A Week with Bovina People - September 1901 - 125 Years ago from the Andes Recorder

 

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

September 6, 1901

• Leslie McNee has been home on a visit.

• Daniel Franklin was seen in town on Sabbath.

• Milton R. Hoy arrived in town on Saturday.

• John Douglas was in town from Delhi Thursday.

• E.A. Worden and family visited in town Tuesday.

• School will begin in the Centre district, September 9.

• Mrs. John Aitkin has been a guest at Thomas Gordon’s.

• Will Ceas and wife, of Bloomville, were visitors here Friday.

• H.S. Graham, the Delhi hardware man, was in town Friday.

• Miss Emma Campbell visited her sister at Walton last week. 

• Charles A. McPherson has been attending the Pan American.

• Frank B. Smith is home from the Industrial School at Rochester.

• Robert Doig, of Walton, was in this place Friday after blooded calves.

• Charles Arbuckle, Jr., arrived in town Monday, from Newark, N.J.

• W.L. White took first premium on farm horses at the Shavertown fair last week.

• Alex Hilson, Ed Mead and John A. Russell were among those at Delhi on Friday.

• James A. Scott, of Hobart, and Mr. and Mrs. Adam Scott, of Delhi, were in town on Sabbath.

• U. MaGill, wife and daughter, who have been visiting in town for some time, returned to their home in New York City, Wednesday.

• Work on the Centre creamery is finished and Tuesday it was steamed up [September 3].  The workmen left Wednesday to build another creamery on the Ouleout.

• Among Friday visitors in town were John Bryden, of Cabin Hill, Misses Mary Liddle and Eliza Marx, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Anderson, of Andes.

• The Bovina ball team went to Delhi Monday to cross bats with the East Delhi team, and the game resulted in favor of Bovina by a score of 12 to 11.

• Professor E.J. Graham, of Andes, passed through town Monday on his way to begin his school duties at Hobart. Miss Jennie Campbell has gone to the same place as assistant teacher.

• At a meeting of the Stockholders of Bovina Centre creamery Wednesday, September 4, B.S. Miller was chosen chairman and James A. Thompson, secretary. Douglas Davidson, John A. Irvine, William A. Hoy, James A. Thomson, S.T. Rockafeller were elected directors. James A. Thomson was chosen business manager. 

• At a meeting of the directors Wednesday evening John A. Irvine was elected president; Douglas Davidson, vice President; James A. Thomson, secretary and treasurer.

September 13, 1901

• A.O. Butts has sold one of his team.

• There was a lot went to the Walton fair.

• Mrs. John K. Russell was in town on Friday.

• Robert Biggar was at Andes last Thursday.

• Will Coulter of Andes was in town on Friday.

• Mrs. Joshua K. Hobbie went to Oneonta on Thursday.

• The sewerage for the Centre creamery is all completed.

• Aaron Stearn was up from Delhi recently with a load of people.

• Joseph Birkins has moved into the rooms over the old cooper shop.

• The creamery at the Centre has received a lot of butter packages.

• Gideon Miller was at Andes Sabbath and his wife and son returned with him.

• Quite a number from this place attended the fair at Delhi Friday and Saturday.

• J.K. McDivitt preached in the United Presbyterian church last Sabbath evening.

• James A. Thompson has rented the Gow house and expects to move into it in a short time.

• George Russell was at Delhi Monday and brought back a large load of tubes for the uptown creamery.

• Thomas Mabon is building an addition to his barn.  He will add a piece at either side of the bridgeway.

• G.D. Miller and wife, and B.S Miller and Frank Heimer started for the Cleveland encampment Monday.

• Neil McNee came home from Stamford Saturday where she has been to work during the boarding season.

• Wm. Maynard is building a fine silo.

• We understand the Bovina has a new feed dealer – Maynard.

Dr. R.R. Thompson, for many years a popular physician here, now enjoying a large practice at Kingston, with Dr. Hill, a leading dentist, also of that city accompanied by their wives, arrived in Delhi Thursday to call upon friends and visit the fair. “Doc.” Thompson is looking somewhat more venerable and dignified behind spectacles but otherwise is easily distinguishable as the same genial fellow as of yore. -- Republican

An Example to the World

“Six days shalt thou labor and do all they work” to be exemplified by the new co-operative creamery company of Bovina (the upper one) a majority of the stockholders having signed an agreement to make the plant a six-day creamery.  Bovina is noted for its strong Sabbath observance sentiment and practice, but such a rule as has been adopted at the “Butt-end” creamery is the first on record so far as our knowledge goes and is to be commended.  Of course some will sneer and wag their heads, but these people believe that they can care for the Saturday night’s and Sunday morning’s milk to their own advantage at their homes on Monday, and they are going to risk it anyway may success attend them.

September 20, 1901

• The Bovina creamery expects to begin operations soon.

• John G. Laing, of New Jersey has been visiting in town.

• Elisha McCumber and nephew, of Corning, N.Y., are guests at W.J. Crosier’s.

• At the Republican caucus Saturday John W. Blair and Robert A. Thompson were chosen delegates.

• The stockholders of the Bovina Centre creamery held a meeting Saturday [September 14] and decided not to open the plant at present for operations.

• Robert Biggar, an old and respected resident of Coulter Brook, died suddenly with apoplexy Monday aged 68 years. He was quite well Sunday night and on Saturday was at Delhi. He leaves a wife and was highly respected. [Born in 1833, Robert was the son of Walter Biggar and Janet Cowan. His widow, the former Isabella J. Miller, died less than two years later in 1903.]

September 27, 1901

• Frank Gowanlock was Delhi Tuesday.

• Martin Coulter, of Andes, was seen in town Saturday.

• Milton and William Hoy left Monday for their home.

• Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Gladstone were here from Andes Friday.

• Ernest Fredenburgh has moved into rooms into Alex Hoy’s house.

• E.E. Hastings and Elliott Thomson were at Bloomville on Friday.

• Mrs. James E. Seacord, of Lenox, Mass, was a Friday visitor here.

• George D. Roberton has moved Margaret Hoy’s tram to Plattskill.

• John M. Miller, wife and three children are visiting in Pennsylvania.

• Hon. E.T. Gerry and family are at their summer home at Lake Delaware.

• Mrs. Charles Arbuckle and son returned to their home in Newark on Friday.

• Thomas Miller attended meeting of Presbytery at Burlington Green this week.

• Mrs. Alex Hilson and Miss Maggie Archibald attended the Oneonta fair Friday.

• Robert F. Thompson and daughter, Miss Fannie visited the County Seat Monday. [Robert Thompson was married to Ellen Miller. Fannie was their only child. Ellen and Robert died less than a month apart in 1917. Fannie married Walter G. McDivitt in 1906 and died in 1947.]

• Rev. and Mrs. Samson attended the meeting of the Delaware Presbytery at Burlington Green this week.

• Lewis Gray and Mrs. Fannie Bartram, of Roxbury, were married in Bovina Centre, Saturday, September 21, by Rev. Samson. [Mrs. Bartram was the former Fannie Dudley.]

• Rev. James B. Lee D.D. former pastor here, and wife have just returned to their home in Franklinville, after spending a few weeks in Scotland.

• The uptown creamery opened for business Monday morning [September 23].  It will run every day in the week, it being found impracticable to run it only six days.

• The young men of today, who think themselves so much smarter than the older heads, were defeated Saturday in a ball game between the young men and the married men by a score of 6 to 3.

• Married at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.G. McNee, in this village, Friday evening, September 20, Nellie McNee to George Griffin, of Stamford, Rev. W.L.C. Samson tying the nuptial knot. [Nellie and George had one son. The marriage ended by divorce in 1908. George remarried shortly after his divorce, as did Nellie.]

• At the Memorial services [for President McKinley] held in the United Presbyterian church September 19 Rev Samson presided.  Charles Arbuckle read the scripture lesson; Margaret Swart read the President’s proclamation, and addresses were made by Rev. Slater, R.E. Bergman and Rev. Samson.

The Gravestone of Deborah Maynard

Last November, a storm brought down a tree in the Brush Cemetery, at the corner of Maple Avenue and County Route 6. It landed on the gravestone of Deborah Maynard, breaking it into three pieces. 

Here’s an image of the stone before it was damaged, taken in 2016: 

Here are a couple of images of the broken stone.    

We left it for the winter and in August, Dale and Tina Utter from Mount Upton, repaired and reset the stone. They left the piece that broke off at ground level and set the remaining stone in front of it, since doing so did not obliterate the inscription. They repaired the other two pieces. 

And here’s the repaired stone.  

So, who was Deborah Maynard? Sadly, we don’t know much about her. She was the eldest daughter of early Bovina settlers Elisha and Esther (Horton) Maynard. Born in April 1790, she was only 22 years old when she died in November 1812. The reason she was buried in the Brush cemetery seems to be related to the fact that Alexander Brush’s son, Joel, married her sister Elizabeth. 

Thank you to Dale and Tina and to the town of Bovina for ensuring that we’ll remember Deborah. 

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

Life in Bovina 100 years ago, as reported in the pages of the Andes Recorder

September 3, 1926

• The schools of the town will open next Tuesday.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Campbell, August 23, a daughter.

• Miss Jenet Laidlaw is attending the Y.P. convention of the U.P. church at White Lake.

• John Nichols, who has been helping John Thomson, returned to Worcester on Tuesday.

• The Misses Lillian and Kathryn Henderson, of Walton have been visiting at Fred Henderson’s.

• Miss Elizabeth McDivitt, of South Kortright, spent a few days the past week with friends in town.

• Mr. and Mrs. William Puffer and Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Thomson, of Hobart, were callers here on Sabbath.

• Mr. and Mrs. William E. Hastings and daughter, of Oneonta, have been spending the past week with relatives here.

• The reunion of the Miller clan was held on Tuesday at the home of Anthony Banuat on the former Oliver farm. The reunion next year will be at Thomas S. Doig’s in Andes.

• Miss Mabel Hadley, young dauter of E.A. Hadley, up Pink street on the former Andrew Thomson farm, died August 30, from spinal meningitis. The funeral was held Wednesday.

• The picnic last Thursday brought quite a number of out of town people here. All enjoyed a fine time. Rev. Peter McKenzie, of Stamford, made an address. A ball game between Andes and South Kortright, resulted by score of 7 to 6, in an 11 inning game, in favor of Andes.

September 10, 1926

• Mrs. Jane Dickson returned Saturday from a trip to the centennial at Philadelphia.

• William Gordon and Lauren Dickson arrived home Tuesday fro
m their trip by auto to Florida.

• Miss Mable Thomson left Monday for Winsted, Connecticut, where she has taught for several years.

• Mr. and Mrs. Lancelot Thomson and Mrs. Thoms Gordon and son were Delhi visitors Wednesday.

• Mable Hadley left Saturday for Cooperstown, where, thru the kindness of Miss Gerry, she will attend school.

• Mrs. A.S. Banker was at Yonkers last week to visit her brother and see her son, Jack, who is in the U.S. Navy.

• Marshall Thomson and wife, from Great Neck, Long Island, have been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Blair.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Myers, of Endicott, spent over Labor Day with his parents, and Mrs. Myers has remained for a longer visit. 

• Miss Anna Dickson teaches in the Margaretville high school this year. Caroline Dickson has returned to her school at Rutland, Vermont.

• William Archibald has resumed the work of putting in the cellar and foundation for his new house on the former site of the Methodist church.

• Mr. and Mrs. John Hilson, Mr. and Mrs. Howard McPherson and son, and Mr. and Mrs. Millard Russell attended the State fair at Syracuse last week. 

• Mrs. Alex Hilson and son, James, and Mrs. Jas A. Gow were at Arkville, Monday, taking Miss Jane Hilson that far on her return to her school at South Orange, N.J.

• Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Walker, of Jersey, City, have been visitors at the home of William Storie. A picnic dinner was held there Monday. Mrs. Walker before her marriage was Helen Galloway. 

• Charles A. McPherson’s team ran away Monday from the upper part of the village. At the post office they collided with the auto of Anna Joslin and were stopped. The car was considerably damaged.

• The school of the town opened on Tuesday. Those who have entered the Delhi high school are: Ledger Myers, Courtney Currie, Robert and Donald Boggs, Grace Coulter, Ruth Gladstone, Anna Gladstone, Margaret Russell and Marjorie Ormiston. 

September 17, 1926

• Don Burns, of Delhi, was in town Wednesday.

• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hunt of Delhi were callers here Saturday.

• Mr. and Mrs. S.F. Ferris, of Albany were Bovina visitors this week.

• Misses Kate and Freda Muller spent over the week end at Bainbridge.

• Roy Aitken had his tonsils removed at the Drum hospital in Delhi last week.

• Mrs. Wilber Archibald resumed her duties as teacher in Fleischmann high school

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are John Bopp and wife to Carlina Patterson, $1.

• There was a large turnout at the primary Tuesday. Tolly received 54 votes and Clarke 152.

• Mr. and Mrs. George Miller attended the funeral of a relative on Hallidays Brook last week.

• A new roof is being put on what is known as the4 Hilson house, adjoining the store of Hilson Bros.

• Mrs. James F. Forman and dauter Isabelle, and Mrs. James Monroe, of Delhi, were callers in town Tuesday.

• Frank Myers and two friends, from Endicott, spent over the week end with his parents. Mrs. Myers who had been visiting here, returned home with him.

• Rev. Barrickman, instructor in the White Bible School in New York, and wife ar estopping at Rev. Crawford’s. He spoke in the U.P. church Sabbath morning.

BOVINA MAN DIES, Thos R. Boggs, Aged 90 years, Passed Away September 14.

From our Bovina Correspondent

Thomas R. Boggs passed away at his home in upper Bovina on Tuesday September 14, at the ripe old age of 90 years. He had been in poor health for a few months and his death was hastened by a fall on Sabbath. The funeral was held on Thursday.

Mr. Boggs was born in Stamford on August 9, 1886, but had practically been a life-long resident of the town of Bovina, and was [a] substantial farmer. He was united in marriage with Jane Archibald 61 years ago. Surviving him are his wife, a son, James Boggs, and three daughters, Mrs. Thos Ormiston and Miss Calla Boggs, in Bovina, and Mrs. Robert G. Forman, of Walton. He also leaves a brother, William S. Boggs.

September 24, 1926

• Mrs. Robert Brown and children, of Delhi, were callers here Thursday.

• William Storie is having his farm residence treated to a new dress of paint.

• William Crosier, of Steubenville, Ohio, a former resident, is renewing acquaintances.

• William Darling, wife and child, of Fall Clove, Andes, were at George H. Russell’s last Thursday.

• Henry M. Archibald, of New York City, one of Bovina’s native sons was a visitor here the past week.

• Mr. and Mrs. Wilber Archibald and C.L. Dickson, called on their uncle, James Dickson, at Oneonta, Saturday. 

• The barn being built on the former S.G. Bramley farm, to replace the one destroyed by fire, is being rushed to completion.

• Mrs. Thomas Gordon went to Delhi on Tuesday to take up her duties as housekeeper in the family of County Clerk Whittaker.

• Mrs. Fannie Barnhart Finkle and daughter Helen, of Sterling, Illinois, spent from Friday until Monday with her cousin, Mrs. Ackerley. 

• As its share of the automobile registration fees the town of Bovina has received $1,224.71. The highway mileage of the town is 78 miles.

• Martin Hyzer, of Andes, preached in the U.P. church Sabbath morning, Rev. Crawford preaching at Andes. In the evening the pastor gave an illustrated lecture on “The Menace of Mohammedism.”

• Monday the trucks of Wm T Miller [and] Gustave Lifgren collided in front of the store of Cecil Russell. Mr. Lifgren was coming up the street and Mr. Miller came out from the drive at the store. The Lifgren truck was somewhat damaged.

• Margaret Gordon has returned to her studies at the Albany Normal College. Miss Mabel Winter, of Margaretville, a niece of Mrs. Frank Miller, accompanied her to enter the college. Mrs. Gordon and son, William, took them to Albany by Auto. 

Death from Shock – From Our Bovina Correspondent

Robert R. Tweedie, a native of Walton and who resided a few years in Bovina, died suddenly Sabbath night, September 19, at his home on Franklin road, town of Delhi, aged 48 years. He was stricken with a shock and expired in a few hours. He is survived by his wife, who was Phoebe May Thomson, daughter of James B. Thomson of Bovina, and six children.

BOVINA MAN DIES – James Russell Passes Away After a Long Illness Sept 19 – from our Bovina Correspondent

James Russell died at his home with sister-in-law, Mrs. W.T. Russell, on the former Dysart farm in Bovina, on Sabbath evening, September 19, aged 75 years. He had long suffered from rheumatism and some two or three years ago suffered a shock. He has been confined to his home and was practically helpless.

He was the son of the late Stephen Russell and was born and spent his life in Bovina. He married Mary Jane Thomson and she survives him. He also leaves a sister and two brothers, viz: Mrs. Jas W. Thomson and Geo Russell in Bovina, and Ed Russell of Delhi. The funeral was held Thursday.