A Week with Bovina People - May1901 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

Life in Bovina 125 years ago this month, as reported in the Andes Recorder for May 1901.

May 3, 1901

• W.J. Doig was over at Andes Tuesday.

• J.W. Blair was over at Andes Saturday.

• Frank Graham has purchased a horse.

• W.A. Hoy was at the County Seat Saturday.

• Fred Bramley made a trip to Delhi Monday.

• Miss Alice Oliver returned from Deposit Friday.

• County Clerk Black and wife were in town Tuesday.

• David Sloan has returned to his home in Colorado.

• H.S. Graham and Dr. Ormiston were up from Delhi Monday.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy T. Barnhart, April 25, a son.

• Emile Northrup of Colorado was in town Monday and Tuesday.

• Frank Gowanlock and J.W. Archibald visited Delhi Saturday.

• Rev. Welsh and wife, of Oneonta, have been guests at Rev. Samson’s this week.

• A.T. Strangeway and daughters Misses Maggie and Libbie were down at Delhi Saturday.

• Mrs. Phinney has received the $2,000 insurance in the Phoenix company on the life of the late husband, Dr. Phinney.

• Among recent real estate transfers in town were James W. Coulter and wife to James H. and W. David Amos $300. 

• Dr. J.D. Frisbee, of Andes, was in this place Wednesday doing dental work.  He expects to visit this place every two weeks.

• Friday the remains of Thomas Wight were brought here for burial.  He died in the Binghamton State Hospital April 24, with pneumonia, aged 53 years.  He had only been in that institution one week.

• John A. Irvine had a narrow escape from serious injury Saturday.  He was driving a horse belonging to Mrs. Wm. Forrest hitched in with one of his and they started to run away, he caught it by the head and in some way his foot became tangled in the lines and whiffle trees and he was dragged some distance but escaped without serious injury.

• Miss Nancy Miller died Monday morning at the home of her brother in law, Robert Biggar in Coulter Brook in the 69th year of her age.  She has been ill with the measles and this was followed by a shock which proved fatal.  The funeral was held Tuesday at 12 o’clock from the house, Rev. Slater officiated and interment was in the Bovina Centre cemetery.  

May 10, 1901

• Mrs. Samson visited Bloomville on Tuesday.

• Elmer Hastings was at Bloomville Tuesday.

• Miss Kate Muller visited at Andes over Sabbath.

• James McWilliams was at Delhi on Thursday last.

• John W. Blair and W.L. Ruff were at Delhi Thursday.

• Ad Maxwell and S.A. Birdsall were in town Wednesday.

• Several new cases of measles have developed this week.

• George Knapp was in this place on Monday from Andes.

• Saturday David Oliver and Francis Graham were at Delhi.

• Hugh Adair was in town from Delhi Thursday of last week.

• W.R. Doig and Robert E. Thompson were at Delhi Friday.

• Alex Hilson and Rev. Williams visited the County Seat Friday.

• Rev. Welsh and family returned to their home in Oneonta Tuesday.

• E.J. Turnbull and Charles Carman, of Andes, were among those in town Tuesday.

• D.L. Thompson has moved to Stamford, where he will reside for at least the next six months.

• Re. Samson and Elder F.C. Armstrong attended the meeting of Presbytery at Walton Tuesday.

• H.S. Murray of Andes, was at Ed Scott’s Monday making some changes in his water system, connecting the pipes with a vat at the barn for cooling the milk, etc.

• Invitations have been issued for the marriage of Miss Leona Thompson, of this town to Rev. Marvin J. Thompson, of Delhi, at the home of the bride’s mother, Mrs. D. Lyle Thompson, May 15. Mr. Thompson has just completed his course at the Seminary and will be ordained and installed as pastor at the Gilchrist Memorial church May 31.

• Andrew G. Thompson, one of Bovina’s substantial farmers, died at his home near Tunis Lake, Friday, May 3, with the measles in the 67th year of his age.  He was born in the upper part of this town and in the winter of ’67-’68 he married Miss Anna King, who with five sons and a daughter survive him.  In the spring of 1868 he moved onto the farm where he resided at the time of his death.  The funeral was held at 11 o’clock Monday from his late residence, Rev. W.L.C. Samson officiating.

May 17, 1901

• H.G. Bramley visited Delhi Friday.

• B.S. Miller visited the County Seat Friday.

• Francis Graham was over at Andes on Friday.

• Thomas M. Spiers was in town on Wednesday.

• George Miller was in town from Andes on Saturday.

• F.R. and J.W. Coulter were visitors at Delhi Tuesday.

• Gideon Miller visited his parents at Andes on Sabbath.

• W.H. Liddle and wife were visitors in town Wednesday.

• John M. Miller made a trip over to Bloomville Saturday.

• George Elliott and Robert Liddle were in town Monday.

• Mrs. Phinney has sold her horse to E.C. Smuth, of Delhi.

• Mrs. W.W. Hoy and children have been at John R. Hoy’s.

• A few new cases of measles have developed in town this week.

• W.T. Miller and wife and Miss Bell J. Miller were at Delhi Friday.

• David Oliver and Mrs. John Oliver and son visited Andes Tuesday.

• David Liddle and Andrew T. Doig are attending court as grand jurors this week.

• Kenneth McKenzie, grandson of the late Dr. McKenzie of this town, died oat Port Ewen, May 5.

• J.W. Coulter is building an addition onto the house recently purchased from D.L. Thompson.

• William Bennett (colored) has moved his family from this town back to Meredith street, Delhi.

• Rev. Marvin J. Thompson and Miss Leona J. Thomson were married at noon Wednewsday, May 15, Rev. Samson officiating. 

May 24, 1901

• Thomas Gordon is on the sick list.

• Thomas Miller visited Andes Wednesday.

• William Rogers was in town Wednesday.

• Dr. Phyfe, of Delhi, was in this place Tuesday.

• G.D. Miller and wife were at Bloomville Tuesday.

• Andrew Finkle, of Shavertown, was in town Tuesday. 

• Several new cases of measles have developed this week.

• A.O. Butts was at Davenport last week for a few days.

• David Currie was home from Delhi Friday and Saturday.

• Robert Campbell, of Andes, was in this place Wednesday.

• E.T. Gerry’s new team at Lake Delaware weighs 3,200 pounds.

• John Archibald and wife, of Halcott were visitors here Thursday.

• Thomas H. Johnson had one of his big team horses die Tuesday night.

• J.W. Archibald has gone to Griffin Corners to work at the carpenter trade.

• Rev. Marvin J. Thompson preached in the United Presbyterian church last Sabbath evening.

• No memorial services will be held here this year, but the graves of the fallen heroes will be decorated as usual.

• Rev. W.L.C. Samson will preach the Memorial sermon in the 2d Presbyterian church at Delhi Sabbath evening May 26.

• Among those at Delhi Tuesday were James A. Liddle and wife, May Liddle, May Thompson, E.J. Scott and wife, Mrs. Archie Maynard, and Mrs. W.H. Maynard.

• Following are the delegates and alternates from the United Presbyterian Sabbath School to the Sabbath school convention to be held at Franklin, May 28 and 29: Mrs. W.L.C. Samson, Miss Libbie Strangeway, Mrs. Elliott Thompson, Miss Bell Strangeway, Mrs. James A. Gow, Miss Mary L. Thompson. Alternates-Mrs. James L. Coulter, William H. Maynard, Mrs. Thomas Miller, Miss Maggie D. Strangeway, W.E. Hastings, Miss Jennie E. Miller. 

May 31, 1901

• Dr. Seacord was over at Andes Tuesday.

• John Glendenning was in town Friday.

• John Blair was down at Delhi Saturday.

• Will Crosier was a Delhi visitor Saturday.

• Marshall Thompson was at Andes Wednesday.

• S.T. Good man was here from Andes Saturday.

• T.S. Miller and Ed Gladstone were in town Tuesday from Andes.

• Woodburn & Smyth have erected a monument on the Phinney plot.

• Fred Thompson and James McFarlane were among those at Delhi Monday.

• Truant officer B.S. Miller has been visiting the schools in town the past week.

• Miss Libbie Strangeway is teaching school in the Gilchrist district in Elk Creek.

• J.W. Coulter is now occupying the house recently purchased of D.L. Thompson.

• Of the memorial sermon preached by Rev Samson at Delhi last Sabbath evening, the Gazette says, “Mr. Samson is a very entertaining speaker, and his sermon was appropriate and highly spoken of.”

• Rev Samson and wife were at Delhi Sabbath evening where he preached the Memorial sermon. On Sabbath he preached a fine Memorial sermon in the United Presbyterian church from Exodus 15:3, “The Lord is a man of war.”

• At E.T. Gerry’s place, at Lake Delaware considerable building is to be done this summer. A new barn is to be erected, the plans of which are being furnished by a New York architect.  The contract has already been let for a dairy house 16 x 30 feet and also a hog house, etc., to W.T. Hine, of Delhi and the mason work has already been commenced by Gray Bros.

May 1926 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

From the pages of the Andes Recorder for the Month of May 2026

May 7, 1926

• From a recent sugar social the Willian Workers realized $25.

• Jack Perry was moved from Andes to the Dickson big house.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Myers, of Binghamton, spent from Friday until Tuesday with his parents and he tried his luck at fishing.

• Mr. and Mrs. James Mabon and Mrs. Thomas Gordon attend the funeral of their Uncle, John Jack, at Delhi on Monday.

• Mrs. Lancelot Thomson is confined to her home with lumbago. Her niece Mrs. Gideon Miller, was up from Hamden to see her Monday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Alex Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Thomson and Norton Forrest attended the funeral of Joseph S. Forrest at Andes last Thursday.

• In the Bovina Center school district the same teachers have been hired for another year, viz: gilbert Banker as principal and Mrs. Leon VanDusen in primary department.

• The newly elected officers of the uptown Laurel Band society are Robert Erkson, president; Helen Parsons, vice President; Bernice DeSilva; secretary; Glenn Hobbie, treasurer.

• Joe Adee, of New Kingston, who purchased the farm of J.D. Burns, took possession Monday. Mr. Burns at present is stopping with his daughter, Mrs. Howard McPherson.

• Miss Mary Thomson, who recently purchased a house at Oneonta, went to that place Tuesday to take up her residence. Mrs. Elliott Thomson accompanied her to remain for a few days and help her get settled. 

May 14, 1926

• David J. Miller, of Walton, visiting relatives in town.

• Mrs. James Boggs is confined to her home up-town by illness.

• John Northrup recently visited his daughter, Mrs. Will Oliver, in Harpersfield.

• Earl Fisk at Lake Delaware, has the foundation in for a new barn to replace the one burned last year.

• Charles Thomson, of Endicott, was with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lancelot Thomson over the week end.

• The Beacon Light Sabbath School class will hold a visiting social in the church parlors on Friday evening, May 14. 

• Owing to the absence of the pastor, Rev. A.M. Thomson, at Newburgh, there were no services at R.P. church last Sabbath.

• Mrs. Eliza Barnhart, who spent the winter at John Quinn’s at Lake Delaware, has gone to Sidney Center for the summer.

• Frank Dickson and family and his sister, from Little Delaware, and Leon Taggart and family, of Oneonta, were here on Sabbath.

• The estate of Agnes Rockefeller, late of Bovina, is estimated at $3,000 personal. To Tessie Corbin, a sister, is willed $500; residue divided equally between four sons. 

• Mrs. Dixon Thomson, Mrs. Fred Thomson, Mrs. William Redman and Miss Carrie Dumond attended a Home Bureau meeting at Thomas D. Russell’s in Glenburnie last Saturday.

• Will Oliver, a Bovina boy, who has been with B.&.B. creamery at West Harpersfield, is now manager of the B.&.B. creamery at Margaretville. He also recently passed the examination for licensed milk tester. 

• Teachers hired for next year in Bovina are: Biggar Hollow, Forrest Owen; Coulter district, Mrs. Homer Burgin; Coulter Brook, Marion McPherson; Miller avenue, Elizabeth Strangeway; Pink street, Ruth Coulter; Butt End, Beatrice Hoy.

May 21, 1926

• Thomas A. Raitt, of Andes was in town Monday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Barnhart spent Sabbath with her people at Jefferson.

• Mrs. Robert Corcoran underwent an operation for appendicitis at Delhi last Thursday. 

• Mrs. Nettie Coe has gone to Batavia, Illinois, to spend a month with friends and relatives.

• Misses Kate and Fredi Muller spent over the weekend with their sister, Mrs. Otis McCumber, at Andes.

• Mrs. Andrew T. Doig, who had spent the winter with her brother, E.F. Thomson, in Walton, has returned to her home here.

• The interior of the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery is being painted. Harvey Reynolds, of Andes, is doing the work. 

• Mrs. James W. Thomson, Mrs. John Thomson, Mrs. John A. Russell and Mrs. Adam Laidlaw attended a missionary convention of the R.P. church.

• In the town of Bovina the county aid highway designation is Bovina Center toward Maynard school house. Available funds are $2,680; balance from 1925 $1,023.21

• Charles H. Hastings has moved to Walton, where he has the agency for the New York Life Insurance company. Until last fall he had been in Alberta, Canada, for some years.

BOVINA WOMAN DIES

Mrs. William T. Miller Passed Away at Her Home After Long Illness

Mrs. William T. Miller died at her home on Pink Street on Wednesay evening, May 13, after a long illness from cancers. She underwent an operation last October and continued to improve until January when she was taken worse and continued to fail from that time.

Her maiden name was Mary J. Bogs, a daughter of Thomas R. Boggs and Jane (Archibald) Boggs and was born in Bovina November 25, 1871. She was married November 7, 1897, and besides her husband is survived by her aged parents, a brother, James Boggs, and three sisters, Mrs. Thomas Ormiston and Calla Boggs, in Bovina, and Mrs. Robert Foreman, of Walton. 

The funeral which was largely attended was held from the house Saturday afternoon with Rev. F.N. Crawford officiating, assisted by Rev. Thomson. Interment was in the Bovina Center Cemetery. 

May 28, 1926

• William Wilson recently had his tonsils removed.

• Mrs. Lancelot Thomson, who has been ill for several weeks, is reported slightly better.

• There is no preaching at the Church of the Covenanters, on account of the absence of the pastor, Rev. Thomson. 

• Rev. F.N. Crawford is attending the meeting of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian church at Sharon, Penn.

• Jean, the young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Robinson was ill the first of the week, threatened with appendicitis, but is now better.

• Fred Henderson, secretary and treasurer of the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery company, underwent an operation for appendicitis Saturday and is doing well.

• Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, who have been working for John Blair on his farm, will move to Arena and conduct a boarding house. Mr. Blair has hired Charles Miller, of Downsville, who comes June 1. 

Bovina Fish Club

In order to protect some of the Bovina streams the Bovina Fishing Club has been organized with the following officers: George Johnson, president; Wallace B. Smith, secretary; Everett DeSilva, Charles F. McPherson, Eugene Chase, Henry Monroe, directors. They have leased the stream rights from Bovina Center to the upper end of the town.