Bio: Boardman, Ervin Seneca (History - 1884)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Boardman KEGEL PARKS BARRET JOHNSON LEE

----Source: Thorp Historical Society & Family Records

               The Family of Ervin & Mary (Kegel) Boardman

ERVIN S. Boardman, an enterprising business man of Thorp Township, engaged in mercantile business and cheese manufacture, was born in Thorp, Clark County, Feb. 26, 1884. His parents were Willis and Mary (Kegel) Boardman, the father, now deceased. They came from Olmstead County, were among the earliest pioneers of Thorp, Clark County, Wis. Mrs. Mary Boardman is still living. The following children completed their family circle: Vedell, now a resident of Thorp Township Myrtle, wife of W. S. Parks, of Thorp village Vern, Ervin and Ernest, of Thorp Township Elizabeth, now deceased Cora, now Mrs. Martin Luebner, of St. Charles, Ill., and Nettie, of Cornell, Wis. Ervin S. Boardman finished his school studies at Thorp and started industrial life on his own account at the age of 18 years, spending several winters in lumber camps.

In 1906 he bought out Barret Bros. general store at, Eidsvold, in Thorp Township, which business he has since conducted on a successful basis, having recently enlarged his store to the dimensions of 24 by 60 feet. He also buys and ships livestock and hay, shipping the live stock to Chicago. In 1910, Mr. Boardman started the cheese factory, of which he is now the proprietor, and which is located in Eidsvold. He has erected for this industry a building 20 by 68 feet in size, partly of stone and partly of frame construction. Beginning with twenty patrons, he has built up this industry until he now has seventy-five patrons. In 1917 he handled 187,341 pounds of cheese, and paid out to the patrons of the factory the sum of $44,986.25.

Mr. Boardman was married Dec. 25, 1906, to Tora Lee, who was born in Norway, daughter of Andrew and Emily (Johnson) Lee. Her parents settled in Taylor County, Wis., in 1888, the father homesteading land there on which he engaged in farming, also working in lumber camps.

In 1895 the family moved to Clark County, buying a farm in Thorp Township, where both parents of Mrs. Boardman are now living. Mrs. Boardman finished her school studies at Stanley, Wis., and taught five years in the district schools before her marriage. She has devoted her time to bookkeeping for the store factory. Mr. and Mrs. Boardman are the parents of two children - Evelyn, born April 2, 1908, and Willis, born April 13, 1915. Mr. Boardman is a member of I. O. O. F. of Thorp. The family are members of the Lutheran Church.

Boardman Cheese Factory and Store, 1906

The Ervin S. Boardman Cheese factory and Store at Eidsvold, Wis., 1906. Pictured: Receiving Station: Ervin S. Boardman and Andrew Lee; 3-wheelcart: Vedell Boardman; Steps: Tora Lee Boardman and Jeanette (Nettie) Boardman. Claude Miller and Bill Allen are also in the photo; others are unknown.  Janet Rogalski, a Thorp, Wis. area historian, reports that this building burned in the eighties.

Picture was by Evelyn (Boardman) Richardson, and contributed by Jim Clark and Walter & Minda (Schwarze) Leonhard's Store.

Walter Wartolec provided this picture from a copy of the Northern Broadcaster, Messenger of the Chippewa Valley - Flambeau Country, dated April 3, 1964.

Biographical Research

Ervin Seneca Boardman

Birth: 26 Feb, 1884

Spouse: Tora Thora Lee, married Dec. 25, 1906

Birth: ca 1886, Norway

Name: Willis Clinton Boardman (Father of Ervin Seneca Boardman)
Birth: 30 May 1850 in Tioga Co., PA

Father: Benoni John Boardman

Birth: 18 Nov. 1814, Otsego Co., NY.

Mother: Olive Thompson

Birth: 1818, NY

Spouse: Mary Ann Kegel (Mother of Ervin Seneca Boardman)

Birth: Feb 1861, Minnesota

1857 Freeborn, Minnesota Territorial & State Census 1849-1905, Twp 104, Pg 17

B. J. Boardman 44 NY
Olive 40 PA
Ephraim A. 21 PA
James Seneca Boardman 12 PA
Willis Clinton Boardman 6 PA
George A. Boardman 3 PA
Maryette 1 MN
Alex. Burrell household

1870 Federal Census, Cascade, Olmsted, Minnesota Census Pg 5, June 23

Philo Boardman 50 farmer $13800 PA
Julia 37 PA
Eno 9 female PA
Ida 7 MN
Andrew 4 MN
Jay 2 MN
Malissa 8/12 MN

Martin Boardman 18 farm labor PA
Elhanah 16 female PA
Margaret 14 PA
Hamilton 12 MN

Barney Hackett 50 farmer $8675 NY
Mariah 45 NY
Erastus 20 PA
Mahala 15 WI
Philo 13 MN
Mercy 10 MN
plus 2 servants

B. J.. Boardman 55 farmer $1430 NY
Olive 52 PA
Willis 19 PA
George 15 PA
Mary 12 MN
Marcus 10 MN

1880 Federal Census, Cascade, Olmsted, MN Census

Benoni Boardman 64 farmer all b. PA
Olive 62 all b. PA
Mary 23 b. MN
Willis Boardman 29 farmer all b. PA
Mary A. 19 Prussia
Myrtie M. 2 MN
Vedell 8/12 MN

1885 Minnesota State Census, Cascade, Olmsted, Minnesota

Name: Irvin Boardman
Age: 1 year
Estimated Birth Year: 1884
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: White
Gender: Male
Family Number: 3
Volume: Olmsted
Page Number: 1
Household
Head: W C Boardman M 34y, b. 1851 PA
Mary A Boardman F 27y, b. 1858 MN
M M Boardman F 7y, b. MN
Videll Boardman M 5y, b. MN
Vernon Boardman M 3y, b. WI
Irvin Boardman M 1y, b. WI

1900 Federal Census, Withee Twp., Clark, Wisconsin, Pg. 250

Boardman William b. May1854, 49 yrs, married 24 yrs., b. PA, parents b. PA PA

Occupation: farmer
Mary, b. Feb1861 39 yrs., married 24 yrs. 9/8 MN Ger MN
Vedall b. Nov 1879 20 yrs., Mar1882 18,

Erwin b. Feb1884 16 yrs.

Ernest b. Feb 1886 14 yrs.

Lizzie b. Aug1887 12 yrs.

Cora Sep b.1889 10, b. MN
Nettie b. Aug b.1894 5, b. WI

1905 Wisconsin State Census, Thorp town, Clark, Wisconsin

Name: Irvin Boardman
Age: 21y
Estimated Birth Year: Abt 1884
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Race: White
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Single
Place of Birth: Parent 1: Pennsylvania
Place of Birth: Parent 2: Minnesota
Family Number: 92
Page Number: 450
Line Number: 77
Household
Head: Willie Boardman M 55y
Parent Mary Boardman F 46y
Vedel Boardman M 23y
Irvin Boardman M 21y
Ernest Boardman M 19y
Lizzie Boardman F 17y
Cora Boardman F 16y
Nady Boardman F 10y

1910 Federal Census, Thorp, Clark, Wisconsin

Name: Ervin Boardman
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Marital Status: Married
Race : White
Gender: Male
Immigration Year:
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: Germany
Family Number: 250
Page Number: 15
Household Gender Age
Head: Ervin Boardman M 26y
Spouse: Tora (Tora Thora Lee) Boardman F 25y b. Norway, immigrated 1890, parents b. Norway
Child: Evelyn Boardman F 2y, b. Wisconsin

1920 Federal Census, Clark, Wisconsin

Name: Ervin S Boardman
Residence: , Clark, Wisconsin
Estimated Birth Year: 1885
Age: 35
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Relationship to Head of Household: Self
Gender: Male
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Father's Birthplace: United States
Mother's Birthplace: Minnesota
Household Gender Age
Ervin S Boardman M 35y
Spouse Thora L Boardman F 35y
Child Evelyn M Boardman F 11y
Child Willis L Boardman M 4y9m
C E Haskins M 41y

1930 Federal Census, Thorp, Clark, Wisconsin

Name: Ervin S Boardman
Gender: Male
Age: 47
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Estimated Birth Year: 1883
Father's Birthplace: Minnesota
Mother's Birthplace: Minnesota
Enumeration District Number: 36
Family Number: 212
Sheet Number and Letter: 11B
Line Number: 98
Household
Head: Ervin S Boardman M 47
Spouse: Thora Boardman F 47
Child: Eveylia M Boardman F 22
Child: Willis L Boardman M 15

North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898 - 1994

Name: Willis Lee Boardman
Gender: Male
Burial Date: 20 Nov 1984
Burial Place: Rowan, N.C.
Death Date: 18 Nov 1984
Death Place: Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina
Age: 69
Birth Date: 13 Apr 1915
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Occupation: Farmer
Race: White
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Betsy Arleva
Father's Name: Ervin S. Boardman
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Tora Lee
Mother's Birthplace: