From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1197
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902

JACOB K. BOARD

   One of the fine farms of Victoria township, Rice county, is the property of Jacob K Board, a well known early settler of his locality.  He was born in Blacksburg, Montgomery county, Virginia, September 3, 1853, a son of James M Board.  The grandfather loyally served the colonists in the war of the Rebellion.  James M Board was early inured to farm life in Virginia, and was there reared and educated.  He had many thrilling experiences during the Civil war, and was much opposed to the conflict, thereby suffering many hardships and dangers.  On two occasions, in order to extract information from him concerning the movements of the soldiers, he had a rope put around his neck, but as he had nothing to tell he was released.  He was an overseer on a large plantation and was a man of sterling worth and of much executive ability.  His death occurred in 1890, in Jackson county, Missouri, at the age of seventy years, and thus passed from earth a noble and upright citizen.  The mother of our subject also died at the age of seventy years in the faith of the Baptist church.  They were the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, namely:  Madora, wife of Thomas Dyerly, who was one of Rice county’s early and well know settlers but is now a resident of Pratt county, Kansas; Paul M, deceased, formerly an honored citizen of Rice county; Elizabeth, wife of Nathan Corder, of Jackson county, Missouri; James M, of Independence, Missouri; and Jacob K, our subject.

   The latter was reared to farm life in the state of his nativity, where he was early taught lessons of industry and economy.  The common schools afforded him his educational privileges, but his knowledge has been largely supplemented by practical experience, reading and observation.  When seven years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Missouri, a location being made in Jackson county, where the family remained for a number of years.  The year 1879 witnessed the arrival of Mr Board in Rice county, where he secured eighty acres of government land, but as the years have passed he has added to this tract until he now owns a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres.  The place is located on section 14, Victoria township, and the fields are under a high state of cultivation, yielding to him a golden return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.  He is accounted one of the leading agriculturists of his community, and his place is supplied with all the equipments and accessories necessary to a model farm.

   In the spring of 1878 Mr Board was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Pickerill, who has proved to him a faithful companion for the journey of life.  She was born in Ohio, but was reared and educated in Missouri, both in Jackson and Jasper counties.  Her father, T J Pickerill, died in Victoria township, Rice county, Kansas, February 1, 1901.  The marriage of our subject and wife has been blessed with nine children, two sons and seven daughters, namely:  Maude, Nora, Fred, Bessie, Bertha, Frank, Pearl, Beulah and Flora.  For many years Mr Board was identified with the Democratic party, but is now a Populist.  He has served for a number of years as a member of the school board, the cause of education ever finding in him a warm friend.  Mr Board is universally honored and esteemed, and his record is one which reflects credit upon himself and does honor to the commonwealth in whose progress and welfare he is so deeply concerned.