[Published in The Yadkin Ripple, August 9, 1945]

More About the Bovender Village

In the previous article I spoke of the children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bovender, and have since been asked to name them.  There are seven living instead of six as stated before.  They are:  Mrs. Cora Norman, of Yadkinville; Mrs. Dora Hutchens, wife of Dr.  Hutchens of North Wilkesboro; Willie and Early Bovender and Mrs. Henry Shore, all of Winston-Salem; Mrs. Arthur Williams and Mrs. Wesley Adams, of the Union Cross community.

A grandson of Bill Bovender, and son of the late King Bovender, is a well known State Highway Patrolman A. C. Bovender, and Yadkin is now in his territory.

Ervin Norman was head salesman for the processed tobacco, most of which was sold in South Carolina and Western North Carolina.  It was transported from factory to merchants and jobbers by means of a two horse covered wagon, taking from one to two weeks to make the trip.  Other salesmen employed were Tyre Adams and John A. Wiseman (all deceased), and D. Gray Hobson.

I have always looked back with pride on the years that Will Hinshaw and I worked together.  He plowed the “wild mare” and I plowed “Charlie.”  Believe me, when you followed those horses from sun up to sun down you felt like sitting down in one of those famous “Inscore chairs” and resting.  Now, Mr. Hinshaw is helpless but his many friends and neighbors remember him as a man of usefulness and wonderful personality.  Perhaps in his almost helpless condition, he may be able to commune with his Unseen Friend which can bring sunshine and hope into his life that otherwise might not have been so real.

I also remember the time when the father of the now noted Methodist minister, Rev. W. L. Hutchens, and I labored together on the farm.  Many the cold early morning we would be in the bottoms, grubbing, when the sun showed its face in the East.  We hope that brother Hutchens tackles sin in all its alluring forms as he did those briers and grubs.  He was an outstanding boy.

Another outstanding person [I’d] like to mention was “Uncle” Jot, the Negro hired man.  He was liked by all his white friends.  It was his happy privilege to spend his declining days in the home of the beloved Rev. T. C. Myers.

Another outstanding personality of this village was “Granny”  Ann Bovender, who lived alone much of the time, but whose doors were always open to those who sought her council and advice.  Her knowledge and skill as a home doctor made her services in great demand far and wide.  She was a great favorite with boty old and young.  She was the mother of “Aunt” Lou Williams, her only living child.

There is much more that could be said and written about this village as it is rich in romance and personality, but for the present we will close the book and dream of the sweet memories of by-gone days and enjoy our declining years with our companion and loved ones, hoping that some sweet day we will be transported to that land of never fading glory.

B. C. Money