The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1907-05-07
ROydlA.Pi6r6


Royal Abraham Pierce died at
Pocatello, Idaho, Thursday eve
ming, April 25th, at the residence
of his son, A. J. Pierce, and the
funeral was held on Saturday
afternoon, April 9th, 1907.
The deceased has been in very
feeble health for a year past, but
in opposition to the protest of
his friends in Challis, on We'd
nesday morning, April 24th, he
took the stage bound for Boise
City, where he had legal bust
ness before the Supreme court,
but only got as far as Pocatello,
and died in few hours after his
arrival in that city. The hard
trip, his ripe age and feeble CON
dition soon collapsed and the end
came suddenly. He was almost
in a condition to die before he
left here.
Royal A. Pierce, Che has told
us often. that he was born in
Vermont, in 1926. which would
in August next make him 81
years of age. When a young
man he took his departure from
the Green Mountain State and
located near Black Earth, Wis
censin, and engaged in school
teaching and studied law. He
also served one term in the Wis
consin Legislature. In this State
he was married, and two sons
were born-Augustus and Able.
He with his family crossed the
Plains and in 1862 arrived at
where Baker City, Oregon. now
stands, and located the land
which the city is now built upon,
but through tricks and fraud he
claims he was lost the land. He
remained in Oregon till 1878 and
came to Idaho City, and in 1879
located in Bonanza, and engaged
in the meat market business. In
/ 1880 he moved to ChalIis. and
in 1851. May 21st, at the time of
the county seat fight. he started
this paper, which was at that
time known as the Idaho Mes
senger." He has continuously
resided in Challis since that
time, and is known over a large
scope of territory. He is one of
the oldest practicing lawyers IN
Idaho. He was prominent in
politics. and politically a Demo
crat. he leaves, if we are not
mistaken, three sons and three
daughters. About Z or s years
ago he was married to Mrs. Lar
ter. of this county. who survives
him.
/ Deceased was man of wond-
erful strong vitality. He never
formed the strong drink or tob-
acco habit. He perhaps had his
faults, one in particular, but he
also had many virtues.
The Baker City Democrat in
speaking or his death, says
Royal A. Pierce was one of
the first settlers in Powder river
valley. His first camp was made
near the Baldock plscerS north
of the city. Alter inspecting the
lay of the country he came TO
the conclusion that where the
present site of Baker City now
is would be the place for city
if ever one was TO be founded in
this part of the country. Ac-
cordingly he moved his family
from that camp TO this point and
together with the late DR.. ]. NJ.
Boyd, located what is known as
the Pierce & Boyd tOwnsite of
Baker City. A lawyer by pro
fesSion Pierce lived and opened
a law Office where the Kennedy
block now stands. Here he re-
sided until some tiue in the
early 70'S. when he built toll
road from Baker City to Keating
and resided at what is known az
the Pierce farm on lower Powd-
er river. A few years after he
left this country never to return, ,
settling at ChalIis, Idaho.
For the past wear the OLD gen
tleman has been declining. and
the past two months very rapid
ly and had heroine very child