Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/393

Rh for the additional reason that it will have a tendency to awaken a renewed interest in early Oregon history among those whose lives have begun since the events of those stirring times which have passed forever into the annals of our state. I have recently spent a few hours looking through the archives of our early history, now in the office of the secretary of state, and found it a very interesting and profitable pastime.

Of those who figured prominently in the history of our early affairs few are left. Our distinguished and honored fellow-citizen, Hon. F. X. Matthieu, is the only survivor of that immortal band, who, by their patriotic action here fifty-eight years ago, made this spot sacred for all time to every loyal Oregonian. He should be comforted by the assurance that he has the united hope of all the people of the state he so nobly served, when his attitude seemed to demand a special sacrifice, that he may live many years yet to enjoy the fruits of his early efforts in its behalf. Even of those who rendered valuable service to the budding commonwealth a decade later, none are in active life now that I recall, except our "Grand Old Man," Hon. George H. Williams, and Judge R. P. Boise. I believe Judge Boise has seen longer service in the public affairs of Oregon than any other man who has ever been one of its citizens. On the twelfth of December, 1853, Hon. J. D. Boon, who was the territorial treasurer, mentions in his report to the legislature that on the seventeenth of December, 1852, he "paid R. P. Boise, per order, No. 21, filed in this office, $300." I think Mr. Boise was elected prosecuting attorney about 1853, and has been almost continuously in the judicial service of the state since, and now, at the age of eighty years, he is physically hale, strong mentally, has yet four years to his credit in his present term as circuit judge in the third district, and is rounding out