Obituaries and Biographies Of Broadalbin

The following obituaries, biographies and grave site information has been submitted by Dave Bixby of Galway. He has spent eight years doing research in the Saratoga/Fulton county areas and has graciously given these for us to use in our researches. If you would like to see how he came about this project and his interests in it, please click here. Many thanks to Dave.

BOVEE, William (Broadalbin - Union Mills Cemetery)

A 10-inch column in the Gloversville Daily Leader of Tuesday, October 3, 1899 gives the following:

BOVEE’S TERRIBLE DEATH

His Head Crushed To Pieces - Particulars of the Fatality

Further particulars of the killing of William Bovee, the Fulton County man whose death was announced in the Leader yesterday, show that Bovee went to Amsterdam yesterday morning with a load of wood. He did not drive a spirited team, but one of the horses was one that he had obtained from a neighbor, and was inclined to jump at the least movement from either side.

While going down the thoroughfare, in front of Hon. John Kellogg’s residence, a board on the front of his wagon in some manner became loosened, and, falling out on the whiffletrees, frightened the animal which Mr. Bovee was driving with his own horse. The animal lurched forward and started to run. The sudden jar took the man unawares, and he was thrown to the road. The team then started at a furious clip down the street. Bovee clung to the lines, and was dragged for a distance of a hundred feet. Still clinging to the reins, he was pulled under the wagon, the wheels of which passed over his head at the forehead, crushing the skull in a horrible manner. The whole top of his head was laid open, causing his brains to ooze out.

Quickly a large crowd collected around the prostrate form. Dr. French was called, but life was quite extinct, death being almost instantaneous.

The team continued its mad flight down Church Street, scattering large sticks of cord wood along the road. At the intersection of East Main Street, one of the horses fell, and the other fell just after passing over the electric car tracks, this bringing the wagon to standstill just at the curbing. The horses escaped with only slight injuries, and were taken to the Chase livery on Grove Street. The wagon was badly wrecked.

Coroner Rulison was notified of the fatality, and was soon upon the scene. He ordered the remains removed to the morgue of Undertaker Charles A. Lutten. Some time elapsed before the arrival of an ambulance, and during that time hundreds of people collected about the scene. Chief Devendorf experienced considerable trouble in keeping the crowd back.

Numerous attempts were made to identify the body while it was lying by the roadside, but no credence was placed in any of the statements made by the onlookers. When the body had been removed to the morgue Oscar Eaton, a farmer residing at West Galway, called there and stated that he thought the remains were those of his brother-in-law. He was shown the body and identified it as that of William Bovee. Eaton was also taken to the Chase Livery and shown the team and identified one horse as the property of his brother-in-law. Bovee was a widower, aged about 60 years. He resided with a sister at Union Mills. His relatives at the time were notified by Mr. Eaton. Coroner Rulison decided that there was no need of an investigation.

Bovee was brother of Mrs. Frances Ellsworth of this city.

CLARK, John (Broadalbin - Union Mills Cemetery)

Possibly the John Clark who, with John Carpenter, John Schoonmaker and Richardson P. Clark, in 1828 built a paper mill at Union Mills and commenced manufacture of print and book papers. The operation continued until the mill burned in 1840. In 1841 John Clark rebuilt the mill and continued to run it until it again burned in 1867.

To continue the story, in 1867, N. W. Bacon rebuilt and ran the mill a third time until it was sold to W. H. Whitlock in 1874. The mill was run by Whitlock until December 2, 1877 when it burned again.

John was an original member of the Union Mills Christian Church. He also, with William Clark took over the printing office of the Christian General Book Association in 1833, to produce a political paper called "The Banner".

Probably also the John Clark listed in the 1868 Fulton County business report as justice of the peace, postmaster, and farmer of 225 acres, with a Union Mills PO address.

TREVETT, Doris May (Broadalbin - Union Mills Cemetery)

Dau of Harold and Louisa Chetwynd Trevett, born 1925 in Troy, NY. Married to Rev. Albert Anderson for 32 years. Three children - Sharon, Judith, and Mark. Judith, born 1953, lives in Liverpool, NY. Married, one son. Sharon was born 1949 lives in Tucson, Arizona, 4 daughters. Mark married and lives in Greenwich - 3 sons.

Doris then married Frank Charles Johnson Oct. 28, 1978.

Trevett, Henry Tillitson (Broadalbin - Union Mills Cemetery)

Henry T. was the son of Henry John Trevett. Henry John is buried in the town of Florida, in the Chuctanunda Cemetery. Henry J. came from Newport, R.I. with his half-sister who married Job Easton. They lived in Hudson, NY, and came to this area when he (Henry) was 15. Henry John married Johanna Shipman who was the daughter of Captain Edmond and Rosemond Southworth Shipman.

1850 Census stated Henry T. was the maker of tubs and pails. In 1859 (1869?) bought chair factory on Frenchman's Creek opposite Union Mills Road, originally built in 1827 by Fox and Lyon. He later moved the factory to Broadalbin just east of Thompson Street on Union Street (North side.) Later (1831?) converted to steam power. Trustee Methodist Episcopal Church 1871. Henry lived on Drager Road for a while. Henry T. had a brother Edward S. - not the younger Edward T. in Union Mills. Edward S. also made chairs. See Edward S. Trevett sheet.

Henry T. married Abigail Chapman. Had 5 children, all chairmakers - Jonathan S., William E., Peter, Edward, and Chauncey. Jonathan was his oldest son born 1842, died 12/7/1931. Buried in Gloversville. Jonathan's wife was Mary Sarah Woodard. They had 2 children - Jennie and Abigail.

Henry T.'s second child was William Elezer Trevett. He was born Feb. 1844, died Nov. 6, 1888 of TB. Married Jane Shew and had 3 children - Erwin, Jessie, and John Henry.

Peter Chapman Trevett was next, born 1850, and died 1919. See Peter Chapman Trevett sheet.