WILLIAM B. BOATMAN.

Five miles north of Yates Center, in Liberty township, Woodson County, stands an attractive farm residence which is the home of William B. Boatman. It is surrounded by a grove of native forest trees and around it spread the broad fields of grain and the verdant meadows which are his property and indicate that his life is one of active usefulness.

Mr. Boatman was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on the 18th. of October, 1851, and is a son of William and Eleanor (Callahan) Boatman, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state, where they remained until 1858, when they removed to Illinois, settling in Livingston county. The father had been proprietor of a hotel in Pennsylvania and engaged in the same line of business in the west, conducting a first class hostelry until his death, in 1891, when he was seventy-three years of age. His wife had previously passed away, dying in 1888, at the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are yet living: William B., Stephen and Mrs. Nancy Bostlin.

Our subject, the youngest of the family, was seven years of age when his parents removed to Livingston County, Illinois, where he gained his education in the common schools. He followed coal mining from the time he was old enough to work in the mines until his marriage, after which he rented a tract of land and began farming. He devoted his attention to the

cultivation of the fields in Illinois for four years, but believing that he might sooner secure a farm of his own in Kansas he came to Woodson County in 1882 and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie five miles north of Yates Center, where he has since made his home. He has transformed the place into a valuable property and is now a prosperous farmer and stockraiser. His fields yield to him a good return and indicate to the passer-by the careful supervision of the operator. He is also engaged in the hay business annually putting up large quantities of that product. He also buys and ships hay and his operations in that line are both extensive and profitable. Everything about his place is kept in excellent condition, the buildings are never found out of repair, and the entire place indicates the ownership of a progressive and practical farmer.

In March, 1878, in Livingston County, Illinois, Mr. Boatman married Miss Annie Clark, a native of that state and a daughter of Ephraim and Mildred (Jones) Clark, who were also born in Illinois and are yet residents of Livingston County, the father being now eighty-two years of age, while his wife has reached the age of seventy-eight. They had five children: Talbert, Annie, Frank, Faron and Coe, the last named now in Liberty township, Woodson County. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Boatman has been blessed with two children, but Roy, the elder, died at the age of six years. Clark, now a youth of sixteen, is at home with his parents. Mr. Boatman is a nember of the M. W. A. camp at Yates Center, and in his political affiliations is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker, preferring to devote his time and attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with creditable and gratifying prosperity.

Previous | Home | Next