H.E. Boardman, a farmer of Douglas Township, Ida County, was born in Saratoga County, New York, July 9,1841, a son of John Boardman, a native of the same state.  His father, Daniel Boardman, was born in Canada, of English ancestry. The mother of our subject, formerly daughter of Ike Buttles. Mr. and Mrs. Boardman removed to Lee County, Illinois, when that locality was new and wild, settling near Paw Paw Grove, and they were also among the early pioneers of Benton County, Iowa.  The parents reared a family of ten children, of whom one son, John, was a soldier of the late war, in the Sixth Iowa Infantry. He was wounded at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and died at St. Louis, Missouri, at about the age of twenty-three years. The father departed this life in Benton County, Iowa, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a farmer by occupation, a Republican in his political views, and socially was made a Mason in New York.  The mother died at the age of eighty-five years.

H.E. Boardman, our subject, was five years of age when the family removed to Illinois, and thirteen when they came to Benton County, Iowa, where he followed the vocation of farmer. In 1881 he bought of Baxter and Reed a farm which had been improved by John Irwin, in Douglas Township, Ida County. Mr. Boardman now owns 160 acres of well-improved land, has a one and half story residence, 16x24 feet, with an L 12x24 feet, a barn 30x24 feet, and his place is well adapted for stock-raising, having three good springs.

Our subject was married at the age of 24 years in Benton County, Iowa, to Miss Rachel Manwell, a native of Kosciusko, Kosciucko County, Indiana, and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Schumaker) Manwell. The father was born in Connecticut, but reared in Ohio, and the mother was a native of the latter State. They located near Brandon, Buchanan County, Iowa, at an early day, where the father afterward died, and the mother now resides in the State of Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Manwell reared a family of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters. One son, Ben, took part in the late war, in an Iowa regiment, and died in the State of Washington.  Mr. and Mrs. Boardman have had seven children; Charles C., Loretta (wife of William Dahnke, of Cherokee County, Iowa), Stephen, George Franklin, William F., Thomas E., and John (deceased at age of three years).  Mr. Boardman is a leader in the Republican party in this township, and has served as township Trustee and Justice of the Peace. Socially, he is a member of the I.O.O.F.