The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-05-09

News became one of its staunch sup
porters and valiantly fought for its
principles until blindness forced his
retirement in 1885. During his long
and honorable career as journalist,
he was leader in his party and often
referred with just pride to the fact,
that he had published the News
exactly one third Of century.
He conducted clean, patriotic,
progressive paper and its strong moral
tone made 1t a valuable factor in the
home. To every good cause he gave
his helpful influence, contributing
literally of his means, time and
strength.
When in the very midst of his
activity he was suddenly stricken
blind, his friends viewed the outcome
with alarm but he accepted the afilic-
tion with gentle humility and heroic
fortitude. And he was only So years
old and in the heighth Of his useful
ness But he was an earnest Christ
ian and his sustaining faith never
wavered, growing brighter and strong
er with the passing years. With won
derful proficiency he learned to use
the typewriter and spent many happy
hours in correspondence with friends.
And many, too, were the beautiful
poems he inditeI, honoring birthdays
and other anniversaries.
To be deprived of eyeslght In middle
life is pitiful beyond words to express,
but to Mr.. Boardman came the added
afiliction Of deafness some thirteen
years ago. Stunned by the awful and
sudden calamity, unable for some days
to hear the voices Of his dear Ones his
placid countenance lost its brightness
and assumed a pathetic expression Of
despair However, it was only for
brief period that his brave spirit
dropped under the heavy burden and
he emerged serene and patient cling
ing more closely
ITO the Hand that keeps in hiding,
What He wills"
For blessed with an unusually hopeful
nature he rarely failed to detect the
"silver lining" OF the darkest cloud.
With his speaking tube he was un-
able to hear general conversation, be-
ing entirely cut off from all public
entertainment. This was sore trial
to him as he loved his church and had
long been faithful attendant. But
he found comfort in the Holy Commu-
nion and whenever possible partici-
pated In that service, his patient
resignation touching many hearts
while he waited its ministration.
One of his finest characteristics and
one worthy Of emulation, was that he
invariably met sorrow and disaster
nobly. Truly, I'm ourselves are vic.
tory and defeat" This was a shining
trait that gloritied his closing years
and wrote its beautiful traces on his
face.
One who enjoyed reading to him a
few years since, wrote OF him recently !:
Il do not believe that Of all the men
the world has given there has lived
one ever with wide influence for the
good, for courage and patience and
good cheer, for righteousness and help
fulness. l loved him. And the privil.
ege Of knowing him ought TO make me
stronger and truer and more helpful. I"
Yet with all his gentleness Mr.
Boardman was essentially a manly
man and had an ineXhaustible fund Of
humor, enjoying jest even in his final
illness. And he never lost interest in
the affairs of the world, listening with
appreciation 70 the reading Of current
events only week before his death
Deeply impressed that the ancient
Empire of China was about to cast off
the yoke Of oppression, he inquired
daily for "the latest news from China, I"
and discussed the outcome with force
full intelligence. So, too, with politics.
He eagerly watched the movements Of
Taft and Roosevelt and with his old
time vigor, emphatically declared his
belief In the President. His loyalty
to his friend, Foraker, was expressed
many times in the wish that he might
receive from his party the nomination
for president at Chicago.
Gods word brought sweet sOlace to
his soul and he often requested the
reading of that song of praise, the one
hundred and third Psalm. Other pas
sages were read to him and favorite
hymns from which he sometimes
quoted, and his beautiful comments
on the Divine Life were inspiring to
those around him.
Thoughtfu consideration for his