----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 04/09/1914

Boardman, Ephraim A. (17 Mar 1837 - 1 Apr 1914)

Ephraim Austin Boardman died at his home in this village (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 1914, aged seventy-seven years and fourteen days. Mr. Boardman was born in Tioga Co., Penn., on March 17, 1837, and was the son of Benoni Boardman, a native of Cattaraugus Co., N.Y. In 1852 the family moved to Olmsted Co., Minn., and in 1872 Mr. Boardman came to Clark County, Wis., and took up a homestead of 160 acres, which now comprises a large part of the east one-half portion of the village of Thorp. Here Mr. Boardman as the fist settler, began to clear land and build a home, and in the spring of 1873 was followed by several others with like purposes in view. He also began handling supplies needed by the new settlers hauling his good from Chippewa Falls, Greenwood and later from Colby, and also became the first postmaster, the place being then known as North Fork. In 1876 the town of Thorp was formed, the territory including the present town of Withee, Thorp, Reseburg, Worden and village of Thorp, and Mr. Boardman was elected chairman, which office he held for several terms. The new railroad came through in 1880 and cut Mr. Boardman's homestead through the center. This progressive period he heartily welcomed, the event being celebrated in a becoming manner by the settlers hereabouts. He was a man of generous impulses and never forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer. He had borne adversity bravely and enjoyed prosperity quietly. He had filled the various relations of life, as son, husband, father, brother and friend, and filled them well. Who can do more? Another name is stricken from the ever lessening roll of our old settlers. His life work was done, and well done. How much this community owes him it is impossible to estimate, though it would be a grateful task to trace his influence in his various characters of husband and father, of neighbor and friend, to perpetuate his name and emulate his virtues. But it comes not within this brief article to do so. Suffice it to say he lived nobly and died peacefully. The stern Reaper found him "as a shock of corn, full ripe for the harvest."

Mr. Boardman was united in marriage with Miss Servile L. Fults on Feb. 13, 1860, at Rochester, Minn., who shared with him the joys and sorrows of life for a period of forty-nine years, and on Dec. 7, 1909, passed peacefully into that slumber which spans the dark gulf between time and eternity. Mr. Boardman is survived by three children, Anson and Melvin Boardman, and Mrs. W.J. Frank, all residents of this village, and one brother, Marcus Boardman, of Rochester, Minn. five children preceded him into the beyond. The funeral took place on Saturday afternoon last from the residence, the services being conducted by the officers of Forest Queen Lodge No. 321 I.O.O.F., of which Order deceased had been a member for thirty years, interment following in the Thorp Village Cemetery.