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History of Story County, Iowa Vol 2 by William O. Payne, 1911

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Page 461 of 507

from Clinton county, Iowa, about the close of the Civil war. He also filled the position of revenue collector of the second Iowa district under President Grant. His early political allegiance was given to the democratic party until the time of the Dred Scott decision, after which he joined the ranks of the republican party on its formation and remained one of its stalwart advocates until his demise. In his business affairs he was quite successful and became the owner of extensive and important interests. He died April 30, 1894, on the eighty-first anniversary of his birth, having long survived his wife, who passed away in Lyons, Iowa, in 1857. In their family were three children: Homer C., who is engaged in the real-estate and loan business at Okeene, Oklahoma; William K., of this review; and Charles D., of Chicago, who is president of the Boardman Land & Loan Company, he and his brother William owning a large amount of stock in the company in which Charles D. is serving as vice president.

William K. Boardman was but three years of age when his parents started with their family for Clinton county, Iowa. They traveled by rail as far as Sterling, Illinois, and drove across the country the remainder of the way until their destination was reached. He became a factor in the pioneer life of the community and remained a resident of Clinton county until 1871, when he went east for the completion of his education, entering Dean Academy at Franklin, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated two years later, or in 1873. He then returned to Lyons, now Clinton, Iowa, where he entered the clothing business in connection with William Buell under the firm name of Buell & Boardman. This relation was maintained until 1877, at which time Mr. Boardman came to Nevada. Here he continued in the same line of business, becoming a member of the firm of Ross & Boardman. He was thus actively associated with the commercial interests of Nevada until 1879, when he sold out. In February, 1879, he was joined by his brother H. C. Boardman in the conduct of a produce business, which was carried on under the firm style of Boardman Brothers until 1902, when they sold out. In the previous spring William K. Boardman was stricken with paralysis, which incapacitated him for the active management of business affairs. At one time the Boardman Brothers were the owners of eight creameries in Iowa and also of four poultry ranches in different parts of the state, including a creamery and a poultry ranch at Nevada. In 1882 they erected a large cold storage building in Nevada, which was one of the first if not the first in the state. They are both recognized as men of resourceful business ability and an enterprising spirit carried them into important connection with various profitable undertakings which constituted an element in the growth and prosperity of the communities in which they operated as well as in their individual success. At length, however, disease in a measure cut short the active business career of William K. Boardman. Throughout his active business life, however, he had done much that constituted an element in the county's growth and development and he was entitled to wide recognition as one whose labors

Page 461 of 507

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