Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 5

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1 > Part 5

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Joseph Bordman was chosen Deputy to the Gen- eral Court from Wethersfield, October, 1754, Jan- uary, 1755, March, 1755, October, 1759, and May 1760. He was one of the largest contributors to the fund raised for building the present Congregational church in Wethersfield in 1761. (Corner Stone.)

His wife Mary died April 30, 1769. He died Jan. 19, 1771. Their children were Mary, Sarah, Eunice, Hannah, Levi, Rhoda, Samuel and Abi- gail. All lived to marry. Mary ( Belden) Bord- man was descended in the fourth generation from Richard Belden, an early settler of Wethersfield. The records concerning him are few. He owned April 7, 1641, eight pieces of land including a homestead situated on the east side of Broad street, on the north corner of Plain Lane. He was chosen town herder March 16, 1646. It was his duty to keep watch over the herd and give immediate warning to the inhabitants of wolves or other dangers threat- ening the stock, his compensation being in "four equal payments." "On fourth in wheat, on fourth in pease, on fourth in barley, on fourth in Indian, sound, dry and well drest." That this was not an easy task we may readily infer from the fact that, the year following, four herders were elected. He died in 1655, the inventory of his estate was taken Aug. 22d of the same year. Mary (Belden) Bord- man's line of descent is through Joseph (III), John (II), Richard (I).

(IV) LEVI BORDMAN, son of Joseph and Mary (Belden ) Bordman, was born in Wethersfield, May 6, 1739. He married April 23, 1761, Esther Bord- man, born Dec. 22, 1743, daughter of Gamaliel and. Sarah (Sherman) Bordman, of Newington, and great-great-granddaughter of Samuel Boreman, the settler. He died March 22, 1782. Esther. his wid- ow, married ( second) Nov. 11, 1784, William War- ner, and died Sept. 1, 1797. The children of Levi and Esther were Joseph, Levi, Sarah, Sarah, Simeon and Joseph Simeon-Levi and Joseph Simeon, only, living to maturity.

Levi Bordman was a prominent man of his day in Wethersfield. He was chosen one of the se- lectmen of Wethersfield in December, 1773. 1774. and 1775, and in this official capacity he certified to the muster roll of Capt. John Chester's Company of one hundred and fifteen men, at the starting of that body for the relief of Boston, in the Lexing- ton Alarm in April, 1775. In this company were Samuel, Elijah, Return and Samuel Bordman (2d). In 1774 he was one of the contributors to a fund " to relieve and encourage the inhabitants of Boston under their unparalelled suffering in the General Cause of American Liberty." In the year follow- ing he assisted his brother Samuel in erecting a saltpetre manufactory, near the foot of Broad street, in Wethersfield, and furnished material nec- essary in the manufacture of this article, large quan- tities of which were made for use in the Revolution- ary war. Levi and Samuel Bordman also built and owned the sloop "Ann" (Lemuel Deming, mas-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ter ), which was used to convey a company of sev- enty-two soldiers, under the command of Capt. John Hammer, from Wethersfield to New York, at the time of the Long Island invasion Aug. 23, 1776. It is a family tradition that Levi Bordman served in the war of the Revolution. The fact that he pos- sessed a full military equipment, including a breast plate marked "L. Bordman," adds not a little to the truth of this tradition.

During a portion of his life, at least, Levi Bord- man was a school master, and sometimes received pupils at his home for instruction. It is known that he taught the South School in Wethersfield in 1771, and the Broad Street School in 1778. His library included books in the Greek and Latin languages, indicating that he was a man of liberal education.

Mr. Bordman is said to have lived some years after his marriage in the house of his ancestor, Samt- uel Boreman (I), corner of Broad street and Fletch- er Lane. Included in the inventory of his property was an "old tavern sign," which leads to the conjec- ture that he kept a public house there, for it is known that the building was used for that purpose. It is believed that Mr. Bordman was keeping this tavern when on September 19, 1765, Stamp-Master Jared Ingersoll, of New Haven, on his way to Hartford, was forced by the "Sons of Liberty," who had gath- ered under the great Elm tree in front of Col. John Chester's house, next adjoining, to enter this tavern, and there sign a written resignation of his office.

Esther Bordman was helpful to the soldiers dur- ing the War of the Revolution in assisting them to join their regiments, in boarding, washing and mending their clothes, &c. Her line of descent is through Gamaliel ( IV), Richard (I11), Daniel (11), Samuel (I).

(V) JOSEPH SIMEON BOARDMAN, son of Levi and Esther ( Bordman ) Boardman, was born in Wethers- field, Conn., May 3, 1780. He married July 31, 1803. Lucinda, daughter of Joseph and Hannah ( Harrison) Canfield, of Salisbury, Conn., born 1786. He was a cordwainer by trade. Early in 1804 he re- moved to Lenox, Mass., where he successfully en- gaged in the business of tanning leather. Late in the following year he returned to his native town, and for some years lived on the west side of the high- way leading from Broad street to South Lane, next north of the Appleton Robbins place. In 1816 he purchased his father's old homestead on Broad street, where he resided until his death.

After his return from Lenox he devoted liis at- tention somewhat to the shipping business, then of considerable local importance. An examination of his account books and diaries show him to have been very careful and accurate in his business habits. From them, it is learned that he spent a portion of his time at his trade, and that he was also engaged in shipping large quantities of onions, then the staple crop of Wethersfield, to New York, and there selling them on commission. It was while acting as super- cargo on board the sloop "Eliza" (David Moul-

throp, captain), on her passage to New York, that he lost his life by shipwreck on Long Island Sound on the night of November 13, 1827, all on board being lost. His body was recovered at Huntington, L. 1., and buried in Wethersfield. His widow married Sept. 19, 1832, Ezra L'Hommedieu, of Chester, where she died March 6, 1850, and was buried in Wethersfield.

Mr. Boardman was a gentleman of strong re- ligious convictions. He and his wife became mein- bers of the Congregational Church in 1816, and throughout their lives were zealous workers in the cause of religion. Mr. Boardman's private diary, from which extracts of considerable length are given in the Boardman Genealogy, is a witness to the earnestness and sincerity of his Christian life. Their children were William, Hannah, Joseph, Jo- seph Canfield and Maria Lucinda.

Lucinda (Canfield) Boardman was of the sixth generation from Sergt. Thomas Canfield, who was born in England and settled in Milford, Conn., in or before 1646, and was granted a house lot and two acres of land by the town, December 31, 1646. He also received from the town four acres of land for supporting a gate at New Field. He became a mem- ber of the church in Milford, March 1, 1656, and was appointed by the General Court May 13, 1669, sergeant of the train band of Milford. He was elected Deputy to the General Court from Milford in 1073. 1674 and 1676. Hle died in 1689. llis wife, Phebe Crane, whom he married probably before 1650, was perhaps the sister of Benjamin Crane, of Wethersfield. Her will was made July 29, 1690. Lucinda Canfield's line of descent is Joseph (V), Joel (1\'), Thomas ( 111), Thomas ( 11), Thom- as (I).

(VT) WILLIAM BOARDMAN, son of Joseph Sim- eon and Lucinda (Canfield ) Boardman, was born Feb. 25, 1805, in Lenox, Mass., where his father was then for a short time residing. Young Boardman re- ceived his education in the best schools of Weth- ersfield. At the age of sixteen he began learning the printer's trade in the office of the Hartford Times, then owned and published by Samuel Bowles and John Francis. In the summer of 1824, when Mr. Bowles started the Springfield Republican, Mr. Boardman went with him to Springfield, the removal being accomplished by placing the press, with all ar- ticles necessary for use in the business, and the household furniture on a flatboat, in which they were poled up the Connecticut river. He boarded in the family of his employer, and set up and printed a part of the first issue of the Springfield Republi- can, which has since become one of the leading news- papers of New England. In 1828, in company with William Faulkner, of Norwich, under the firm name of Boardman & Faulkner, he began the publication of the Norwich Republican, of which he was also the editor. This was the second paper in Connecti- cut to support the election of Andrew Jackson for the Presidency. Ill health obliged Mr. Boardman

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to retire from his position after the first year. In 1830 he published the Tolland Advocate for an asso- ciation of gentlemen in Tolland, Conn. In 1832, in company with Alfred Francis, he published the life, writings and opinions of Thomas Jefferson, written for them by B. L. Rayner, the printing, binding, etc., being all done in Wethersfield. In 1834, Mr. Boardman was employed by John Rus- sell, then editor and publisher of the Hartford Times, as foreman of the establishment.

In 1841, in company with John Fox, Mr. Board- man started in Wethersfield, in connection with a successful grocery business, the first manufactory in New England, outside of Boston, for the roasting, grinding, and packing of coffee and spices for the wholesale trade. This partnership was dissolved in October, 1844, and January 1, 1845, Mr. Board- man undertook the same business on his own ac- count, which he removed in 1850 to Hartford, lo- cating at No. 12 Central Row, where he associated with himself his son, W. F. J. Boardman, under the firm name of Wm. Boardman & Son. Steam power and modern machinery were introduced, and the firm did a large business in several States of the Union, and especially in New York City, where a considerable amount of the goods manufactured were sold. The coffee used at the opening of the Crystal Palace in New York, July 14. 1853, was furnished by them. Probably the first invoice of ground and prepared coffee sent to California was from this firm. Still larger accommodations being needed, the store and manufactory were removed, in 1853, from Central Row to what is now No. 241 State street. The building was bought and fitted up with a twenty-five horse power engine, and with all the new and improved machinery for the successful carrying on of the business. At this time Mr. Boardman's second son, Thomas J., was ad- mitted to the firm, and its name was changed to Win. Boardman & Sons. The building, occupied, consist- ed of four stories, with a store-house of two stories in the rear. In 1858, two stories in an adjoining building were leased, and teas were added to the stock in trade. Travelling salesmen were employed, and a large business was done throughout New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut, thousands of chests being sold yearly. In 1867 the business was removed from No. 241 to No. 205 State street, corner of Front, the old store being retained for the manufacturing and stor- age of goods. This added four stories, 30x80 feet, to the space formerly occupied. In 1871, the brown stone building. Nos. 298-306 Asylum street, was erected for the business ; it measured 52x100 feet, and was five stories high besides a basement, with the manufactory in the rear of three stories, 30x40 feet. The cost was over $100,000, and it was the finest private building then in the city. The firm removed to it April 1, 1872, new machinery being added, making it the most complete manufactory of its kind in New England. Here they continued to

do a large and successful business as wholesale dealers and importers of teas, coffees and spices, and as dealers in cigars, tobacco and grocers' sundries. On July 9, 1888, after the death of the senior part- ner, William F. J. Boardman retired from the firm -the business then for a time being carried on by the younger of his two sons, Thomas J., and his son, Howard F., under the old firm name out of respect for its founders. On Jan. 1, 1897, the business was incorporated under the name of The Wm. Boardman & Sons Co., of which Thomas J. Board- man is President; A. H. Bronson, Secretary, and H. F. Boardman, Treasurer.

William Boardman was interested in many en- terprises aside from his regular business. He, with the firm, was the builder of several of the finest pri- vate structures in Hartford. He also, in company with others, constructed several vessels of large size, one of which was named the "William Board- man." He was one of the originators of and sub- scribers to The Merrick Thread Co., of Holyoke, Mass., and one of its directors; also of the Hart- ford and New York Steamboat Co., the Comstock & Ferre Seed Co., Bank of Hartford County (Amer- ican National), Merchants and Manufacturers Bank (First National), Orient Fire Insurance Co., Ale- chanics Bank & Building Association, and Hudson River Water Power & Paper Co. He was an orig- inal subscriber to the stock of the City Fire Insur- ance Co., Merchants Fire Insurance Co., Phoenix Fire Insurance Co., and Hartford Engineering Co. In 1836, and for several years after, he was secre- tary and director of the Wethersfield Mutual Fire Insurance Co. He also assisted in the formation of many industries, both of a private and public char- acter, and did much to advance the interests of his adopted city. He settled many estates, was a direc- tor in insurance companies, manufacturing cor -: porations, and banks. He was largely interested in proving the feasibility and cheapness of peat as fuel. He was associated with Henry Martin in manufacturing the first power machines for making brick in this country ; was general agent and mana- ger of the Holbrook School Apparatus Company for the manufacture of instruments showing the revolu- tions of the solar system, and of other instruments connected with the education of children. He was president of the Hartford Associated Coal Company. a company which was formed just after the Civil War, to enable consumers to receive their coal at the cost of mining, etc., which, owing to the general collapse in mercantile values. did not prove a suc- cess. Mr. Boardman filled all these places of trust with honor and fidelity. His advice was often sought in business and other matters, and cheerfully and honestly given. He held other offices in earlier life, such as State prison director in 1834, town constable and collector in 1835-36-37, representative in the Legislature from Wethersfield in 1852, where he was on several important committees, and was again appointed State prison director, and also com-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

missioner for Hartford county, by Gov. Thomas H. Seymour. After his removal to Hartford, in 1858, he invariably refused public office. He was a life-long Democrat, a firm Union man, and a sub- scriber to The Hartford Times front 1820 to 1889. In 1858 he assisted J. M. Schofield in establishing a Democratic journal, the Hartford Morning Post, now the Hartford Evening Post, Republican in its politics. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Odd Fellows, and in the latter organiza- tion held the office of Noble Grand.

"Religiously, Mr. Boardman was a true child of his Puritan ancestry." "To strict integrity, a careful frugality, a true orthodoxy, he joined a clear religious experience." Both he and his wife were brought up in the Congregational Church, but in early life became deeply interested in the Methodist Episcopal Church, then in its infancy in Wethersfield, where it was at first strongly opposed by many of the townspeople, who adhered to the Congregational denomination. At one time when they were refused the use of the town hall for relig- ious services, Mr. Boardman with others forced the doors in order to hold the meeting. The excite- ment at that time was so great that the "riot" act was read to the assembled crowd by Samuel Galpin, Esq., of Wethersfield. Mr. Boardman and his wife united with the M. E. Church in 1838, and remained through life its firm supporters. He helped to re- build its church edifice, and gave so liberally to the undertaking that, in gratitude to him, it was named, at its re-dedication, Boardman Chapel. On re- moving to Hartford in 1858, their membership was transferred to the First Methodist Episcopal Church there, of which Mr. Boardman was elected one of the trustees, and when its new church edifice was erected on Asylum street, he was one of the building com- mittee, giving a large sum for the purpose. When the South Park M. E. Church was organized in 1869, in the south part of the city, Mr. and Mrs. Boardman joined the new movement, and were among the foremost in the enterprise, he being ap- pointed one of the trustees and a member of the building committee. One of the acts of his later li'e was the payment of the mortgage then on the church, thus relieving it of debt, and this on the condition that there should never be another mortgage. He was elected the first Sunday-school superintendent, continuing in that capacity until infirmity and ad- vancing age compelled his resignation. In 1885, after the death of his wife, he built the Boardman Memorial Chapel, adjoining the church, in remem- brance of her. It was dedicated Feb. 23, 1886.

The liberality of Mr. Boardman was great, and the calls on his charity were many, and freely re- sponded to. By his will he made bequests to the Old People's Home, The Hartford Hospital, The Larabee Fund, The Charitable Society of Hartford. The Fund for Superannuated Preachers, the Board of Church Extension of the M. E. Church, and to

the Grant Memorial University of Athens, Ten- nessee.

On Jan. 3, 1828, Mr. Boardman was married to Mary Francis, who was born in Wethersfield, Nov. 6, 1803, daughter of Capt. Daniel and Mehitabel (Goodrich) Francis, and granddaughter of Capt. John Francis and Capt. Ehzur Goodrich, both sol- diers of the Revolution. Mr. Boardman's married life was a long and happy one, extending through more than fifty-six years. His wife was a woman remarkable for her kindness of heart and her whole- souled liberality. She was never happier than when doing something for the help and comfort of others, and her husband took care that she should never lack the means for her benefactions. She was in- terested in all good works, both public and private, and the extent to which she aided them will never be known, for she was unassuming in all her boun- ties. During the Civil war, she took great interest in the condition of the soldiers, and was one of the man- agers of the Soldiers' Aid Association. But it was as the kind and tender wife and mother that she found her chief happiness, and the best monument and witness to her excellence has been the rever- ent and unforgetting affection of her husband and children. She died Dec. 14, 1884, at the age of eighty-one. Her line of ancestry was Daniel (V) John (IV), John (H1), John ( II), Robert (I). Mr. Boardman survived his wife for nearly three years, and died November 3, 1887, in his eighty- third year. Their children, all of whom were born in Wethersfield, were: William Francis Joseph and Thomas Jefferson, both mentioned later ; Arethusa Maria and Alpheus Francis, both deceased in early childhood : Mary Lucinda, born in 1841, married, i11 1870, George W. Atwood; and Emma Jennette, born in 1846, died in 1860.

(VII) WILLIAM F. J. BOARDMAN, of Hartford, Conn., son of William and Mary ( Francis) Board- man, was born in Wethersfield, Dec. 12, 1828. He was married Jan. 7, 1852, by the Rev. Horace Bush- nell, D. D., in the North Congregational Church in Hartford, to Jane Maria Greenleaf, born in Hartford Aug. 9, 1835, youngest daughter of Dr. Charles and Electa ( Toocker) Greenleaf. Mrs. Boardman died Aug. 20, 1899, aged 64 years. "The world was better for her having lived."

Mr. Boardman received his education in the pub- lic schools of his native town, graduating from the Wethersfield Academy in the Spring of 1846. On leaving school he entered the Coffee and Spice Man- ufactory of his father, in Wethersfield, to learn the business in detail. Four years later, upon the re- moval of the business to Hartford, he was admitted into partnership with his father, under the firm name of William Boardman & Son. In 1853. his brother Thomas J. was admitted a member and the corporate name changed to William Boardman & Sons. This business connection continued with uninterrupted success for thirty-eight years. After

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

many years of close application to business, Mr. Boardman's health became seriously impaired and he found it necessary to take a rest from its cares, at one time going abroad to seek the benefit of travel and change. The result was not entirely success- ful, and, as a matter of physical necessity, he con- cluded, after his return, to abandon all business act- ivity, which he did by selling to his brother his en- tire interest in the old firm, July 9, 1888, after an experience of forty-two years. Mr. Boardman has never sought political office or favor. In 1861 he was chosen a director of the State Bank of Hart- ford, serving in that capacity during the war of the Rebellion, giving to the institution the same con- scienticus attention that he did to his own business. In 1863, he was elected a member of the Hartford Common Council from the old Third ward, in which he was a member of the highways committee and chairman of the committee on the horse railroad, then being constructed, also serving on other com- mittees.

During his business life, Mr. Boardman has been actively engaged in promoting and establishing many business eterprises, among which are the Hartford and New York Steamboat Company, The Merrick Thread Company of Holyoke, Mass., The Hudson River Water Power and Paper Co. of Mechanics- ville, N. Y., as well as many other undertakings in which he shared an equal interest in common with the other members of his firm. He has helped young men to establish themselves in business and assist- ed others in these affairs. He has served on com- missions, settled estates, operated in real estate con- siderably, attended to the construction of some of the best buildings of his adopted city, and has gen- erally led an active life.

Mr. Boardman was one of the original members of the Putnam Phalanx at its organization in 1859, and still retains his connection with this well known Military Battalion. He is a life member of the Con- necticut Historical Society, a life member of the Wethersfield Society Library, a member of the Tops- field Historical Society of Massachusetts, the society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and of the Connecticut Society of the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, through both lines of his ancestry. He was admitted a member at its organ- ization May 9, 1896, and chosen one of its coun- cillors, and later elected Genealogist of the Order. Mr. Boardman has devoted much time and money in collecting and preserving records relating to the Boardman Family, including originals relating to each of his New England ancestors. In 1895 he published "The Boardman Genealogy 1525-1895," a work of nearly 800 pages. He has also published "The Francis-Goodrich-Boardman" Genealogy in his line of ancestry. "A memorial to the Memory of William Boardman and Mary Francis" and a "Com- plete Record of the Wethersfield Inscriptions in the Five Burial Places in that Ancient Town." He has nearly ready for publication, "The Record of the

Ancestry of William Boardman and Mary Francis, showing their allied lines of descent through forty families who settled in New England prior to 1650, with short biographical sketches of each ancestor."

Jane Maria (Greenleaf) Boardman was a de- scendant in the ninth generation from Capt. Ed- mund Greenleaf, who was born in England, and emi- grated to New England with his family in 1635, and settled in Newbury, Mass. He was one of the first settlers or founders of Newbury, and was granted 122 acres in the first division of land there in 1635. From all that can be gathered, it is believed that his ancestors were Huguenots. On the parish records of St. Mary's la Tour in Ipswich, County of Suffolk, England, is recorded "Edmund Greenleaf, son of John and Margaret, was baptized January 2, 1574." Edmund Greenleaf married Sarah Dole, and by her had nine children whose names appear on the record of St. Mary's la Tour above mentioned, all born in England. Mr. Greenleaf lived near the old town bridge in Newbury, where for some years he kept a tavern. He was admitted a freeman March 13. 1639, and on May 22, of the same year, he was "permitted to keep a house of entertainment." He was by trade a silk dyer. About 1650, he moved to Boston where his wife Sarah died January 18, 1663. He died there March 24, 1671, aged about ninety-seven years. In 1637, Capt. Greenleaf com- manded a company which marched against the Indians. On Nov. 5. 1639, he was made ensign of the company at Newbury, and in 1642 lieutenant of Massachusetts Provincial Forces. In 1644 he was an "Ancient and experienced Lieut. under Capt. William Gerrish," was captain in 1644, and head of the Militia under Gerrish, and November 11, 1647, at his own request, was discharged from military service being in the seventy-fourth year of his age. Jane M. (Greenleaf) Boardman's line of descent is Dr. Charles (VIII), Dr. David (VII), David (VI), Dr. Daniel (\'), Rev. Daniel (IV), Capt. Stephen (III), Capt. Stephen (II), Capt. Edmund (I).

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Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 5

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1336

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336