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

January 4, 1901

·         James Boyd was over at Andes on Friday.

·         Marion Robertson was at Andes on Tuesday.

·         Daniel Fletcher was in town on last Thursday.

·         G.D. Miller was at Rose Brook on Saturday.

·         William Scott was in town from Delhi on Sabbath.

·         G.D. Miller was at Walton the fore part of the week.

·         Mr. and Mrs. George Gladstone visited Walton last week. [This likely was George Gladstone (1843-1927) and his wife Helen Strangeway (1844-1916).]

·         John A. Irvine and W.L. White are candidates for supervisor.

·         Thomas and Frank Miller were at Delhi the first of the week.

·         Robert McCumber, of Stuben county is a guest at William Crosier’s.

·         A son of David Liddle who has been ill with pneumonia is improving. [This likely was Milton Liddle, who would have been 11 at this time. Milton died in 1960 on his 70^th birthday.]

·         Bert Elliott was taken with pneumonia last week, but is now some better.

·         The receipts of the night cap social at Peter McNair’s Monday night were about $17.

·         Monday morning School Commissioner Gow mailed 67 letters at the Centre postoffice.

·         Communion services will be held in United Presbyterian church the third Sabbath of January.

·         John A. Irvine was at Delhi the first of the week attending the special meeting of the county legislature.

·         The records of the town clerk’s office show that during the year 1900 there were 11 births, 4 marriages and 12 deaths in the town of Bovina.

·         Rev. Minch, of Delhi, gave his lecture, (illustrated), on “Gettysburg” last Thursday evening. The lecture and views were excellent, but the audience was not very large. Colonel Cormack was also present and gave a talk on the monument. Receipts amounted to $13.25. [Colonel Robert Cormack was a Civil War veteran who worked for many years to get the soldier’s monument erected on Courthouse Square in Delhi. Sadly, he died in 1903 before the monument was built but his efforts ultimately succeeded with the unveiling in 1906.]

 

January 11, 1901

·         Dr. Gladstone was in town Friday.

·         Alex Hilson was at Delhi Thursday.

·         Rev. Samson was at Delhi Tuesday.

·         James Archibald was at Delhi Friday.

·         Rev. Slater and wife arrived home on Friday.

·         Oliver Dickson was seen in town on Tuesday. James Graham was in town Monday from Andes.

·         A.O. Butts and wife went to Oneonta Thursday.

·         Gideon and B.S. Miller were over at Andes Wednesday.

·         Mrs. Alex Hilson, son and daughter were at Andes Friday.

·         Mrs. William Crosier and son, Harry visited Margaretville Thursday.

·         The week of prayer is being observed in all three of the churches this week.

·         Mr. and Mrs. George Liddle and Miss Fronia Jackson visited in town Wednesday.

·         The old soldiers were entertained at G.D. Miller’s last Friday evening, and were well waited upon by the hostess assisted by Mrs. William Armstrong.

·         At the annual meeting of the United Presbyterian congregation on Monday John Irvine and W.H. Maynard were elected trustees; James A. Gow, sexton; William Hastings and Frank Miller, ushers.

·         Bert Elliott died Monday morning with pneumonia, at Francis Coulter’s in Coulter Brook, and the funeral was held Wednesday afternoon, his pastor, Rev. Williams, of the Methodist church in this village, officiating.

·         The annual meeting of the Bovina Town Insurance company was held on Tuesday and Douglas Davidson and Lancelot Thomson were elected directors to succeed themselves and T.C. Strangeway to succeed Michael Miller. At a meeting of the directors, J.W. Coulter was elected president and R.F. Thomson, secretary.

 

January 18, 1901

·         Burns’ anniversary January 25. [This is a reference to the Scottish poet Robert Burns.]

·         W.J. Doig had a horse die Saturday.

·         Elliott Thomson went to Downsville Saturday.

·         George T. Russell made a trip down to Delhi Monday.

·         Henry Coulter, of Margaretville, was in town Saturday.

·         Duncan Campbell, of Andes, was in this place Monday.

·         Robert R. Gladstone was in town on Monday from Andes.

·         Dr. Seacord and David Draffin were at Delhi on Saturday.

·         Robert Fiero and John Blair were at the County Seat Thursday.

·         G.D. Miller and Lancelot Thomson were over at Andes Saturday.

·         William S. Thomson and James Liddle were at Delhi Wednesday.

·         James Elliott and Mrs. James Aitken were here from Andes Friday.

·         Robert Gerry was one of the ushers at the Vanderbilt-French wedding. [This is a reference to the wedding of Alfred Vanderbilt and Elsie French. Married on January 11, 1901, they had one son, who later became Governor of Rhode Island. Alfred and Elsie were divorced in 1908. Alfred remarried and died in the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915.]

·         Wesley Miller and wife, of Oneonta, were guests at G.D. Miller’s this week.

·         Schuyler Livingston, who resides in the west, has been visiting at Rev. Samson’s.

·         Mr. and Mrs. Lancelot Thomson and Mrs. James Russell went to Walton on Tuesday for a visit. [Mrs. Thomson was the former Anna Smith. There are several James Russells to choose from, but this like was Rose Ann Doig, who married James Andrew Russell.]

·         W.L. White, Dr. Seacord and John Blair went to Kingston Monday, where the former has a lawsuit with a Pine Hill man.

·         W.G. McNee has so far recovered from his attack of pneumonia as to be able to come home from John Irvine’s on Monday.

·         William Fletcher, Thomas Doig and David Taylor and families attended the Taylor-Thomson wedding Wednesday evening.

·         John F. Taylor and Miss Elizabeth Thomson were married Wednesday evening at the home of the bride by Rev. T.M. Slater. [Elizabeth was the daughter of James B. Thomson. John and Elizabeth settled in Delhi and had a daughter, Leona. John died in 1944, Elizabeth about 20 years later.]

·         Commissioner Gow was at Roxbury last Thursday and Friday holding uniform examinations, and about seventy teachers were present.

·         Dr. James Hedley will lecture at Bovina Centre, under the management of the Fortnightly Club, Monday evening, January 21. This is expected to be [the] best lecture in the course. [James Hedley was a nationally known public speaker in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Born in England, he settled in Cleveland. He died in 1916 while on a lecture tour in Oklahoma.]

·         The Sabbath School of the Reformed Presbyterian church recently elected Thomas Russell, superintendent; Alex. Thomason, assistant; Miss Thomson, assistant. In the United Presbyterian Sabbath School James Thomson was elected superintendent; Rev. Samson, assistant; James L. Coulter, secretary and treasurer.

 

Caucus

            The Republican electors of the town of Bovina are requested to meet in caucus at Strangeway’s Hall on Saturday, January 26, at 2 o’clock p.m. for the purpose of nominating a ticket to be supported at the coming town meeting. By order of Committee.

 

January 25, 1901

·         Dr. Ormiston was in town on Sabbath.

·         W.C. Oliver, of Andes, was in this place Monday.

·         William A. Miller was up from Delhi on Saturday.

·         There are a great many cases of the grip in this place.

·         Rev. Samson and wife visited Reb. Welch at Oneonta this week.

·         W.T. Black and wife were in town on Sabbath from the County Seat.

·         H.J. Hewitt was in town Monday as counsel in the Frank Smith case. [H.J. was Hamilton Hewitt, who was born in Bovina in 1872 but spent most of his life as a lawyer in Delhi.]

·         Constable Daniel Franklin, J., was in town on professional business the first of the week.

·         Rev. Williams preached at Andes on Sabbath, and Rev. Piper of that place preached here.

·         E.C. Burgin, F.R. Coulter, F.C. Armstrong, W.J. Doig are candidates for commissioner of highways.

·         Among those at Delhi Thursday were Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Coulter, A.T. Strangeway, John, Samuel and Maggie Storie.

·         Among the recent real estate transfers in Bovina were J. Sinclair Archibald and wife to Thomas A. Archibald, $2700.

·         E. Geo Gladstone, J.L. Coulter and Alex. Myers and their wives attended the funeral of Mrs. Isabella Gladstone at Andes Friday.

·         Owing to the bad weather and the prevailing sickness among our citizens, the Hedley lecture was not very well attended Monday evening.

·         Mrs. R.A. Thomson is ill with pneumonia, and Mr. Thomson is threatened with the same disease. Dr. Miner, of Bloomville, was here Thursday in consultation with Dr. Phinney.

·         For some time William Bennett (colored), who lives in S.G. Bramley’s old house, has been causing trouble by not sending his children to school.  He had been warned of the consequences several time and had each time promised to send the children to school but they would only go a day or two and then stop again.  Wednesday, truant officer B.S. Miller, swore out a warrant for his arrest and he was taken before Justice White, where he plead guilty and after warning him that he would not be lot off easy on a second offence the Justice fined him $1. 

Bovina and the American Revolution - Alexander Brush (1759-1840)

 

Alexander Brush (1759-1840)

I mentioned at the start of this series that we have five ‘official’ Rev War soldiers with Bovina Connections, but there may be a sixth. And that man is Alexander Brush, the first settler in the Bovina Center hamlet. The fact that he may have served in the Revolution comes from his obituary, published in the September 30, 1840 Delaware Gazette.

Brush was a native of Smithtown, Long Island. He came to Bovina in the late 1790s. His obituary noted that “…and when our fathers, few in number, were contending for Liberty and were resolved to throw off Britain’s yoke, he entered the contest and was among those who survived the bloody conflict, and long did he live to enjoy the benefits of American Independence.” Unfortunately, I’m not sure what it means to have ‘entered the contest.’ If he did enlist, we’ve had no luck finding an actual service record. So that’s why Alexander is a maybe on the list of Bovina’s revolutionary war soldiers. But I’ll keep digging.

I did a blog entry about Alexander in 2015 - go to https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2015/09/stories-from-bovina-cemeteries.html to see a bit more about him. 

Keep in mind that there may be other Revolutionary War soldiers with Bovina connections that we simply don’t know about. But I’ll keep digging here too.

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

Here’s what was going on in Bovina 100 years ago this month, as reported in the pages of the Andes Recorder.

January 1, 1926

• Lester Hoy, John McCune and Clarence Becker have recently had radios installed.

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. James Boggs on December 24, a daughter. [This was Grace Edna Boggs, who sadly died just before her fourth birthday in 1929 from a cancerous growth on her neck.]

• Mrs. A.S. Banker and son, Gilbert, spent over the week end with her parents at Pine Hill.

• Miss Maggie Storie has gone to spend the winter with her nephew, Eugene Storie, at Hobart.

• Mrs. Nancy Jane Ackerley, who is a native of Bovina, celebrated her 93rd birthday December 22, at her home in Margaretville. [She was born Nancy Jane McFarland in Roxbury in 1832, the daughter of Robert and Nancy McFarland. She married Jeremiah Ackerly in 1858 in Bovina. He died in 1895. Nancy Jane lived to be almost 100, dying in 1931.]

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are Samuel McCune and wife to William McCune $400; John McCune and others to Paul Fuhrman and wife $1.

• Mrs. Elizabeth Irvine has received word that her son, Wm H. Irvine, who several weeks ago underwent a serious operation at Rochester , Minn., had arrived at his home in Seattle, Washington, in good physical condition. [William’s surgery involved the removal of a brain tumor. He died in Seattle in 1929 from the effects of the tumor.]

• Some of those here Tuesday for the funeral of R.R. Gladstone were, W.L. Gladstone and family and Robert Foreman and wife, Walton; J.A. Thomson and wife, W.T. Black and wife, Mrs. Milton and daughter, Delhi, and many from Andes.

BOVINA MAN DIES

Robert R. Gladstone Passed Away at His Home Dec. 26

Robert Ray Gladstone died at his home in Bovina Center on Saturday, December 26. He had been in poor health for number of years, but death was due to cancer of the stomach.

Deceased was a son of Robert O. Gladstone and Jane Miller, and was born in the town of Bovina on December 8, 1847. All of his life had been spent in Andes and Bovina. December 23, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Thomson and she survives him. He also leaves three brothers, John T. in the state of Washington; Walter L. in Walton; Edward D. in Bovina.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Rev. F.N. Crawford officiating, and was assisted by Rev. G.A. Forbes. Interment was made in the Bovina Center cemetery. 

January 8, 1926

In the town of Bovina during year 1925, there were 14 births, 10 deaths and six marriages.  All the deaths were adults and their average age was 70 8/10 years.  In 1924, there were 14 births, 12 deaths and 5 marriages.  In 1923, there were 19 births, 9 deaths; 3 marriages.  In 1922 there were 22 births and only 3 adults died, but there were 6 infants…..

Births

Jan 10, David H. Sliter and wife, son

Mar 14, Wm. J. Storie and wife, son

March 27, Floyd Lewis and wife, son

May 6, Frank Drake and wife, son

May 25, Wm Fuhrman and wife, daut

Jun 4, Frank Schabloski & wife, daut

Jun 21, Robert J. More and wife, daut

Jun 23, Ralph Barnhart and wife, son

Aug 4, Alfred Russell and wife, son

Aug 7, Alex Thomson and wife, daut

Nov 14, Benson LaFever and wife, son

Dec 1, Henry Monroe and wife, daut

Dec 10, Guy Rockefeller & wife, son

Dec 24, James A. Boggs and wife, dau

DEATHS

Feb 6, William T. Russell, 57

Mar 7, Henrietta Worden, 64

Jun 6, Alfred A. Haynes, 71

Jun 7, Mary Lunn Forrest, 68

Jun 21, Margaret S. Burns, 68

Aug 8, Jason McCumber, 72

Sep 29, James E. Hastings, 85

Oct 7, Frances C. Armstrong, 87

Dec 17, Cyrenius John Hoyt, 53

Dec 26, Robert R. Gladstone, 78

MARRIAGES

Feb 22, Robert G. More and Pearl Ackerley

Jun 18, Edwin M. Burgin and Mary Brown

July 2, Kenneth Kaufman and Edna Russell

Oct 31, Leon Van Dusen and Edith M. Liddle

Nov 14, Louie Helda and Inez Heannings

Nov 18, Benj Scofield and Lena Doig

Married 60 Years

Mr. and Mrs. Thos R. Boggs of Bovina have Family Reunion

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Boggs, of upper Bovina, celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage on December 25, 1925, with a real family reunion and an old-fashioned turkey dinner. The five children were all present as well as twelve of the fifteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. The children are Mrs. Thos Ormiston and Mrs. William T. Miller, of Bovina Center, Mrs. Robert Foreman, of Walton, James Boggs, of Bovina, and Miss Callie Boggs, who lives with her parents. [Thomas Boggs would die in September 1926. His wife, the former Jane Archibald, died in 1930.]

Minor matters

• Mrs. Milton Stratton is visiting her sister at Scranton, Penn.

• Gilbert Banker and Miss Mary Glastone were at Andes on Saturday.

• W.D. Ceas, the Bloomville cattle dealer, was in town the first of the week.

• During the year 1925, Town Clerk David G. Currie issued 75 resident hunting licenses, 1 non-resident hunting license, and 1 non-resident fishing license.

• Charles Thomson of Katonah, NY and his sister, Mrs. Martha Dayton of Peekskill, NY were here last week to attend the funeral of their uncle, Robert R. Gladstone. 

• Millard Hafele, son of Joshua P. Hafele, formerly of this town, was married to Madeline Hartman, of Wilkes-Barre, Penn, December 31. He is salesman for Carr Biscuit Co.

Notice-The annual meeting of the Bovina Co-operative Fire Insurance Company will be held in Hillis’ Hall on Tuesday, January 12, 1926, at 1 o’clock p.m. for the purpose of electing three directors and transacting any other business that may come before the meeting. J.W. Thomson, Sec. [Hillis’ Hall was formerly known as Strangeway’s Hall. It is now owned by Tom Hetterich.]

January 15, 1926

• Communion services were held last Sabbath at the U.P. church.

• Mr. and Mrs. George Russell were callers on Andes relatives Saturday.

• Mrs. William Armstrong, who has been ill for several months, is gaining slowly.

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are James C. Mabon and wife to James C. Mabon jr. $1.

• Mrs. Elizabeth Irvine spent the past week with her son, Dr. Lester Irvine, at Delhi.

• Mrs. Marshall [Helen] Thomson, from Long Island, is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Blair.

• William C. Russell has been called to the home of his sisters again in Southern Bovina on account of the illness of his sister, Mary.

• On account of the absence of the pastor, Rev. A.W. Thomson, there will be no preaching in the R.P. church during the remainder of January.

• The Womans Missionary Society met with Mrs. John McCune Thursday and the Young Woman’s Missionary Society met with Mrs. Cecil Russell the same day.

BOVINA FIRE INS. GO FOR 1925

Report Shows Losses for Year was on $211.50. Directors Elected.

The report of the Bovina Co-Operative Fire Insurance Company shows that during the year 1925, the losses by fire and lightning amounted to only $211.50. The Chase fire occurred in 1924, but loss was not paid until 1925. Below is the report:-

Polices in force Jan. 1925 – 217

Policies written during year – 44

Policies in force Jan 1 1926 – 203

Property insured Jan. 1, 1925 - $778,753

Property insured during year – 164,989

Insurance in force Jan 1, 1925 – 750,835

LOSSES

Eugene Chase, barn 1924, $3,250.00

James C. Mabon, 3 cows, $150.00

C.R. McFarland, 1 pull, $50.00

Henry Hennings, damage to house by fire - $11.50

Total losses - $3,461.50

Tuesday at the annual meeting the following directors were elected: Charles F. McPhersopn, John W. Storie, Fred J. Henderson. At a meeting of the directors the following officers were elected: Thomas C. Strangeway, president; William J. Storie, vice president; James W. Thomson, secretary; Harvey C. Burgin, treasurer.

Warning – Please take notice that the gates and locks at Tunis Lake Camp have been forcibly broken into.  These gates are being repaired and new locks put on.  Anyone trying to force their way or caught passing on these roads will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Directors Tunis Lake Camp, Inc.

January 22, 1926

• Mrs. Douglas Davidson spent last week with Delhi friends. [Mrs. Davidson was the mother of former Bovina historian Fletcher Davidson.]

• Born to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Kaufman, January 16, a son. [The son was named Everett William Kaufman.]

• Alex Thomson has had a radio installed at his farm residence in upper Bovina.

• The Willing Workers held an all-day meeting Thursday with Mrs. Ray Thomson.

• Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Raitt and daughter, Mary, of Andes, were callers here Saturday. 

• Ellsworth Tuttle has been suffering from a very bad hand, caused by getting a thorn in it.

• Sloan Archibald, who broke his hip some time ago, is now able to be brought down stairs.

• Mrs. Lucy Coulter returned home on Saturday from James Boggs’ where she has been nursing.

• Mr. and Mrs. Homer Burgin went to New York last week where Mr. Burgin had an operation for hernia.

• John Northrup, who had an operation at Delhi several weeks ago, returned to his home last week.

• It is reported that the Trustees of the United Presbyterian church will wire the parsonage for lights.

• A game of basket ball between Bovina and Delhi resulted in favor of Bovina by a score of 25 to 18.

• Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dickson, from the Little Delaware, spent Saturday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thos C Strangeway.  [Mrs. Dickson was the former Margaret Bell Strangeway, who was Frank’s second wife and the mother of his children. Mrs. Thomas Strangewway was the former Margaret Doig.]

• Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Thomson and Mr. and Mrs. William Putter, of Hobart, spent last Thursday with Bovina relatives.

• Kestor Signor, well known here, who last fall had his leg broken at Downsville, had the cast removed from his leg last week. 

• The friends of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Thomson made them a surprise party last Friday night on the 10th anniversary of their marriage. [Ray Thomson was married to Ruth M. Joslin in 1916 in Delancey. Ray was an adopted son, born in Bovina to Cora J. Thomson. Ruth was born in Bloomville. Ray died in Sidney in 1975 after spending a number of years in the Unadilla area. It appears the couple may have separated – by 1940, Mrs. Thomson was working at the county poor house in Delhi.]

• Mrs. Fred Thomson and Mrs. Geo Russell attended a home bureau meeting last Thursday at George Hughes on the Little Delaware. [Mrs. Thomson was the former Janet Oliver. Mrs. Russell may be the former Jennie Elizabeth Miller, who was widowed in 1920.]

• William F. Mason, superintendent of “Aknusti” the summer home of Robert Gerry in southern Bovina, is on a business trip to New York.

Enrollment of voters in Bovina – 379 total; 94 Dem; 263 Rep; 1 Soc

January 29, 1926

• David Liddle had a valuable cow die last week.

• David Hoy and Clarence Becker were Delhi callers Tuesday.

• Supervisor W.J. Storie was at the County Seat on business errands on Tuesday.

• Ray Thomson, who was operated upon on Sabbath for appendicitis, is doing nicely.

• Mrs. Andrew T. Doig has gone to Walton to spend some time with her brother, E.F. Thomson.

• The Willing Workers have assumed the expense of wiring the United Presbyterian church for electric lights.

• Ralph Hillis, who now has a garage in the former Strangeway store, is having the floor lowered to the street level.

• Charles Thomson, of Katonah, and Mrs. Martha Dayton, of Peekskill, are visiting their father, Jas W. Thomson.

• Bovina real estate transfers recorded are Dry Milk Company to Daniel Franklin $1; Daniel Franklin and wife to Bovina Center Co-Op Creamery Inc, $100.

• Mrs. Silas Rockefeller died Saturday, January 23, at the home of her son, Guy Rockefeller on the former E.C. Dean farm. The funeral was held on Tuesday with interment in the Bovina Center cemetery. [Mrs. Rockefeller was the former Agnes D. Corbin. She was born in 1854.]

Bovina Center Creamery

Annual Meeting Held Tuesday – Company Now Free of Depot

From our Bovina Correspondent

The Annual meeting of the Bovina Center Co-Operative Creamery Company was held Tuesday. The creamery has the Dry Milk plant paid for and is free of debt.  For the year just closed the company paid its patrons a bonus of 16 cents her hundred on their milk… The directors elected are Frank Miller, Fred Henderson, Fred Bramley, Frank Coulter and Adam Laidlaw. The officers are Frank Miller president and manager; Fred Henderson, secretary and treasurer.

This Day in Bovina for December 2025

 

Here's the monthly compilation of the Town of Bovina Historian Facebook page entries for December 2025.

204 years ago today, December 1, 1821, a seventh school district was created in Bovina in the area of southern Bovina. 

This view of the Bovina Methodist Church dates from the early 20th century. Located across from the community hall, it was built in 1849 for the cost of $1,397. Never as large as the Presbyterian congregations, none-the-less it was active into the late 19th century. By the early 20th century, however, the membership dropped. The congregation was merged with Andes in 1916 and the building was sold in 1921. The building was demolished in April 1926 by Champ Worden, the wood being used to build a barn on his farm (that barn has since been demolished). William Archibald  built a house on the lot that still stands today. 

Seventy-one years ago today, the Bovina column of the December 3, 1954 Catskill Mountain News reported that "Mrs. Glenn Hobbie was the only woman deer hunter in this area to get her deer. She shot a three point buck weighing 140 pounds on Tuesday." Mrs. Hobbie was Anna Boggs Hobbie Lounsbury, who passed away in 2009.

Twenty nine years ago today, the December 4, 1996 Walton Reporter carried the following in its Bovina column: "The Bovina Happy Hearts 4-H club held its first meeting of the year on Oct 25 at the Bovina community hall with 19 members present. The officers elected were: president Tom Weber; vice president Brad Darling; secretary, Beth Rossley; treasurer, Heather Hilson; corresponding secretary, Amber Dariing; news reporter, Leanne Stewart; games leaders, Cody Weber and Jordan Dibble; song leaders, Erin Mcintosh and Linda Darling; and snack leader, Danielle Stewart.

172 years ago today, the December 5, 1853 Bloomville Mirror carried this ad for the sale of a farm near Bovina Center. I'm not totally sure where this was located, but it might have been what is now the Gullow farm, which is about a mile and a half from Bovina Center going east on County Route 6. 

This chauffeur license images of Lester Hoy 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. Lester was born in 1899 in Bovina and was named for his paternal uncle who died in 1897. He married Jean Atkin in 1920 and lived in Bovina most of his life. He died in July 1978 at the age of 78 and is buried in the Bovina cemetery. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

Ninety-six years ago today, on December 7, 1929, as later reported in the Catskill Mountain News, "M.O. Miller while at the farm in Bovina last Saturday was injured by a horse, and was brought to the office of Dr. C.L. Wakeman, who found that his right shoulder had been dislocated. He will be compelled to favor the injured member for some time but it is hoped that no other trouble may develop." This likely is Mural Oliver Miller, who would have been 33 at the time of this accident. He recovered and was 79 at his death in 1976.

176 years ago today, the December 8, 1849 Kingston Daily Freeman carried this small item: "The Delaware People’s Press states that the article about the murder at Bovina, in that county going the rounds of the press, is a base fabrication from beginning to end." This appears to concern the case of Daniel Frazier, who was reported as having killed his father, also named Daniel. It does appear to have been a false article.  Nothing showed up in the court records that there was a murder, though the family appeared to have been involved in a case of assault and battery around this time.

128 years ago today, December 9, 1897, Mary Gordon McLean, sister of Thomas Gordon, wrote this letter from her home in Laurel Bank, Scotland to her brother in Bovina. Thomas had been widowed earlier that same year. She mentions the monument, meaning the one to his wife (and his daughter who died at the end of 1896) and the fact that he's living in lodgings after giving up the farm that had been in his late wife's family. More on Tom Gordon's life appears in the Bovina NY History blog at http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-people-of-county-who-knew-him-will.html.

 

These images of Robert (Bob) Boggs were taken by Delhi photographer Harold McMurdy in the late 1930s/early 1940s. Robert Russell Boggs was born in 1910 in Bovina, the son of J. Russell Boggs and Margaret Ann Coulter. He married Geraldine Edwards (my aunt) in 1933. They farmed on what is now the Dominic Gullow farm in Bovina, NY with their children Bobby and Barbara. Bob and Gerry moved to Georgia in the 1950s, though they came to Bovina in the summer for several years. Bob died in 1991 (his wife died in 1996). Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

Eighty-five years ago today, on December 11, 1941, Celia Coulter sent a letter from Bovina to her friend Marjorie Russell, who was teaching home economics in Ohio. The first page shown includes a comment about getting "a grim set of facts from the news.." Her reference, of course, is to the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7.  "The dominie" she mentions was the Bovina UP Church Pastor, Harvey McClellan. McClellan had tried to resign earlier in the year but was talked into staying. With the outbreak of war and the fact that he was going to be a naval chaplain, the church agreed to his going. I'm not sure about Mrs. Banuat - I think this was Craig Banuat's mother. If she did have cancer, she survived it, dying in 1968. 

Abigail Fuller was born 171 years ago today on December 12, 1854.  The daughter of James Seacord and Esther Close, she married Thomas Fuller in 1878 and was widowed in 1913.  Abigail died on her 79th birthday, December 12, 1933 (ninety-two years ago today).

Twenty-nine years ago today, the December 13, 1995 issue of the Walton Reporter carried this article about Marjorie Russell and Russell's Store.  

102 years ago today, the Andes Recorder in its December 14, 1923 issue reported that the "Bovina Dairymen have received notice that they must put in three tons of ice per cow.  Must want the milk made into ice cream."

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. The farm on the right of the road was the Gustav Lifgren farm at the time the image was taken. The farm belonged to William D. Thomson, Sr. for many years. It later was owned by Gustav and later was the farm of Bill and Mary Inman. It is currently Pepacton Farms, owned by Molly Brannen and managed by her and her son Henry Post. The farm on the left at one point was also owned by Gustav, who had the house built there in the 1920s. He later sold it to Arthur Hadley.  Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

Ninety-nine years ago today, on December 16, 1926, M.T. Hastings sent this bill to Town of Bovina Highway department.  

135 years ago today, the Delaware Gazette for December 17, 1890, reported the following: "For Heresy - Five young clergymen, of whom the Rev. O.B. Milligan, recently of Bovina, seems to be a leader, were suspended by the Pittsburg Reformed Presbytery last Friday. Their offense is in the setting forth their belief that the exercise of the right of suffrage is not sinful, and that they will not forbid members to vote. They made a powerful defense and will appeal to the synod. They claim that they will be supported there by about one third of the clergy. If they fall they will join the U.P. church, and claim they can take their congregations." Milligan was the pastor of the Bovina Reformed Presbyterian Church for in 1887, staying for about a year before leaving in 1888. And go to the Bovina NY History Blog for more about what happened to Rev. Milligan.  https://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2016/11/found-dead-in-his-study-with-heart.html

In 1946, Delhi photographer Bob Wyer took a series of aerial pictures around Bovina in a plane piloted by Eddie Davidson. This shows the Robert Burns farm, which still is in the Burns family today, occupied by Marie Burns. One of the previous owners of the farm was Adam Laidlaw, who was the father of Bovina Town Clerk Margaret Hoy. Before Adam Laidlaw, it was the farm of Thomas Russell for many years. Image courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

This postcard, likely dating from the 1920s or 1930s, shows County Route 6 just off from State Route 28. The house is the Clarence and Frances Burns residence. You can barely make out the barn behind the trees. It seems likely the term 'Bovine' is a typo for Bovina. 

Ninety-seven years ago today, the December 20, 1928 Stamford Mirror-Recorder carried this item: "Walter Coulter, with a few helpers, is tearing down the red barn by his mill. He will leave the basement and is taking the remainder up to the upper end of the village where he will make an up-to-date shop. They moved the large parts of the building with the tractor." This mill probably was in the vicinity of what is now the town highway garage. The building that Coulter moved still stands behind the house next to the Bovina UP Church now owned by Pat Parsons Miele. Walter Coulter was the grandfather of the late Herb Parsons.

101 years ago today, on December 21, 1924, Gladys Reinertsen was born, the daughter of Andrew and Sophia [Larsen] Reinertsen. She grew up in Bovina and married Clark Lay in 1946. She and Clark raised their four daughters in Bovina. Clark died in 2004. Gladys passed away in 2011. Image by Bob Wyer, courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association. 

Jane, the 15-month-old daughter of Walter Coulter and Margaret Storie, died 196 years ago today on December 22, 1829.  Out of the twelve children they would have, four would die before reaching adulthood - a fifth child, their eldest daughter, died six weeks after her marriage.

130 years ago today, on December 23, 1895, as later reported in the Andes Recorder, "Bovina had a case of Kidnapping on Monday evening. Archie VanBramer came to W.B. Thompson's to see his wife, a daughter of Mr. Thompson, and his child and had the child brought out to the wagon and then took it into the wagon and sent his wife to the house on some trivial excuse and in her absence drove away with the child. The child has not yet been recovered. It is thought that Van Bramer hopes to secure money for the return of the child." The Andes Recorder reported in its January 17, 1896 issue that Van Bramer brought the child back "of his own accord, after having caused the family lots of trouble and worry. If he has any shame about him he should be ashamed of his recent capers." It appears this couple was not married. The child's mother was Cora Thomson, daughter of William B. Thomson (1843-1929). The child, a boy named Ray Thomson was about 9 months old at the time of the kidnapping. He spent most of his life in Unadilla, dying at the age of 80 in 1975.

Eighty-eight years ago today, December 24, 1937, Bovina's district 3 school held a Christmas Eve program:

This undated photo came from the Archibald family and shows children at the Bovina District 4 School house, which is now the Bovina Public Library. The names have not been provided, though I think I can see Bob Burns, Sr. and Clarence Burns in the second row. And Louise Hilson, Celia Coulter and Leif Reinertsen are next to each other in the first row. If you all have some ideas of other identifications, please share that with me. 

Sixty-two years ago today, the December 26, 1963 issue of the Catskill Mountain News carried this obituary for Thomas Archibald, who had died on December 19:  

145 years ago today, the Bovina column in the December 27, 1881 Stamford Mirror reported that "Wm. Richardson has sold his premises (the Henry McDonald place) to Alexander Hoy." This property would later become my house. The same paper also reported that "Dr. Dickson has moved his drugs and medicines to the basement of his new building." This is now the Brushland Eating House.

Eighty-six years ago today, December 28, 1939, the Mexico Independent (Mexico is a town in Oswego County) carried this death notice and obituary for W. Elliott Thomson, one of the last blacksmiths in Bovina. He was living with his daughter in Mexico for a few years before his death: 

126 years ago, in the December 29, 1899 issue of the Andes Recorder in the Bovina column, the following appeared:  "A new order just received from the State Department forbids the acceptance of any excuse from pupils except for sickness, and that only on the certificate of a physician.  Take warning."

A notice from the Andes Recorder, dated 158 years ago today, December 30, 1867:  "Estray – Came to the premises of the subscriber, on our about the 16th of December, a Newfoundland dog.  The owner can have the same by proving property and paying charges. Jas. Coulter, Bovina Valley, Dec. 30, 1867." Bovina Valley is now the Lake Delaware area.  And no, I have not found out if anyone ever came forward to claim the dog.

159 years ago today, December 31, 1866, the Bovina UP Church session passed the following resolution: “Whereas Elder Wm Thomson has for the past 18 months failed to perform his duties as an elder and whereas Mr. Thomson has not given to Session any reason for this course, or formerly tendered his resignation of the office of Elder, and whereas it is desirable that there be a free interchange of views between Session and Mr. T. therefore Res[olved] That Mr. Wm Thomson be again cited to appear before Session to either tender his resignation or give excuse for his neglect of duty.  Res[olved] 2nd That in case Mr. Thomson refuse or neglect to appear at the next meeting of Session, his case be referred directly to the Presbytery for its actions and instruction.  Res[olved] 3 That a copy of the above resolution be given to Mr Thomson, with his citation to appear at the next meeting of Session on the 22nd of January 1867.”  Thomson ultimately resumed his duties.  His absence was due to a family squabble that is further documented in the Bovina NY History blog for May 5 and 17, 2011.  http://bovinanyhistory.blogspot.com/2011/05/brothers-in-law-part-i.html