Date of Death: 30 Jun 1873
Subject: Clayton M. Boyles
Source: Andrew County Republican, 11 Jul 1873, p. 3
On Monday, the 30th of June, Clayton M. Boyles, an aged, widely known and highly respected citizen of Andrew county, departed this life, surrounded by his family and numerous friends, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age. Deceased was one of the early settlers of the county, and all the old citizens in the county will regret to learn of the death of their old friend. He was born in Athens county, Ohio. In 1831 his father and family emigrated to Elkhart county, Indiana. Clayton came to this county in 1839, the balance of the family following in 1841 or 1842, since which time they have made it their permanent home. Clayton Boyles performed the journey from Indiana to this county on foot. He has been known as a most untiring worker, his industry being at times carried to severe extremes. Yet a warmer heart never pulsated beneath a manly breast than that of Clayton M. Boyles. He has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church for a number of years, has reared a family of one son and four daughters, all of whom survive to mourn the loss of a beloved father. The father of the deceased, George Boyles, nearly eighty years of age, still lives, and was present at the death of his son. The family of the deceased have the sympathies of innumerable friends
same, "Correspondence"
Empire Prairie, Mo., July 6, 1873
Editor Republican-- One of the oldest pioneers of Northwest Missouri is at rest. Clayton M. Boyles died at home, near Flag Springs, on Empire Prairie, Missouri, after a painful illness, and his remains were interred at two o'clock the 1st instant. Clayton M. Boyles was the son of George Boyles, who is still living, and is now nearly eighty years of age, and one of the oldest settlers of the Platte Purchase, Missouri. And as "Uncle George" has seen the many ups and downs and endured the many hardships of a pioneer's life, he now sits down in his old days and enjoys the fruits of his honest toil, though he is bereaved by the death of his son. C. M. Boyles emigrated to the Platte Purchase a year or two before his father, nearly forty years ago, and settled on the farm where he lived so many years, and died. It is a beautiful place, in the heart of one of the richest countries in the West. Mr. Boyles came to this country a poor man; but, by his never ceasing energy and honest toil, he has accumulated a handsome fortune, he being one of the most wealthy farmers in this section of the country. Mr. Boyles leaves a wife and five children, four daughters and one son, all grown. In the death of Mr. Boyles, we lose one of our best citizens, a loving father, and a Christian. But it was God's will that he should go. It is wrong for us to answer no.
B.