Jackson County IA Archives Obituaries.....Boardman, William Chaplin April 28, 1884
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Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com January 21, 2010, 5:38 am

Jackson Sentinel, April 28, 1884
Jackson Sentinel, Maquoketa, Iowa, May 8, 1884

OBITUARY

William Chaplin Boardman was born in Norwich, Vermont, March 22nd 1804. He was 
married to Mary Benton, February 22, 1831. He departed this life April 28th, 
1884, aged 80 years 1 month and 6 days. The first of the American branch of 
the family settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, only 17 years after the 
Mayflower made port in the New World and a grandmother of the departed was a 
lineal descendant of Governor John Carver who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. 
Thus Thomas C. Boardman was of both Puritan and Pilgrim stock, like those 
rugged men he had a will of his own, and like them, life with him, was a long 
battle with spiritual foes. Though in this struggle he would have been the 
last man to claim that he was always victorious, there can be no doubt that he 
proposed to be a Christian man. He confessed this purpose by uniting with the 
church in his early life and constant attendance upon divine worship. He went 
to meeting the Sabbath after he was 80 years old at considerable risk to 
himself. It was his last appearance at a public gathering.

His interest in religious philanthropic affairs revealed itself in acts more 
than in words. After the departure of his wife his main responsibility seemed 
to be to make good disposition of  his property when he should cease to need 
it. More than a year before his death he deeded a Parsonage to the 
Congregational Society on condition of receiving interest on the cost until 
his departure. He made a bequest of $1,000 to the cause of the Foreign 
Missions and willed a like amount to the Iowa Congregational Home Mission 
Society. He also gave $5,000 for the public library in Maquoketa, and $1,000 
for the education of a son of his pastor. These acts speak for themselves.  
May his mantle fall on men of modest means and men of large means here and 
everywhere!

We shall see him carrying flowers to Mary’s grave no more. We shall miss him 
swinging his cane along the street day by day, hereafter. On the Sabbath his 
pastor will no more look down upon his beautiful white head bowed in worship, 
or shining in the light streaming through his memorial window. His work seems 
to be done but his influence will remain. His purpose to be a Christian man 
will affect us still. His use of his means to give this place a good Public 
Library will constantly bless the homes of Maquoketa and his beneficent plans 
will go forward on their mission of mercy and shed their fragrance on his 
memory.


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