April 1916 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

From the Andes Recorder 100 years ago this month.

April 7, 1916

·       William J. Archibald has rented the Joshua Hobbie farm uptown, to Eli Felton, of Walton.

·       In the primary election held Tuesday in Bovina 34 votes were cast – 18 Republican, 13 Democratic and 3 Prohibition.

·       Sloan Archibald, who lives on the place in the upper part of the village, known as the McDonald place, is having the house made two story. [Note - this is my current home.]

·       Mrs. Frank Hobbie died at her home in upper Bovina on Saturday, April 1, from tuberculosis, at the age of 27 years, 3 months and 25 days.  Her maiden name was Bertha Shaver and she was born at Downsville.  The family moved here from Colchester in November.  She leaves a husband and two small children.  Her mother died about a month ago but the dauter was never informed of the fact.  Rev. Thos Graham, pastor of the R.P. church, officiated at the funeral held on Sabbath.  Burial was made at Downsville on Monday.

April 14, 1916

·       Alex Myers went to Andes Wednesday to do some paper hanging.

·       Charles Brown of South Kortright, has purchased the John Hobbie farm up Pink street.  Mr. Aldrich, who for the past two years has occupied the farm, has moved to Grand Gorge.

·       Friday evening by a majority of one the members of the Bovina Center Fire department voted to keep the smaller of the two bells sent on approval. This bell was made of bell metal and the larger bell was of a new composition of cheaper metals and was only warranted for five years.

April 21, 1916

·       The Town Clerk’s office has been moved to a room in the new Fireman’s building.

·       Douglas Davidson has moved from his farm (42.2506°N 74.8045°W) to the house (42.2547°N 74.7949°W), recently purchased, at the foot of Russell hill.

·        Thomas H. Johnson has begun to saw lumber at his mill near William Elliott’s in New Kingston, and six men employed.

·       Aaron Todd has finished his work for Fred Bramley and taken a job on the Ulster & Delaware railroad.  His household goods are yet here.

·       Mr. York, of Delancey, has moved into the old Aitken place adjoining the residence of Alex Hilson.  He has hired to drive team for Tracy Sherman

·       One farmer seems to be bound to get all the sap that will run this season.  No less than 16 buckets at one tree were counted the other day.  The sap runs have been good.  As high as 200 gallons of syrup and 100 pounds of sugar have been made – equal to 1,700 pounds of sugar.

·       Dr. Scott, assisted by his brother in law James Salton, is taking down the Ell part of A.T. Doig’s house, the material to be used to build a kitchen on his house.  Mr. Doig will build a new addition in place of the part removed.  He is also putting in electric lights, using a motor run by water from the village main. 

Bible 187 years old

In arranging the town books and records in the Bovina Town Clerk’s office an old Bible was found, which was printed 1729.  Both covers and some of the first and last leaves of the book are gone.  From entries made in the family record page it is evident that the Bible must have been brought from Scotland by the late William Miller, Sr. [Where this Bible is now I have yet to determine.]

April 28, 1916

·       Mrs. John A. Irvine is very ill with blood poisoning which started in her hand. [This is Isabell Russell's mother. She would survive this, passing away in 1940.]

·       G.D. Miller is having a small addition built onto his residence and changing the interior so as to make it more convenient for two families.

·       William Franks, who during the past year has occupied what is known as the Thomas Mabon farm, on the Turnpike, moved this week to a farm at Arena.

·       Mrs. F.W. Hyatt, who has been in Yonkers for several weeks and who underwent operations for gall stones, tumor and appendicitis returned home this week much improved in health.

Succumbed to Pneumonia

            Mrs. Agnes Northrup died April 26, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Leonard Sloan in New York City, with pneumonia.  She was born in Bovina 63 years ago. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Leonard Sloan in New York and Mrs. Gideon Miller, of Bovina, and one son Elmer Northrup, a dentist, in Lincoln, Nebraska.  The remains will be brought here Friday and the funeral held Saturday.

Historian Annual Report for 2015

Overview of Some Goals from Last Year’s Report 
The ever present book on the history of the Town of Bovina remains a goal. Commitments over the winter of 2015, the time of year I can best devote to this project, prevented me attaining this goal, but I continue to hope and push it forward.

I was successful in presenting a Bovina history pageant on April 18. More information further in the report.

In researching Lizzie Coulter, a Bovina resident who was sent to Virginia in 1868 to teach for the Freedman’s Bureau, I encountered the name of George Graham. He grew up in Bovina, fought in the Civil War, and became involved in the Bureau, running their office in Southern Virginia. I’ve discovered that the records of the office he ran for the Freedman’s Bureau are at the National Archives. I’ve also discovered some other interesting items about Graham’s life in the south (he ended up settling in West Virginia). I had hoped to find out more about him in 2015, but I’m going to need to make a trip to the National Archives to review the aforementioned records.

James L. Coulter and George Gladstone built a number of homes in Bovina in the late 19^th century – I want to more definitively identify the houses these gentlemen built. This project continues.

Social Media

The Bovina NY History Blog (http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/) celebrated its sixth anniversary in April. I did 51 entries for 2015. I’ve settled to doing on an average four entries a month. A list of the entries is in the appendix to this report.

Started in 2013, I continue to post daily entries on the Bovina NY History Facebook page, finding some event that happened on that particular day. The entries are compiled each month for the blog.

Articles

I continue writing articles for the Walton Reporter once a month on the history of Bovina.

-January 14, 2015-Bovina Ladies in 1860
-February 18, 2015-Dangers of Coal Gas
-March 18, 2015-“Jane Stafford is a Poor Person”
-April 15, 2015-Bovina Civil War care for veterans
-May 13, 2015-Russell's Store
-June 17, 2015-When the Trains Almost Came, Part One – Everything Looks Favorable
-July 15, 2015-When the Trains Almost Came, Part Two – The Dirt is Flying
-August 12, 2015-When the Trains Almost Came, Part Three - Our Supposed Railroad is at a Standstill
-September 16, 2015-When the Trains Almost Came, Part Four - Buying a Pig in a Poke
-October 14, 2015-Cathels Family Tragedy
-November 18, 2015-Hands, Fists, Brooms, Broomsticks and Firebrands – The Story of Horace and Clara Warren
-December 16, 2015-“Took a sketch of the premises….” – The Farm of Alexander and Esther Storie

I wrote three articles for the community newsletter produced by the Bovina United Presbyterian Church.

Bovina History Calendar

After considerable thought, I recommended to the Bovina Historical Society that the Bovina History Calendar go on hiatus. The calendar is a lot of work for little or no return on investment. I haven’t ruled out resurrecting it at some point, but for now, the society needs to focus its efforts on larger scale fund raising efforts.

Bovina Historical Society

I serve as an ex-officio member of the historical society’s board. During the late spring, I began an effort to clean up the museum a bit by reducing the clutter. Some items were moved to the old fire house for storage. In the fall, I covered as much of the artifacts as I could and removed some items from the wall to protect them from falling during the winter. I met with Carver Farrell in the fall to discuss the Bovina Busy World display. This is an ‘automaton’ that was created by a number of Bovina wood carvers in the 1980s, including Carver’s dad. He is interesting in getting it working again and creating a better display for it, donating his time. We hope to start on this in the spring of 2016. The museum was open for Bovina Day in July and for the Open Barn and Studio Tour in August.

I did two presentations during the year proceeds of which went to the historical society (more information below).

Bramley Mountain Plane Crash

We made another expedition to the site of the 1945 crash of a Texas AT-6 Trainer on Moon Mountain and found more wires from the airplane. Samantha Misa, Chris Ingvordsen and I met with Ed and Dick Davidson to show them our find. They verified that they likely come from the plane that crashed.

Programs

On April 18, I presented the Bovina History Pageant. In 1955, 60 years ago, the Bovina Recreation Club had presented a history pageant. I was interested in trying to present a similar program. Utilizing the original script, I pared it down and added items for a new history pageant. I then drafted Roz Foster, Chris Ingvordsen, Briana Riera and Marni Greenberg to help and advise me and they hit the ground running. Along the way we also drafted Doug Parrett for just about anything we threw at him. And I drafted about 30 or so members of the community to take part in the various tableau representing various chapters in the history of Bovina. There were too many to list here, but a complete wrap-up of the pageant is at the Bovina NY History Blog at http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2015/04/bovina-history-pageant-2015-version.html. I was thrilled with the success of the event, with standing room only. I can’t thank everyone enough for all the help. The proceeds from the event went to the Bovina Historical Society.

In the fall, on October 24, I conducted a Tour of the Bovina Cemetery and had over 50 people show up on a chilly fall day. The tour went well – so well that I expect to repeat it in the spring of 2016. Again, proceeds went to benefit the Bovina Historical Society.

Correspondence and research help

Nancy Frost had several questions about her Bovina ancestors.

Loni Briscoe had general questions about the Briscoe property.

I sent several pictures of Hilson’s Store to Wendy Buerge and John Finn, who have purchased the store.

Sharon Rabeler Fouts and several other Rabeler family members and I have had several e-mail exchanges concerning the story that there were German dances in the area in WWII but some thought they were Nazi related (this story is related in the history of the Lutheran Church in Delhi). I have been doing some research to find more evidence of this but have not had any luck so far.

Jeanne Butler was interested in Teunis the Indian, specifically questions related to the rifle believed to have been given to Teunis. A more general questions about the Indians who passed through this area came from Cameron Dubes, who lives on Teunis Lake.

Roselle Scaduto requested help in locating the house that she and her late husband had in Bovina in the 1980s. After some further e-mails we worked out where the house is located.

Amy Bathen asked questions about her husband Jason’s Boggs ancestors (Jason is the son of the late Art Bathen).

William and Joan Foster requested information on their house in Bovina, formerly owned by Ken and Barbara Brown.

Mary Pelletier asked for information about the Maynard School in preparation for her role as one of the school marms at the Bovina Historical Society's day camp. I was able to direct her to several articles on my blog about Bovina schools. I also sent her to the Bovina NY History Flickr account for photographs of the school. She also requested information on different kinds of farming in Bovina, including sheep farming.

Jane Margolies asked for information about farming in Bovina for an article for the Watershed Post.

Laurie McIntosh, aka Story Laurie, had several questions about Bovina farms for a project called "Harvest of Songs" that she is producing, in collaboration with Farm Catskills. The project features songs written by Delaware County school kids, one of which is called "Milking Time at the Farm."

Kirk Moulton was researching the Seacord family and wanted help with the fact that there were two William Seacords in the 1810 census and wondered how they might be related. Unfortunately, I was equally stumped and could not figure out why there were two Williams.

Daniel Seib is an archaeologist with the Public Archaeology Facility out of Binghamton, working on a project for the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District. The project involved a narrow corridor of the Little Delaware River right behind the Town Garage.  He was hoping I might have pictures or other information about the mill that once stood there. Unfortunately, no pictures exist and there is not a lot of information other than what appears in some of the 19^th century histories.

Miri Dainson, a research assistant at Hunter College Climate Lab, was looking for information from diaries and newspapers about significant weather events in the Catskills in the early 20th century.

Lynne Resch had questions about the barn on the old Conklin farm on Reinertsen Hill Road, which she now owns. The barn was built from the old timbers of the Bovina Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Association of Public Historians of New York State

I’m the Association’s Region 4 coordinator and also serve on the board as a trustee. As a regional coordinator, I am responsible for organizing a fall regional meeting each year. This year’s meeting took place in Germantown and focused on the issues related to cemeteries. At the association’s annual meeting, held in April in Corning, I gave a presentation on researching your local schools.  

Historic Markers

The William G. Pomeroy Foundation has for a number of years provided funding for historic markers around New York State. I applied for funding this year for two markers. The foundation requires solid documentation of the information to be presented on the markers. I am happy to report that after some effort, and with help from the foundation, both of the applications were successful. One marker is to go at the Maynard School on Bovina Road. The other will be installed at St. James Church at Lake Delaware. The markers will be dedicated likely on June 4, 2016.

Plans for 2015

The book on the history of the Town of Bovina remains a goal.

In April, I will be hosting/presenting another Bovina history program – not as elaborate as the program in 2015. The theme will be Bovina Butter. Proceeds will go to the Bovina Historical Society. I also will be doing another cemetery tour in the fall, this time visiting three Bovina cemeteries.

Another family history trip to Scotland, similar to the one I ran in November 2014, is being planned for October 2016. We will need 15 people for the trip to go. Proceeds again will go to the Bovina United Presbyterian Church.

Respectfully submitted,

C. Raymond LaFever

Town Historian, Town of Bovina

This Day in Bovina for March 2016

Forty-nine years ago today, the March 1, 1967 issue of the Binghamton Press reported that "Residents of Bovina Center have voted to appeal the dissolution of Bovina District 4 and the annexation to the Delaware Academy and Central School District at the present time. Thirty-six people attended a special school meeting to vote on the issue."

192 years ago today, on March 2, 1824, the Town of Bovina held its annual meeting. Among other actions, it was "resolved that a fence 4 1/2 feet in height shall be considered a lawful fence." It also was resolved "that sheep shall not be permitted to run at large…" Three weeks later, on March 24, a resolution was passed that rescinded this latter resolution, instead resolving "that sheep shall be free commoners."

187 years ago today, on March 3, 1829, a resolution was passed at the annual meeting of the Town of Bovina that "Horses over the age of one year shall not be permitted to run at large under the penalty of 12 ½ dollars to be collected by the Commissioners of Common Schools and applied to support the Schools in said town."

145 years ago today, on March 4, 1871, David L. Forman, the son of Archibald and Davina Foreman, died of diphtheria at the age of 3 years, 9 months and 4 days. Three days later, Bovina saw another child lost to diphtheria when Lizzie Currie, the only child of George and Margaret Currie died at the age of 3 years, 7 months and 16 days.

180 years ago today, on March 5, 1831, William Grierson signed this acceptance for the office of school inspector for the Town of Bovina. 

105 years ago today, on March 6, 1911, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Mrs. William Richardson died at her home in Bovina Center, Monday night, March 6, from anurism, of the great aorta, aged 72 years, 6 months and 8 days, after a long illness. The funeral was held from the house at 1:30 Thursday, Rev. H.B. Speer officiating. Her maiden name was Eliza McDonald and she was born in upper Bovina, being the daughter of Henry McDonald. Her first husband was Andrew Coulter and he died in the sixties. Besides her husband she is survived by two sons, Jas. L. Coulter and Henry M. Coulter, by her first husband." (In the interest of "full disclosure," her first husband, Andrew Coulter, died in my house.)

134 years ago today, the Bovina column in the March 7, 1882 Stamford Mirror had this item: "The 'Little Wanderer' from Rochester made his appearance in town on Monday last, and advertised a free lecture at Hastings Hall on Tuesday evening. His audience was unable to decide whether he was an escaped lunatic, had lost his Mary Ann, or was a spy for a gang of burglars. At last accounts his 'little footprints in the sand' were seen leading towards New Kingston."

Sixty five years ago today, the March 8, 1951 Delaware Republican Express reported in its Bovina column that "Robert Boggs is helping in the creamery while Dave Roberts is home nursing the mumps."

130 years ago today, the March 9, 1886 Bovina column of the Stamford Mirror reported that "Avery Clum has moved on Mt. Warren and intends opening a summer house for the accommodation of visitors during the summer."

Fifty one years ago today, on March 10, 1965, as later reported in the Delaware Republican Express, a number of folks from Bovina attended the Flower Show in New York City. These included "Mrs. Francis Schabloski, Mrs. Henry Wilkens, Mrs. Clarence Burns, Mrs. Millard Russell, Mrs. Clifford Burgin, Mrs. James Boggs, Mrs. Siegfried Bathen, Mrs. Jack Damgaard, Mrs. Leif Reinertsen, Mrs. Lauren Monroe, Mrs. Milton Graham, [and] Mrs. John Barlow." This was the International Flower Show, held at the New York Coliseum from March 7 to March 14. The admission was $2.50. The coliseum, now demolished, stood on Columbus Circle in New York City. 

130 years ago today, on March 11, 1886, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Stamford Mirror, "Mr. and Mrs. John Ogilver, James Ogilver, Alex. Hog, David Laidlaw and Walter Lunn, left town…for Nebraska."

136 years ago today, the Bovina column of the Stamford Mirror dated March 12, 1880 had the following item: "A short time ago two of our up-town boys made up their minds to go to Coulter's Brook on a visit to two fair young ladies, who had attracted their attention. On their way down town they found the night air rather chilly, and stopping at a farmer's wagon house, borrowed a buffalo robe. They soon arrived at their destination, and it is supposed they spent the evening pleasantly. But when they wanted to go home, they found that some mischievous or evil disposed person or persons has taken away the borrowed robe, and three wheels of the buggy. As neither of the young men had ever learned how to manage a velocipede, they found it inconvenient to take the buggy home that night. A day or so afterwards, the robe and wheels were found in barns or wagon houses in that vicinity, but the third wheel at latest accounts had not yet been found.”

Sixty-six years ago today, on March 13, 1950, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Catskill Mountain News, "Robert Todd of Norwich called….on his brother, Ferris Todd. He was driving a new Chevrolet which he had just purchased."

141 years ago today, on March 14, 1871, fence viewers for the town of Bovina, namely W.A. Doig, Michael Miller and F.C. Armstrong,  reached a determination concerning  the building of a stone wall (fence) between the properties of John Hilson and Joshua Jennedy, ordering which part was to be built by Hilson and which one by Kennedy. The property was located adjacent to what was the Methodist Church lot (and is now the home of Gert Hall).

Sixty-five years ago today, the Bovina column of the March 15, 1951 Delaware Republican Express reported the following: "Mr and Mrs. Edwin Davidson and son, Jon, of East St. Louis, Illinois, have come to spend some time with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.F. Davidson."

190 years ago today, on March 16, 1826, Helen Miller was born, the daughter of David Miller and Agnes Thompson. She was only three when her mother died. She married James Hoy in 1847 and would have three sons before her own early death in 1858 at the age of 32. She is buried in the Bovina cemetery.

141 years ago today, the March 17, 1875 Delaware Gazette reported that "J.P. Flower begs to be excused from the duties of the Bovina Valley Post-mastership, and Andrew Strangeway has been appointed. The office isn't worth $1,000 per year." Bovina Valley is the Lake Delaware area.

Sixty-seven years ago today, the March 18, 1949 Catskill Mountain News reported in a Bovina Center item that "Leroy Worden sold his flock of 800 fall pullets. He figured that with one more drop in the price of eggs he would be laboring with them at a loss."

127 years ago today, on the evening of March 19, 1889, as later reported in the Stamford Mirror, "Will Ormiston returned from New York …., a full-fledged M.D."

Seventy five years ago today, the March 20, 1941 Binghamton Press reported on "Maude," one of two aged draft horses owned by Bovina farmer Frank Miller. He thought Maude, a prize winning horse he had had for over 20 years, was dying. She was lying on her side and could not be roused. So with the help of a neighbor, he started digging the horse's grave in frozen ground. But, as the paper reported, "when they returned for the body, old 'Maude' was on her feet and showed great willingness to work." The article concluded with a quote from Mr. Miller: "She always was a firebrand."

Fifty one years ago today, on March 21, 1965, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican Express, "Mrs. Charles LaFever received word Sunday of the death of her mother at Delhi. She was Mrs. Dulcy Edwards, age 77, and a former resident of Lew Beach."

121 years ago today, the March 22, 1895 Bovina column of the Andes Recorder reported that "Frank Graham is the owner of a hen which recently laid an egg 6 ½ x 8 ¼ inches. Who can beat that?"

136 years ago today, the Brushland column of the March 23, 1880 Stamford Mirror reported that "Business is dull, except with the doctors. It has, until recently, been very healthy in town. Thomas Hoy's family are nearly all sick with inflammation of the lungs and throat trouble. Mr. James Hastings, one of the oldest inhabitants of Bovina, was threatened with paralysis yesterday, but is better today." This likely was James M. Hastings. Amazingly, he lived on for another 14 years, dying in 1894 at the age of 96 years old. Here's a picture of James Madison Hastings: 

Sixty-six years ago today, on March 24, 1950, as advertised in the Bovina column of the Catskill Mountain News, the "Bovina-Lake Delaware Home Bureau will hold a millinery meeting in the Lake Delaware Parish house….This is an important meeting. All are requested to be prompt and bring table service and one article of food. Note the change in the date."

Fifty one years ago today, the Bovina column of the March 25, 1965 Delaware Republican Express reported that "Marian Jardine of Michigan is home on vacation from a college where she is a student."

Eight-six years ago today, on March 26, 1930, the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican reported that "A telegram was received announcing that Brice Russell was just alive." The paper went on to note that he "is the brother of Wm. C. and Eliza Russell and has been west a number of years." Brice is James Bryce Russell, born about 1849.

107 years ago today, on March 27, 1909, Dorothy Drew was born in Arena, the daughter of Freeman and Ada Drew. In 1933 she would marry Ernest Russell and they would settle in Bovina to raise their two sons, Ron and Dave. Dorothy was the Bovina librarian for many years and passed away in 2006 at the age of 97.

196 years ago today, on March 28, 1820, Elisha B. Maynard signed this oath of office as overseer of highways for Bovina highway district number 24. It was the job of the overseer to make sure that everyone carried out their assessed maintenance of their roads. Everyone was assigned a certain number of days to carry out this work. If unable to do the work, they were expected to pay someone to do it for them. This was the system of road maintenance throughout New York State until the early 20th century.

116 years ago today, on March 29, 1900, Minnie Coulter died. Born in 1872, she married James H. Coulter in 1895. James died nine days before his wife. Minnie's death at the age of 27 was the second of three in the Coulter family in a ten day span. Two days after her death saw the death of her brother in law Walter A. Coulter on March 31. All three died from pneumonia.

136 years ago today, the Bovina column in the March 30, 1880 Stamford Mirror reported that "N. Smith, the well known commission merchant of New York, is making an effort to start a creamery in the upper end of the town. The present indications are that he will succeed." With the value of historic hindsight, we now know that his efforts failed. It would be over 20 years before a creamery was established anywhere in Bovina.

Ninety-five years ago today, on March 31, 1921, Robert Hamilton Russell, died at the age of 71. Born in Bovina in 1850, he was married twice, first to Josephine Baker, who died in 1881 not long after giving birth to her son Elmer, and later to Margaret A. Doig, who would have four sons, including Cecil H. Russell.

The 1884 Diary of David Fletcher Hoy - January/February

Here are the first two months of entries in the 1884 diary of David Fletcher Hoy. Hoy was living in Bovina in 1884. The diary was transcribed by his great grandson, John W. Hoy. Thank you to John and to his dad, David F. Hoy III for allowing me to share this diary.

JANUARY, TUESDAY 1. 1884.
Resolved. That God helping me I will live a better life this year than the last.
I cleaned out the well to day.
E.C. [Edwin C.] Burgin & E. C. Doig also Jim Boyd & Etta Seath was married today.
[Libbie C. Doig would die in November that year, 1884, perhaps in childbirth.]
There is a leapyear party at the Hall to night!
Doug and Maggie is up home. [This would be Douglass Davidson and quite possibly Maggie Campbell, mentioned January 5. It is possible this reference is to 17-year old Margaret Jane Hoy (b. 1866); they would eventually marry (1889). Douglass was married first to Mary Isabella Hoy, Margaret's sister, who died giving birth July 22, 1883, five months before.]

WEDNESDAY 2.
I taught school today.
Had to walk all the way over to school.
I went over to Mr J K Russel at night. Mrs. Murray is there.
It has rained a little to day but grew colder at night.

JANUARY, THURSDAY 3. 1884.
I taught school today.
[Most of the handwriting is illegible for the next three days, due to use of a soft pencil. Some words can be made out.]
...Strangeways...[Bovina family named "Strangeway."]
I went over to Rob Jardine at night.

FRIDAY 4.
I came from Rob Jardines this morning and taught to day.
Came home at night and went up in the village.
Maggie Campbell is here at home to night.
I rode part of the way home.
Dr. Telford died to day. [See the Bovina NY History blog for July 5, 2014 for a bit more about Dr. Telford: http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-succession-of-physicians-bovina.html]

JANUARY, SATURDAY  5. 1884.
I am at home to day and went up into the village in the forenoon. In the afternoon I went down to Doug. Davidson with Maggie Campbell & Jennie N. Hoy.
[This may be "Jennie Hoy," b. 1861, daughter of Thomas, son of Robert Hoy, born in Ireland. See the Davidson cemetery data for one way to trace this lineage.]
Doug was away to J. Miller but came home about dark.
We came up house about 2 o'c.

SUNDAY 6.
I went to church and S. S. [Sunday School, presumably] came home and rode down with doug and came the part of the way with Strangeway and I stayed at night at his house. Maggie Campbell is at his house.

JANUARY, MONDAY 7. 1884.
I taught school to day
Came from Strangeways
I went down to John Thomson's to stay all night
John was at Delhi to day

TUESDAY 8.
I went up from Thomson's and taught school today
Came back down at night
John went down to Alex Mables [? later "Sandy"] at night.

JANUARY, WEDNESDAY 9. 1884.
I went up from John Thomsons and taught school today and then went back again at night
John went down to Sandie Mables to night

THURSDAY 10.
I taught school to day
I am at John Thomson's to night Wm Strangeway is here a visiting to night
Went down to Mr Hughes
on an errand for Mrs Thomson
John took away his butter to day

JANUARY, FRIDAY 11. 1884.
I went from Thomson's and taught school today
Came home to Brushland at night. Walked all the way
After I go home I went up to the store

SATURDAY 12.
I went down to Doug's and then took a load of bark to Delhi. At night we had a sleigh ride. C. Gow. B. Gow. M. Gow. J. Gow. A. Hilson. D. Miller. J. McCune. J. Blair. C. Sloan. S. Sloan S. Thomson and wife R. Thomson. H. Johnson. H. Coulter. J. Hoy. M. Seath, H. Seath. D. See W. Smith M. Shafer. G. McNee J. Deitrich and other[s] to[o] numerous to mention was there.

JANUARY, SUNDAY 13. 1884.
I went to church and to S. S. to day
Came over to Federal Hill with Mr Strangeway and went from there to Robt. Mabons to tell them that Mrs Tuttle was dead. [This was Mrs. Sarah Carman Tuttle, who died the previous day.]

MONDAY 14.
Came over from Mabons to school and tonight I went up to Carpenter at night. Jo has been away looking for a place

JANUARY, TUESDAY 15. 1884.
I am at Carpenters to night Joseph went to Brushland to day
I taught school to day.

WEDNESDAY 16.
I am at Carpenter to day and night.
I taught school today

JANUARY, THURSDAY 17. 1884.
I am at Carpenters to day.
I taught school to day
Joseph was to Delhi village to day

FRIDAY 18.
I taught to day. I went up to Strangeways and then went to a social at Mr. Hughes and had a good time about $80 raised
Maud La Mont was there besides 10000 I did not know Had an introduce [?] to Miss A. Mable
J. Sparks, M. Hoy, J. S. Clark Will Black was there

JANUARY, SATURDAY 19. 1884.
I came over from Federal Hill with Wm. Strangeway I went to meeting to day at the U.P. [?] Church
I was up to Brushland at night

SUNDAY 20.
I went to church
It is communion day to day
Went to prayer meeting at night and then came down to Dougs

JANUARY, MONDAY 21. 1884.
I am teaching to day
I came down with Douglas and he went to Delhi
Mr W. Strangeway got kicked by a cow
I went to Strangeway and stayed all night

TUESDAY 22.
I taught school today
I stayed at Strangeways all night

JANUARY, WEDNESDAY 22. 1884.
I taught school to day
Stayed at Strangeways all night
Mr. & Mrs. William Thomson was at Strangeways to night a visiting.

THURSDAY 24.
I taught school to day
I am at Strangeways to night staying all night

JANUARY, FRIDAY 25. 1884.
I taught school to day I went over to Charles Gordon's after school and then went down to the social at Maxwell's
They got about $100
Had a good time
J. E. was there and M. S.
D. Ferguson and C. Strangeways was down and I went home with Christie
I was introduced to Miss Atkin

SATURDAY 26.
I came home from Mr Coulters this morning Pa & Doug is away to Delhi  I got Henry Coulter to cut my hair to night
Mary Gladstone, Ellen Miller & Barnum [?] was at Coulters to night

JANUARY, SUNDAY 27. 1884.
I went to church today and at night.
Miss Mary Gladstone is here
Walt Gladstone & Rob Thomson stopped here to day

MONDAY 28.
I came down to Doug and then came down to the roadend with him
I taught today
I went to W Olivers tonight.

JANUARY, TUESDAY 29. 1884.
I taught to day
I am at Walters Olivers to night

WEDNESDAY 30.
I am at W Olivers
I taught school to day
Walt took us up to school to day and came after us

JANUARY, THURSDAY 31. 1884.
I taught to day
Walt was to Delhi and we got a ride home with him
I am at Walt Olivers

FEBRUARY, FRIDAY 1. 1884.
I went from Olivers and taught school to day.
Came home at night I got a ride with W. Black from Burgins
Maggie came up home and went to a party at John G [?] Thomson's

FEBRUARY, SATURDAY 2. 1884.
I helped Pa to put up the stair railing to day
Jennie Hoy is here today and stayed all night
Jennie W. [?] put cards in to her scrapbook at night
Will King came up with a load of lumber for Uncle John to night

SUNDAY 3.
I went to church today
Jannie [sic] Hoy is at our house
I came over to Federal Hill with Strangeways and stayed there all night

FEBRUARY, MONDAY 4. 1884.
I went from Strangeway and taught school and then went down to J.D. Gardinier's at night and stayed all night

TUESDAY 5.
I went from Dan Gardiniers and taught school to day and then went down to Gardeniers agang [sic; is Davy writing in Scots?!] and stayed all night
There is a social at the County House to night

FEBRUARY, WEDNESDAY 6. 1884.
I went and taught school to day and then went back to Dan Gardiniers at night and stayed all night

THURSDAY 7.
I went from Dan Gardiniers and taught school and then went back again and stayed all night

FEBRUARY, FRIDAY 8. 1884.
I taught to day and then went home I stopped at Dougs.
Libbie Laughran and Jennie Campbell was [sic] and then they went home. I went up to the Huddle and had a good time
Came back down to Dougs

SATURDAY 9.
I went to Delhi and got a suit of clothes
Jennie and Maggie went with me. We had Dougs team I stayed at Dougs all night

FEBRUARY, SUNDAY 10. 1884.
I came up from Dougs and went up to Kennedy's church to day. Dr See is away.
Dr Kennedy preached from Math. 5-1-5
main clause Blessed are the peace makers
[Kennedy’s church would have been the Reformed Presbyterian Church which stood about where the firehouse and playground stand today]

MONDAY 11.
I came over to Federal Hill this morning and taught school to day and then went over to John K. Russels at night.

FEBRUARY, TUESDAY 12. 1884.
I came from Russels and taught today
I went down to J. alt [?] D. Millers at night
This is town meeting day and the Republican ticket except R. J. Atkin was elected
I saw J Campbell W Hoy John McCune Ed Thomson C Hobbie at the village

WEDNESDAY 13.
I came up from Mr. Millers and taught school to-day
I went to Mr Strangeway at night
Mr and Mrs J. R. Russell Miss Russell Nettie Thomson & Charlie Russell was there a visiting

FEBRUARY, THURSDAY 14. 1884.
I taught school to day
I went over to Mr D. G. Landons at night and had a good visit
I stayed all night

FRIDAY 15.
I went from Mr Landon and taught to-day
This is the last day of my school I have taught 14 weeks at $5 per week and board
I came home and made affidavit to my register before H. C. Burgin Justice of the Peace.

FEBRUARY, SATURDAY 16. 1884.
I went down to Doug's and done his chores
He is away to Delhi after corn.

SUNDAY 17.
I went to church to day. There is no further [?] meeting tonight
I went down to Doug's and helped him to do the chores

FEBRUARY, MONDAY 18. 1884
I am at Douglas Davidson doing the work Douglas has gone to Delhi to get a load for Wm Stott   Mother, father, Jennie, Maggie, Douglas & myself went down to see Ed Burgins & folks.

TUESDAY 19.
I came up from Douglass and helped father to work
We went to Mrs Hiram Knaff's [sic] funeral [actually, Julia M., spouse of Hiram Knapp] at 2 o'c in the M. E. Church. Frank, Will & Maggie Russell was here to night Henry Coulter was here also.

FEBRUARY, WEDNESDAY 20. 1884.
I am at home to day
I got some stuff for the lattice work to day
Mother has gone down to G. D. [Gilbert Dickson, b. 1843, son of William Miller?] Millers
I went down and helped Doug do his chores
Was up street at night

THURSDAY 21.
I helped father to put on the blinds on the new house
It is very chilly today
Was up to Uncle John's at night
I went down to Dougs and stayed all night

FEBRUARY, FRIDAY 22. 1884.
I am at Doug's
Jennie Maggie & I went down to [? illegible] and took dinner and then went down to Will King's
We had a good time and stayed night

SATURDAY 23.
I am at Will Kings
I went to a funeral of a Mr Allen to day
We started from Will Kings at 2.30 and got home at 6.45

FEBRUARY, SUNDAY 24. 1884.
I went to church today and to prayer meeting at night.

MONDAY 25.
Father and I put on the rest of the blinds today and then went up to John Archibald to fix up the old store.

FEBRUARY, TUESDAY 26. 1884.
I am at Archibald to day working.
Walter Oliver came over and I went down home with him. I was up to David Hoy's at night [Likely this is David Miller Hoy, b. 1848 to James Hoy and Helen Miller, m. 1873 to Josephine Clark. James Hoy was J. R.'s older brother.]

WEDNESDAY 27.
I went up to John Archibald this morning and put in a sill
Father was sick this forenoon
At night went down to Wm Cooke's at night T. Johnson J. Archibald Pa & my self

FEBRUARY, THURSDAY 28. 1884.
Father and I laid floor to day
John Archibald has gone to Delhi to get a load of lumber for the house

FRIDAY 29.
I came down from Bovina as it was to[o] cold to work.
I went down to Dougs this afternoon
I was at a school exhibition at the Hall at night There was a lamp exploded and a panic occurred among the audience

March 1916 - 100 Years Ago in "That Thriving Town"

From the Andes Recorder

March 3, 1916

•           Hilson Bros had the misfortune to have one of their span of mules die.

•           Denny Hughes’ horse ran away this week, going from the Butt End to the Maynard place.

•           Floyd Hyatt, who recently sold his dairy to Howard Hall, was at Cortland county this week and returned with a Holstein dairy.

•           Harvey Hafele, who has hired to John W. Blair to work his farm, moved from Colchester on Tuesday.  Mr. Blair has moved to his house in the village.

•           William Oliver has rented rooms in G.D. Miller’s house and April 1, will move from rooms over the old Strangeway store.  David Currie will move to the rooms in the store.

March 10, 1916

•           The Bovina Co-Operative Creamery company has sold its skim milk to the Newark Cheese Company.

•           Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hastings left Tuesday for their home in Alberta, Canada.  Mrs. Lucy Coulter accompanied them and will visit her son, D. Ward Coulter, there.

•           Thomas H. Johnson, who has a lumber job in New Kingston, is delivering 200,000 feet of birch plank to the allies, which will be used in the manufacture of gun stocks.

•           Wallace, the 12 year old son of Wallace B. Smith at the Butt End, was operated upon for a bad case of appendicitis last Wednesday morning.  The lad was taken to Delhi on Tuesday night, arriving there soon after midnight and the operation was performed by Drs. Goodrich and Ormiston, of Delhi, and Whitcomb, of Bovina.

March 17, 1916

•           George Johnson has gone to Alberta Canada.

•           Mrs. Frank Hobbie is very low at this writing.

•           Andrew T. Doig is in New York this week buying his spring stock of goods.

•           Mrs. Robert G. Thomson and Mrs. Harry Robson entertained at cards last Friday evening.

•           While the deep snow had made traveling difficult the mail has been received every day.

•           More houses are needed in this village as several families are unable to find places to live.

•           Douglas Davidson has rented his farm to his son-in-law, William Storie, and has purchased the house of Ward Baker, the violinist, at the foot of the Russell hill [now the Denison residence].

•           A son was born March 5, to Mr. and [Mrs.] D. Ward Coulter. Ward is a son of Mrs. Lucy Coulter of this place.  The mother was May Spiers of Andes.

•           Mrs. Miles Bramley, a native of Bovina, died March 8, at the home of her neice, Mrs. John Salton in Delancey.  Death was due to paralysis.  Her maiden name was Elizabeth Blair and she is the last of her generation.

March 24, 1916

•           William Roney of Andes, was here Tuesday and Wednesday selling farm machinery.

•           No mail was received Friday and it did not reach here until 7 o’clock Saturday night.

•           The party given by Mrs. Robert G. Thomson and Mrs. Harry Robson was a dinner party, and not a card party as published last week.

•           A new bell for the fire house has arrived.  Another bell is on the way and the two will be tested and the one with the sharpest tone will be kept.

“Handed Out” Mail 41 Years

Mrs. William Cooke, Postmistress at Bovina, Passed Away March 18

            Mrs. William Cooke died at her home in upper Bovina on Saturday afternoon, March 18, following a shock with which she was stricken on Friday morning.  She was in her 83d year.

            Mrs. Cooke was born in Scotland February 28, 1834, and when 17 years old came to Bovina with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. David Laidlaw.  In 1858 she married William Cooke who died five years ago.

            She probably had served the patrons of the Bovina postoffice for a longer period than any office in the state had been served by the same person, having “handed out” the mail for 41 years, and for 34 years had been deputy postmaster and postmaster.

            In 1875 William Cooke was appointed deputy and when William Archibald died in 1882, succeeded him as postmaster and Mrs. Cooke became deputy.  On the death of her husband in 1911, she became postmaster and her dauter, Mrs. Walter Wilson, became deputy.

            She was the last of her generation and is survived by three dauters, viz: Mrs. George Hunter in Colchester, Mrs. William H. Reynolds, of Andes, Mrs. Walter Wilson in Bovina.  The funeral was held Tuesday, with Rev. J.A. Mahaffey officiating. Interment was in Center cemetery.

March 31, 1916

•           F.W. Hyatt had a $125 cow die this week.

•           The roof of George Foreman’s barn went down Sabbath under the weight of snow.

•           Mrs. Gideon Miller, who underwent an operation in New York several weeks ago, for chronic appendicitis, has arrived home.

A Curious Find at the Old Bovina Creamery

Chuck McIntosh brought to me last week an old box that once held some Kodak photo equipment. In the box were negatives that proved to have come from the Hilson family - specifically photos taken by James Hilson (1894-1984) in the early 1940s. I'll share several of them over the next few months. Today I'm sharing these lovely shots that he took of the Bovina Center hamlet in the spring of probably 1940 or 41.

This Day in Bovina for February 2016

109 years ago today, on February 1, 1907, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "David Ballantine was here Friday from Andes consulting with the business men with a view of starting a private bank here.  He secured the names of several of the business men and the creameries will decide later.  He will lease the McCune grocery building if he decides to start a bank here."

Ninety one years ago today, on February 2, 1925, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "….Sloan Archibald received a box of oranges from his son, Russell Archibald, who is spending the winter in Florida."

Sixty-four years ago today, on February 3, 1952, as later reported in the Delaware Republican-Express, "Clayton Thomas and George Storie motored to Forest City, Pa."

195 years ago today, on February 4, 1821, John Fuller died. The death notice in the Delaware Gazette: "In Bovina…after a short illness, which he bore with christian fortitue and resignation, Mr. John Fuller, aged 20 years, son of Mr. Elihu Fuller."

165 years ago today, on February 5, 1861, this report of accounts for the 10 common school districts in Bovina was certified as correct by the town board. 

Eighty two years ago today, on February 6, 1934, Archibald Phyfe died. Born in 1848, he spent his whole life in Bovina, most of it on the family farm. He married Mary Ormiston in 1875 and was widowed 10 years later. His sister Sarah moved in with him to help raise his two daughters. On February 4, 1928, Archie and his sister were overcome by coal gas. He survived but Sarah died. More about the tragedy involving Sarah can be found in the Bovina NY History Blog at http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/02/dangers-of-coal-gas.html

148 years ago today, on February 7, 1868, the town auditors of Bovina pass a resolution to pay to Peter Clark $12 from the dog fund to cover "damages sustained by him in June 1860 for sheep killed by unknown dogs." 

Ninety five years ago today, on February 8, 1921, David Sloan of Crested Butte, Colorado passed away. The Andes Recorder reported his death under the headline "Former Bovina Man is Dead." The paper noted that Sloan was the "assistant sergeant at arms of the state senate…" He died "at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James M. Gladstone, with who he resided during the session of the legislature." He died of pneumonia and was buried in Gunnison, Colorado. Born in Ireland 77 years earlier, he settled in Bovina where he was a shoemaker for a number of years. His shop was at the entrance to the Bovina creamery on what is now the home of Dick and Carol Brannen. He went to Colorado in the 1890s where "for a long period was employed as watchman for the Colorado Fuel and Iron Col at its Crested Butte mines." He was a widower, survived by a son in Iowa and three daughters all in Colorado.

152 years ago today, on February 9, 1864, Michael Miller signed this oath of office as town clerk for the Town of Bovina. He would serve for one term. 

118 years ago today, Maggie Coulter recorded the following in her diary for February 10, 1898: "Cloudy this morning rained a little this forenoon. Fogy this afternoon & evening. Liddle's stayed all night here. Went over to Steven Russell's for dinner. Had potatoes, scalloped oysters, pressed chicken & Bread first course. Second course biscuits, 4 kinds of cake, peach cauce and oranges. Present at Russell's were Rev. Samson, Rev. Slater, Mrs. Samson, Frank & Addie Russell, Mary Coulter, Mrs. David Oliver Sen., John A. Russell wife and sons, Frank Armstrong, Mary Armstrong, Walter Coutler, Herman Coulter, Edwin Russell, Lena Russell, Mary Anne Russell, Mrs. John G. Russell, Will Russell, George Russell, Steven Russell, Mary Russell, Joe McNally, Maggie Russell." Maggie later married J. Russell Boggs and died in 1951. Thank you to her granddaughter, Barbara Boggs Ide for donating her grandmother's diaries.

Sixty seven years ago today, the February 11, 1949 Bovina column in the Catskill Mountain News reported that "William Parsons was in the Margaretville hospital two days last week for a checkup. He has not been in his usual health all winter." Bill recovered, surviving until 1962.

132 years ago today, at the annual town meeting held on February 12, 1884, this slate of officers was elected to local offices. Also during this meeting, a resolution was passed to elect only one overseer of the poor. This document has an error that first started sometime in the 1840s. The mention of the act of the legislature is a reference to the creation of Bovina on February 20, 1820. At some point after 1840, someone's handwriting confused later clerks, who misread 1820 as 1840. 

134 years ago today, Alexander Storie wrote in his diary for Monday, February 13, 1882 the following: "Thawed all last night. The fields are partly bare. Rained heavy most of the day. High water in PM. Wind S."

Ninety five years ago today, February 14, 1921, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Mrs. John Hilson gave a Valentine party to 16 friends…"

Sixty five years ago today, the February 15, 1951 Bovina column in the Delaware Republican-Express reported that "Last week the Bovina Center Co-Operative Dairy, Inc. again paid a thirteenth check to its patrons for milk delivered. A total of $19,410.00 or $.02 1/2 per dollar value of all milk delivered at the plant during the year 1950 was paid." The paper went on to note that "Over the period of the past eight years the Bovina Center Co-Operative Dairy, Inc. has paid its patrons  total of $290,000.00 in thirteenth checks and special premiums or an average of $.234 per cwt. for all milk delivered at the plant during that time."

122 years ago today, the February 16, 1894 Andes Recorder in its Bovina column reported that "The plasterers are at work on Peter McNair's new home." This home is on Maple Avenue, now owned by Steve and Maureen Roberts. The same column also reported that "J.P. Dennis intendes (sic) putting in a shingle mill in the near future. Bovina already has one shingle mill."

191 years ago today, on February 17, 1825, Margaret McCune was born in Bovina, the daughter of John McCune (1794-1850) and Catherine McNaught (1796-1874). She married John Bramley in 1847 and had nine children. She died a little over two weeks after her husband in the fall of 1899, survived by four of her nine children.

Ninety years ago today, on February 18, 1926, as later reported in the Bovina column of the Andes Recorder, "Mrs. Isaac Mitchell underwent an operation for appendicitis at the Delhi hospital…"

Sixty two years ago today, on February 19, 1954, the Bovina Fire Department held its annual pancake supper in the church parlors, with serving starting at 6:30 p.m.

Forty-one years ago today, the February 20, 1975 Delaware Republican-Express had as a front page story entitled "Bovina's Country Cupboard: Reflective of Community." The article reported on the Bovina Historical Society's cookbook, entitled Bovina's Country Cupboard. The article included this photograph of some of the committee members, namely, Ann Finn, Marjorie Russell, Marie Burns and Barbara Hilson. The committee also included Bea Thomson.

173 years ago today, on February 21, 1843, Walter Stott, Jr, the Commissioner of Common Schools in Bovina certified an alteration in school district 10, transferring James Aitkins from district 10 to district 2 (which was located in the area of Pink Street). 

171 years ago today, on February 22, 1845, James Coulter signed this oath of office as town supervisor. It was notarized by Edward McKenzie, the Town Clerk. Both men later in the year would get involved with the Anti-Rent War and would be present at the shooting of Undersheriff Osman Steele. Coulter was arrested and McKenzie was brought in to testify at the subsequent trial.

186 years ago today, on February 23, 1830, Isaiah Laing, the 19 year old son of Rev. Robert Laing, pastor of the Associate Presbyterian Church, passed away. He is buried in the cemetery that was next to the church where his father served as pastor.

Sixty five years ago today, on February 24, 1951, as later reported in the Bovina Column of the Delaware Republican-Express: "Boyce Rosmann moved his family…to Mable Thomson's house. Charles LaFever is now living in the home of his brother, Howard LaFever." The house that my dad moved into was my childhood home. Mom and Dad would live there the rest of their lives.

Fifty one years ago today, on February 25, 1960, the Bovina column of the Delaware Republican-Express reported that "The LaFever Brothers have tapped their sugar maples, ready for the first sap run."

Seventy-four years ago today, on February 26, 1942, Fletcher Davidson found himself appointed clerk protem at a meeting of the town board to discuss the purchase of a truck.  Here are Fletcher's notes written on the stationary of the Supervisor Charles Lee.

195 years ago today, this audit of the overseers of the poor for Bovina, dated February 27, 1821, was issued, noting a balance due of $65.81 to the town. 

Sixty-three years ago today, on February 28, 1953, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Bovina Fire department held a bake sale at Russell's store.

152 years ago today, on February 29, 1864, William B. Laidlaw and David A. Elliott signed these statements requesting to have the $350 owed to them by the town of Bovina as a bounty for enlisting paid to relatives. William's was to his uncle Ebenezer. David's payment was to his brother John A., himself a Civil War veteran who was discharged for disability the month before. David was captured in June 1864 and died in Andersonville prison three months later.