Robert Boardman and Alice Whittle

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Husband Robert Boardman ¹

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           Born: 28 Jul 1842 - Lancashire, England 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 15 Jun 1909 - ? Oil City, Venango Co, PA 2
         Buried:  - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA

       Marriage: 

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Wife Alice Whittle ²

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           Born: Abt 1836
     Christened: 
           Died: Nov 1885 2
         Buried:  - Grove Hill Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA

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Children

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1 F Emma Boardman ²

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           Born: 1 Jan 1864 - England 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Phineas Kendrick (      -      ) 2

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2 M William Boardman ³

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           Born: 15 Jan 1866 - Venango Co, PA 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Eliza A. T. Sampsell (1868-      ) 4

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3 F Margaret A. Boardman ²

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           Born: 19 Jun 1868 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: David Leroy Lee (1859-      ) 5

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4 M Robert Boardman ¹

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           Born: 6 Sep 1872 - Oil City, Venango Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Laura Emma Snow (1874-      ) 6

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5 F Mary Boardman ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: while young
         Buried: 

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6 M John Boardman ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: while young
         Buried: 

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General Notes: Husband - Robert Boardman

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He was born in Lancashire, England, reared and educated there and thoroughly trained in blacksmithing, his excellence as a mechanic proving the chief factor in his success. He sailed for America from Liverpool, and arrived at Oil City, PA, in the spring of 1865, after the flood, landing here at ten o’clock in the evening and paying his last nickel to cross the Allegheny River to reach the south side. He did not know anyone there, but he soon found employment pumping wells along the river, and his skill as a blacksmith insured him steady work, his reputation as one of the best tradesmen in that line being established before he had been here long. His experience was broadened by service with different employers, including David Trax, Cummings Brothers, Mount & Kugler and the B. N. Y. & P. Railroad Company. For a time he worked at Little Washington, PA, and later had charge of Bovard & Seyfang’s blacksmith shop at Bradford, PA, also holding a position with the Oil Well Supply Company at Oil City. During the oil excitement in Clarion County he established a small shop of his own there, at Kossuth, carrying it on for a year; and at one time he had a horse-shoeing shop in Venango County, about the mouth of Cornplanter run. He varied his activities with oil production, having owned wells on the Clapp Farm; the old Homer wells, one of which was at one time the largest in the Oil Creek territory; and at one time had a half interest in wells on the Rynd farm, in the neighborhood of Rouseville. He also did some drilling at Kaneville, Venango County. When he started business at Oil City he had his blacksmith shop in a corner of Joseph Reid’s foundry, on Elm Street. Mr. Reid’s plant was visited by fire, and Mr. Boardman moved to the Third ward, buying two lots which later became the location of the Robert Boardman Company. He sold one to Abraham Logan, who built a woodworking shop thereon, Mr. Boardman putting up a frame blacksmith shop. Both places were burned out, and Mr. Boardman rebuilt of brick, erecting the structure in use for many years and equipped as a thoroughly up-to-date machine and blacksmith shop. He took his two sons into partnership as the business grew, and Walter Lowery was made foreman of the machine shop, retaining that position until his death. With a comprehensive knowledge of the oil business, and mechanical ability of a high order, Mr. Boardman was well fitted for the successful operation of the machine shop, keeping abreast of the requirements occasioned by advances in methods, and able to give his patrons expert service. He had his full share of the local custom, and continued in business until his death. Socially he was prominent in the Odd Fellows fraternity, belonging to both lodge and encampment, and was a past grand of Petrolia Lodge, No. 589, I. O. O. F. His religious connection was with the Episcopal Church. He had no desire to take any direct part in the administration of public affairs, but he was a Republican in principle and supported the party on issues of general importance. [HVC 1919, 740]

1 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 740.

2 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 741.

3 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 889.

4 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 890, 741.

5 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 757, 741.

6 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 742.