Charles Ruggles Boardman (October 28, 1860April 5, 1950) was an

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journalist, businessman, and

Army National Guard The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized Militia (United States), militia force and a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States A ...

officer. He served 16 years as Adjutant General of Wisconsin (1897–1913) and commanded the 64th Brigade of U.S. Infantry during . In civilian life, he was a founder and president of the Wisconsin National Life Insurance Company.

Early life and education

Charles Ruggles Boardman was born in Empire, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, on October 28, 1860, to Colonel Napoleon Boardman and his wife Mary Louise (' Tallmadge). He attended Fond du Lac High School, graduating in 1878. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1884.

Civilian career

Boardman moved to

Oshkosh, Wisconsin Oshkosh is a city in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, of which it is the county seat. The city had a population of 66,816 in 2020, making it the ninth-largest city in Wisconsin. It is also adjacent to the Town of Oshkosh. History Oshkosh was ...

, in 1884 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. In 1884, he was the city editor for the '' Daily Northwestern'', the main daily newspaper in Oshkosh. In 1889, he became the secretary-treasurer of the paper. From 1884 to 1887, he also served as the newspaper's business manager. In 1895, he helped found the Wisconsin National Life Insurance Company. He served as president of the company from 1908 to 1946. and president of the Globe Printing Company.

Military career

In 1879, he enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard, joining a company called the "Fond du Lac Guards" as a private. In 1885, he was promoted to captain. By 1889, he had received a promotion to major. On January 4, 1897, he was appointed Adjutant General of Wisconsin by Governor Edward Scofield. He retired on October 1, 1913. He transferred to the National Guard Reserve on May 1, 1917, and was given command of the First Wisconsin Infantry Brigade. He was sent to France during World War I. While overseas, he commanded the 64th Infantry Brigade as a brigadier general of the 32nd Infantry Division. He was relieved by General

John A. Lejeune John Archer Lejeune (; January 10, 1867 – November 20, 1942) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Lejeune served for nearly 40 years in the military, and commanded the U.S. Army's 2n ...

on August 11, 1918. On August 13, 1918, he received an honorable discharge. He served for a total of thirty-eight years and was one of the oldest American general officers during World War I.

Personal life

Boardman's maternal grandfather was Nathaniel P. Tallmadge, who served as a United States senator from

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and was the 3rd Governor of the Wisconsin Territory. He married Adelaide Ryan Paige on July 13, 1888. Together, they had a son, Robert Paige Boardman, who was also an Army officer. His wife died in 1934.

Death and legacy

He died on April 5, 1950, in Oshkosh. He was interred at Riverside Cemetery in Oshkosh.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boardman, Charles R. 1860 births 1950 deaths People from Empire, Wisconsin People from Oshkosh, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Editors of Wisconsin newspapers Journalists from Wisconsin Adjutants General of Wisconsin Military personnel from Wisconsin United States Army generals National Guard (United States) generals American military personnel of World War I United States Army generals of World War I