The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-06-05


toll OF men, in life's sunshine
and shadows where men strive
and plan together, is found the
loyal soul whose daily benefcen-
ces in their simple and unselfsh
grandeur shame the stories which
lInger upon the lips of fame.
This modest monument would
direct the world to such a life.
Candid, unassuming, free heart
ed, his was a friendship that
came unsought and counted no
sacrifice within its gift too great
to lay upon the alter of it's de-
votion.
"a. ]. Boyakin was born in
Illinois. He was of lowly but
honored parentage-of that loyal
yeoman blood which seams our
whole civilization with that
homely, sturdy strength and
gives to our institutions that pro-
gressive stability which have
been the wonder of mankind.
When a mere boy, restless and
impressionable, he crossed the
plains to find the thrilling life of
the west. In 1864 after much
experience in Oregon and other
parts of the coast, he came to
this state, then territory, and
here he lived and in the soil of
the state he dearly loved he now
rests.
He was, in every sense, a
pioneer He belonged to that
class of men who first pushed
their way into these valleys and
over these hills and into the
mountain Businesses, like the
patriarchs of the other days,
searching for the wonders of a
new world. Rugged in mind
and robust in character, gener-
Gus and hospitable and brave,
those pioneers we're men well
fitted to carve out of the desert
this magnificent commonwealth.
The impress left by those who
have gone cannot soon be effaced
or forgotten and unstinted ven
GRAFTON is the portion for those
who remain; for they have trod
from out the path of life many
obstacles for us who come after
Strong, able, earnest men, their
experiences and achievements
should be garnered and stored as
a heritage for all who shall here
after wish to learn the story OF
the magic building of the empire
of the northwest.
THE sturdy old pioneer who
sleeps here was, in many ways,
an extraordinary man. He pos
sessed a mind of rare native
strength, and his quaint and un
bridled humor, his gift invective
sometimes as remorseless as that
of a Phillips, made him a dread
ed antagonist. In his best day
he ranked with the most effec
tive writer's of the state. 1t was
impossible for his positive nature
to occupy neutral ground. an(
the result was ne was alway:
found in the midst of the conflict
Restless and fearless, he was on
of those who love to test thei
barge in the storm and feel thu
magic touch of the maddene'
waves. True, he was odd, un
finished in the eyes of the world
but from the saddest clay some
times comes the purest gold. H'
was rough, unpublished, just a
nature left him, but he was o
the granite hewn and the flaw
of his superb manhood wer
those of finish and not of WORTH
1.-The moralist may ask cor
cerning another fact and we a.
; know how stubbornly his prou
nature fought against the feal
full weakness of his life and know
too. how the battle was lost. Bu
I even this could not mar his not
, Ter qualities. The treacherou:
climbing, clinging curse was bal
red when it reached the recesse
of his soul; it could not degrad
his manhood, dull his sense
honor or tarnish integrity {
, drive the perfume of brotherl
compassion from his generor
breast. We rear monuments M
! to perfect men; there are non
! but to those who, in life's battle
best preserve the higher virtue
: of human character.
"a. j. Boyakin was homes
q upright, generous, just and tru
There was not a taint of selfis
ness, not an intimation of di
: honesty in his nature. Adve
D sity could not force him from q
0 path of integrity. disappoin
g ment could not warp his rec
s tude of purpose or embitter D
. i-;o1lu cY,irit He was alWa'