146 THE NATURALIST OF THE ST. CROIX 



daylight, and he was esteemed of all acquaintances. At an out- 

 ing of prominent citizens, three years ago, it was decided by a 

 unanimous vote that George A. Boardman, of all men who had 

 resided in the St. Croix valley, had best enjoyed the blessings and 

 fruition of human life. Successful in business, fortunate in family 

 relations, contented in his studies, broad and keen in intellect, 

 varied in accomplishments, stainless in character, observant of 

 affairs, with ample wealth, he was passing his declining years 

 with a happiness that befitted a naturalist, Christian and noble- 

 man. He was the last of the aggregation of great business men 

 of the last generation who won fortune from the lumbering indus- 

 try here. 



He conducted the largest lumber business on the St. Croix 

 river until 1871, when he retired from active business to enjoy the 

 fruit of his labor in travel and in pursuit of his favorite study. 

 He had been a noted naturalist and an authority on ornithology 

 for nearly fifty years. His private museum comprised the finest 

 collection of mounted birds in New England, if not on the conti- 

 nent. 



He had studied the fauna of Maine as no other field naturalist 

 has ever done, and passed twenty winters in Florida and other 

 southern lands in pursuit of his favorite studies. He was a life 

 member of the Natural History Societies of Boston, Mass., and 

 London, England, a lifelong friend of Profs. Baird and Coues of 

 the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, Dr. Brewer of 

 Boston and Charles Hallock of New York. Among his other 

 scientific and literary friends Avere Rev. Dr. Bethune, the eminent 

 theologian, Senator Geo. F. Edmunds, Walter Brackett, the cele- 

 brated painter of fishes, Rev. James Smith of Philadelphia, Prof. 

 Bailey of Fredericton, N. B., Dr. Leith Adams, Judge Ritchie of 

 New Brunswick, Henry Ward Beecher and scores of other eminent 

 personages. 



St. Croix Courier, January 17, 1901 



By the death of George A. Boardman the valley of the St. 

 Croix has lost one of the most aged and best known of its resi- 

 dents. By reason of his extended life and the variety of interests 

 which he touched, added to a genial and social disposition, he 



