industrious people."

182 years ago today, March 6, 1844, a letter from Bovina was written to Mr. Gatchell, a temperance lecturer, from "a drunkard's wife."   The letter was later published in the Washingtonian, a temperance newspaper from Hudson, NY. The article published with the letter noted that the letter had "the genuine, unsophisticated feelings of a heart rejoicing because of the disenthrallment of her husband from the iron bondage of alcohol…how encouraging to the friends of temperance to know that such instances are daily occurring." The article went on to say that "many a wife's heart is made to rejoice when the news reaches her that her husband has signed the pledge; a new hope springs up in her bosom, and 'dreams of bright days to come,' when under the influence of temperance, her home, hitherto cheerless and desolate, shall be glad and happy." The letter read as follows: "Dear Sir-I take my pen in hand to inform you that we are in good health at present, hoping by the blessing of God that you are enjoying the same. All those that signed the pledge when you were here have not put on the fetters again. My husband has become truly pious, which is a great comfort to me. I hope that we shall gain our second independence. Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so early beset us. I am sensibly rejoiced at your success in Bovina and Delhi. I hope that you will continue to take pity on the distressed. I have no other way to express my gratitude at present but my hearty thanks."

D.J. Miller held an auction 126 years ago today, March 7, 1900.  The advertisement for the auction appeared in the Andes Recorder as follows: "D.J. Miller will offer for sale at Public Auction at his residence in Bovina at 10 o’clock a.m. on Wednesday March 7th the following property: 29 young Jersey cows, 4 two-year-old heifers, two year old bull, pair of mules also some farming and dairying implements and utensils.  Terms, on all sums under $10 cash, over $10 a credit of six months on approved notes." This farm was on Miller Avenue in the Bramley Mountain area and likely was the ancestral farm of his grandfather, also known as David Miller.

131 years ago today, March 8, 1895, the Bovina correspondent for the Andes Recorder reported what he felt was disturbing news: “We understand that W.T. Black is talking of selling his farm, we hope it is a false report.  The town of Bovina cannot afford to lose such a man.  He is an honor to the town. Lives an honest, honorable life, respected by everyone.  The best Supervisor we have had in office for years, and hope to have him hold the office for the next fifteen years if he lives to see that day.  The echo of the whole town of Bovina." Black went on later that year to build a new barn on the property and continued to farm but gave up being town supervisor.  He ran in 1900 successfully for Delaware County Clerk and sold his farm to John Irvine, the father of Isabell Russell.  Black and his wife settled in Delhi after he became County Clerk.

Eighty-one years ago today, the March 9, 1945 edition of the Catskill Mountain News reported that "Local Farmers Win Top Milk Production Honors." The Dairy Herd Improvement association awarded “honor roll diplomas” for the year ending June 30, 1944, to farmers whose herds averaged more than 350 pounds of butterfat per cow per year. In third place was Bovina’s Benson LaFever, with 415 pounds of butterfat from his Jersey herd.  The paper reported that two other Bovina farmers who had more than 350 pounds average were James Briggs and Millard Russell. I think James Briggs is a typo and should instead read James Boggs.

140 years ago today, on March 10, 1886, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Stamford Mirror, "At a special school meeting, held in the Brushland district … a tax of $2,000 was voted for the purpose of purchasing a new site, and building a schoolhouse large enough to accommodate two teachers." The school was built, but not until 1893. Today the building is the Bovina Public Library.

Eighty-eight years ago, the Andes Recorder in its March 11, 1938 issue, reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Gerry, Jr of New York and Lake Delaware, have gone to Aiken, South Carolina, to occupy Green Shingles for the season." Green Shingles was a home in Aiken's Winter Colony, where families like the Vanderbilts, Astors, and Harrimans came to play golf and polo.

This chauffeur license image of Ralph Barnhart was taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s. Chauffeur licenses were required for anyone driving for hire or as part of their job. Today this is known as a Class E license in New York. Ralph was born in 1892, the eldest child of Jeremy and Kate (Miller) Barnhart. Ralph grew up in Bovina. Married three times, he had a son, Donald, from his first marriage to Anna Ruland. Ralph was widowed three times, dying in 1988. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

111 years ago, "Mrs. Margaret Palmer, who has been visiting her brother, George Gladstone, returned Saturday (March 13, 1915) to her home in Andes.” Mrs. Palmer was the widow of Roman Palmer of Bovina, who was killed in the Civil War in 1864. More about Roman on my blog at https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/05/bovina-in-civil-war-supreme-sacrifice.html

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 Silver Lake/Cole's Lake/Lake Mohican on Route 28.  The lake was built in 1909 by a group of men hoping to promote it as a resort spot, mainly for fishing. They named it Lake Mahikan (also spelled as Lake Mohican and Lake Mohigan). The resort didn't last too long - it was sold in 1915. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

114 years ago, the Andes Recorder Lake Delaware correspondent reported in its March 15, 1912 edition that "The superintendent at the Lake is very good to his help, even letting them take the farm teams to dances, parties and even other things. It is tough on the horses, however, to be out all night and then have to draw a load from Delhi the next day, and it has told on some of them."

John B. Dunn was born 194 years ago today, March 16, 1832, the son of John Dunn and Elizabeth Doig.  He became a minister, serving as pastor in East Greenwich, New York.  He died at the age of 29 in 1862 and is buried in the old Associate Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Reinertsen Hill Road.

Ninety-eight years ago, as later reported in the Andes Recorder: The team of Harold Campbell took fright at the creamery Saturday morning [March 17, 1928] and ran away.  They collided with the bridge before reaching the street and left the wagon.  The team continued to run and went up the steep embankment at the Hilson house and into the fields and stopped.  The damage was not great.

Vera Lillian Davidson was born 135 years ago today, March 18, 1891.  She was the daughter of Douglass Davidson and Margaret Hoy.  She would be joined by two brothers, John George (1893-96) and Howard Fletcher (1895-1987).  Vera later went to Cornell and Stanford Universities and married Bill Storie in 1915.  Vera was widowed in 1963 and passed away in 1967. Vera was active in local history for many years. She was on the Board of the Delaware County Historical Association and was the mover behind the Bovina history pageant in 1955. Image taken in 1943 by Bob Wyer, courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.

Ninety-six years ago today, the Bovina Center column of the March 19, 1930, Delaware Republican reported on the illnesses of several people. "Mrs. Margaret D. Russell is at home sick with grippe." It was believed she caught it while nursing two daughters of James Boggs' and his sick mother-in-law, Kate Barnhart. Mrs. Russell recovered and died three years later, but Mrs. Barnhart died the day this news item came out. Another victim of grippe was Mrs. T.C. Strangeway. The paper noted that "Nettie Doig is with her." Mrs. Strangeway survived this attack, dying in 1936.

113 years ago today, on March 20, 1913, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "many streams were overflowing their banks and two bridges on the road above John Blair’s are under water." The road above John Blair's probably was the Miller Avenue area on Bramley Mountain.

185 years ago today, on March 21, 1841, Louisa McFarland was born in Bovina, the daughter of Andrew McFarland and Jane Russell. She lived in Bovina her entire life, dying of gastritis in 1911. She is buried in Bovina.

143 years ago today, on March 22, 1883, the Bovina Town Board met to deal with the fact that David Black, who had been elected Supervisor the previous month had refused to accept the office.  The minutes of that meeting reported how the issue was resolved:  "We the undersigned Justices of Peace of said town pursuant to section 61 and 57 article 3 Title 3 Chapter 11 Vol. 1 of the Revised Statutes of the State of New York hereby appoint Alexander F. Storie of said town to be supervisor of said town.” The next day, his father, Alex, reported in his diary the appointment of his son, also known as Fre, as supervisor. 

158 years ago today, March 23, 1868, Jane Maynard died in Bovina at the age of 70.  Born in New York City, she married Isaac F. Maynard, the son of one of Bovina's earliest settlers, Elisha B. Maynard.  Jane would have five children, including Judge Isaac H. Maynard.  Her husband survived her by eight years, dying in 1876. Both are buried in Bovina.

Seventy-three years ago, the Catskill Mountain News reported in its Bovina column, dated March 24 [,1953] and published in the March 27, 1953 edition that "Robert Burns, Robert Boggs and Cedric Kittle all had televisions installed in their homes the past week." We don’t know from whom they bought the televisions, but here’s an ad from the same issue of the Catskill Mountain News for M.H. Sanford & Son in Arena. 

136 years ago today, the Bovina column in the March 25, 1890 Stamford Mirror reported that "Alex Crozier is soon to commence keeping a grocery at Bovina, in a part of John Johnstons wagon shop building." Though not clear exactly where this was, this likely was located in the Mountain Brook area of the town.

236 years ago today, on March 26, 1790, Thomas Winter was born in Northumberland, England, the son of John Winter and Betty Allen.  He married Isabella Turnbull in Northumberland.  They settled in New Kingston and both died the same year, 1857.  Isabella died in June and Thomas in December.  Their main connection to Bovina is that they both were members of the Associate Presbyterian Church of Bovina. They are buried in the Bovina Cemetery.

143 years ago today, the Bovina column in the March 27, 1883 Stamford Mirror reported that "Rev. James Black, of Canada, is in town visiting his brother, David Black, who is still quite sick." The same column reported that Rev. Black would be preaching at the Bovina United Presbyterian Church. David died about 10 days later on April 7, 1883. James went back to Canada, where he died in 1915 at the age of 93.

This undated photo was in a collection from Stella McPherson and likely is a 4H related program. The three daughters of Henry and Ruth Monroe are in the back: far left is Isabelle, third from right is Frances and the far right is Elinor. Isabelle (1925-2018) married Arthur ‘Tex’ Deter. Frances was born in 1923 and married Clarence Burns. Elinor (1927-2025) married Horace Brink. I welcome any other identifications.

114 years ago today, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "J.B. Gordon, who has the contract to build the State road from Thomas C. Strangeway’s to the Center, was here Friday, March 29, 1912, to make arrangements to begin work. He has hired the barn on the Jennie Miller place below the village of Henry Campbell, and the foreman will be here next Monday and fit it up with bunks for the Italians. Work on the road will be begun about May 1." The state road in question is present County Route 6. Thomas Strangeway's place was on present Route 28 across from County Route 6.

Eighty-six years ago, on March 30, 1940, Marjorie Russell and Rae Storie arrived in Bovina to spend the spring recess with their parents.  Marjorie and Rae were students at Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio.  Marjorie was a junior and Rae a freshman. They returned to Ohio on April 7.

115 years ago today, the Andes Recorder in its March 31, 1911 issue, noted that "John A. Irvine and James E. Hastings, two of Bovina's progressive farmers, have had acetylene gas plants installed and will light their farm-houses with gas.  They will also use the light [for their] barns."  The Irvine farm was on Coulter Brook (later known as the Elms Farms) and Hastings was on County Route 6, the farm that later became the Damgaard place.