Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/209

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

TWO OF OREGON'S FOREMOST COMMONWEALTH BUILDERS:

JUDGE REUBEN PATRICK BOISE AND PROFESSOR THOMAS CONDON.

Judge Boise served with high and persistent purpose and fine powers of discernment in molding the institutional life of the State, while Professor Condon had pre-eminence as a student and teacher, whose mind penetrated to the mystery of Nature's past here, and who with finest spirit inspired the minds and hearts of its youth. Both passed out of this life during recent months. Professor Condon died at the home of his oldest daughter, Mrs. H. F. McCornack, near Eugene, on February 11, aged 84 years, 11 months and 8 days. Judge Boise passed away at his old home in Salem on April 10, aged 88 years, 9 months and 22 days.

The following account of the life and services of Judge Boise is taken from the Daily Oregonian of even date with the day of his death:

"Judge Boise was born at Blandford, Hampden County, Massachusetts, June 19, 1818. H/is ancestors followed Washington during the War of the Revolution. He was a descendant of the French Huguenots, and the third child of a family of eight of Reuben Boise, prominent in Massachusetts politics up to the time of his death. His mother's maiden name was Sallie Putnam, a relative of General Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame. He is survived by one daughter, Maria Boise, who lived with him to the last; Reuben P. Boise, Jr., a prominent business man of this city, and Whitney L. Boise, one of the leading attorneys of Portland.

"Judge Boise was educated in the public schools of Blandford, and was graduated from Williams College with the degree of A. B.. in 1843. He taught school in Missouri one year, and then read law under his uncle, Patrick Boise, of Westheld, and was admitted to the bar in 1847. He practiced law for two years at Chicopee. Wisconsin, and came to Portland, via the Isthmus of Panama, in 1850. He purchased a tract of 640