William F. Boardman of Oakland
I have an old book that formerly belonged (per the stamp on the inside cover) to
Wm. F. Boardman
Civil engineer
Room 3, Court House
Oakland, Cal.
Wm. F. Boardman
Civil engineer
Room 3, Court House
Oakland, Cal.
The book is "A Manual . . . of Road-Making . . . of roads . . . and Railroads", by W. (William) M. (Mitchell) Gillespie, 9th edition, 1860, published in New York by A. S. Barnes & Burr. Original edition published in 1847.
So who was Boardman?
Kyle K. Wyatt
Curator of History & Technology
California State Railroad Museum
Note my work address has changed to: kwyatt@parks.ca.gov
My personal address remains: kylewyatt@aol.com
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 4:46 PM
7 Comments:
From: "Wendell Huffman" wendellhuffman@hotmail.com
1867 Pacific Coast directory lists him as surveyor of Alameda County.
The 1860 census lists William F. Boardman in Oakland, with wife Fanny and several children. He was 34 years old, so born about 1826, born in Connecticut. His occupation was gardener.
1870 census finds W.F. Boardman, 45 years of age, born in Connecticut, still living in Oakland; but now a surveyor. Fanny was not ennumerated (deceased?), but children the same (but appropriately older). Son Frank W. Boardman (age 21, born Mass.) was also a surveyor. Living in same household was 35 year old Mich Dennis, also from Ireland and a surveyor. The only women in the household was 21-year old daughter Kate and a servant (from Ireland). Three surveyors, a daughter, and a servant (and some other sons – there was also a Willie). I wonder what they talked about around the supper table. And, if William F. was still gardening, or if he had his talent for surveying back in 1860 when he was gardening, I bet the beds were laid out in nice curves and tangents.
Wendell
See map and 1860 census.
From: "MacGregor, Bruce A" bruce.macgregor@hp.com
With Wendell's lead, I pulled my reprint of the Historical Atlas of Alameda County (1876) off the shelf and found, in the preface, a W.F. Boardman acknowledged as the Assessor of Oakland, "for many years County Surveyor or City Engineer of the City of Oakland, who, from his personal knowledge of the country and familiarity with the records, was enabled to render an invaluable service. He has collected in his office a mass of maps, plats, and useful and valuable information not elsewhere available– all of which was freely placed at our disposal. We feel under special obligation to him. ... "
Bruce
From: "john white" jwengine@hotmail.com
There must have been 1000s of C Es active at the time and few of them famious beyond the local area and maybe not even well know there. The book is familar and the S I library had several copies, I think there is one here in our rare book collection. Best hope to find more on Mr B. is in local history sources , published county histories are useful for such persons. Jack
Many thanks to all who replied. It appears my Boardman was the surveyor of Oakland and of Alameda County. ...
Kyle K. Wyatt
Curator of History & Technology
California State Railroad Museum
Note my work address has changed to: kwyatt@parks.ca.gov
My personal address remains: kylewyatt@aol.com
Does anyone know where to find historical information on the area around Mt. Boardman, including first settlements, miners and farmers?
Mount Boardman
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