William F.J. Boardman Collection

William Francis Joseph Boardman was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut on December 12, 1828 to William and Mary (Francis) Boardman. He married Jane Maria Greenleaf on January 7, 1852. Jane died on August 20, 1899. They had one son, William Greenleaf Boardman, who died May 26, 1908, aged 53 years. Boardman died November 23, 1912 at his home in Hartford.

As a child, Boardman attended public schools in Wethersfield and the Wethersfield Academy. He left school in 1846 to enter his father's coffee and spice manufactory in Wethersfield. Boardman became a partner when the firm, now known as Boardman & Son moved to Hartford. The company expanded to include importing, manufacturing on a large scale, and a wholesale trade throughout New England. He retired in 1888.

Boardman was an original member of the Putnam Phalanx, a military organization. In 1863, he was elected a member of the court of common council. In 1862, he became a director of the State Bank of Hartford. He was active in many business enterprises, including the Hartford & New York Transportation Company; the Merrick Thread Company of Holyoke, Mass.; and the Hudson River Water Power and Paper Company of Mechanicsville, N.Y. He was a member of the Sons of the Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution; the Connecticut Historical Society; the New England Historic Genealogical Society; the Topsfield, Mass. Historical Society; the Ipswich, Mass. Historical Society; the Connecticut Society, Order of Founders and Patriots of America, of which he was an original member and later genealogist; Wethersfield Society Library; and the Connecticut Humane Society.

Source: "W.F.J. Boardman Dies Aged 84 Years." Hartford Courant, 1912 November 25, 5.