John Royston
Payette Enterprise
Thursday, April 29, 1915
Mr. Jno. M. Royston was born in Baltimore, Md. April 1, 1855 and died at his home near Fruitland Apr. 16, 1915, aged 60 yrs, 15 da. Feb. 28, 1883 he was married to Lily Etta Eaton, and the young people set up their new home in Nebraska. To this union were born 13 children; of these two died in infancy, the others six sons, John, Edward, Schuyler, Charles, Earl and Lafayette, and five daughters Mrs. Harry Hart, Mrs. Edward Williams, Clara, Irma and Josephine with the mother remain sides the immediate family he leaves to sorrow because of their loss. Besides the immediate family he leaves a mother, Mary E. Royston, 84 yrs. old, two sisters, Mrs. Kizzie Waltermyer and Mrs. Anna Bossom, and four brothers Charles, Wesley, William, and Robert, all of Baltimore, Md. Mr. Royston came to the Payette Valley in 1906 and settled on his ranch south of Fruitland, where he has since lived closely identified with every movement for the promotion of the community's best interests. Mr. Royston was widely known as he has been a director of the Canyon County fair since 1907, President of the Idaho Swine Breeders Association, an active member of the local and State grange and one of the prominent stock men of the state. The funeral was held from the home Thursday afternoon, at 1:30. It was very largely attended, people coming from all the nearby towns and surrounding country. Rev. G. W. Barnes of Payette conducted the service. His remarks on the theme "It is not all of Life to live, nor all of Death to die" were very kind and sympathetic. Mrs. Alberts and Mr. Paul Brainard sang a beautiful duet, and the other music was by a double quartette of the Fruitland people. The floral offerings were many and beautiful given by friends and associates in the business world, a tribute to his sterling worth and the high esteem in which he was held by those who knew him. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery, Payette.
Fruitland Banner (Friday, April 23, 1915)
Gored to Death by Angry Bull
J. M. Royston, A Prominent Fruitland Stock Raiser Is Killed by Prize Animal
In sight of members of his family, J. M. Royston was gored to death by his prize Jersey bull last Friday evening about 6:15. One of the animal's horns pierced the groin severing an artery, causing death before medical aid could be procured.
It seems that Mr. Royston had not been in the habit of handling the bull, but there being no other male members of the family at home he started to put the animal into the barn for the night when the bull charged him while in the narrow passage, running from the corral to the barn throwing him violently against the side of a barn where he was fatally gored before Mrs. Royston and her daughter, Clara, succeeded in rescuing the dying man from the onslaughts of the thoroughly infuriated animal.
During the excitement of keeping the animal from again reaching its prostrate victim several minutes elapsed before a doctor was called. Although Dr. Wright cranked up his car and made the two-mile run in a little over four minutes it was too late.
The funeral, held Thursday afternoon at the home, was one of the largest and most impressive ever held in this section. Rev. G. W. Barnes, of Payette, conducted the services on the spacious lawn where several hundred people had assembled. The remains were then taken to Payette, where burial took place.
The deceased was 60 years of age and leaves a wife and 11 children, six boys and five girls, five of which live the home.
Payette Independent (Thursday, April 22, 1915)
TRAGIC DEATH OF STOCKMAN
JOHN M. ROYSTON OF FRUITLAND GORED BY BULL IN PRESENCE OF FAMILY
The whole community was dazed Friday evening when they heard of the tragic death that had met our neighbor, Mr. J. M. Royston. It seemed unbelievable that so big and strong a man should meet death so suddenly in such a way. He has lived here for nine years and he and his large and generous hearted family have occupied a large place in the hearts of those friends and neighbors around them. Our hearts are grieved and little else has been talked about. The wife and all the members of the family have our deepest sympathy in their new sorrow.
The sad accident occurred about 6:15 Friday evening at Mr. Royston's home two miles south of Fruitland when his Jersey bull gored him near the corral when he was trying to put him in the barn. He was struck in the thigh and died from the loss of blood and the shock, within two or three minutes after the accident happened in the presence of his wife and daughters.
JOHN MORDICA ROYSTON
(Fruitland Correspondence)
John Mordica Royston was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, April 1, 1855, died at his home two miles south of Fruitland, April 16, 1915, aged 60 years and 15 days. He was married to Miss Etta Eaton Feb. 28, 1882. To them thirteen children were born, two dying in infancy. The wife and eleven children survive her, John, in Nebraska, Mrs. Harry Hart of Twin Falls, Mrs. Ed. Williams of Kimberly, Schuyler, Earl and Ed who have been at Twin Falls, Charles, Lafe, Clara, Erma, and Josephine who are all at home. Mr. Royston leaves an aged mother ? years old, in Baltimore, also four brothers and two sisters, also in the east.
Mr. and Mrs. Royston with their family came from Furnas County, Nebr., to the Payette Valley nine years ago last March. They lived in Payette during the first summer and then moved to the ranch two miles south of Fruitland where they now reside.
Mr. Royston was an important ? in the community in which he lived, and in the county and state. He was a prominent member of the state Grange, which has passed appropriate resolutions relative to his death. Two brothers, Robert and William, and a brother-in-law, Samuel J. Miller, arrived from Baltimore in time for the funeral.
The funeral was held today on the beautiful lawn at the late residence, Rev. G. W. Barnes, pastor of the first M. E. church officiating. The floral tributes were abundant and beautiful. The choir sang selections appropriate to the occasion. A large concourse of people gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to their much esteemed neighbor, friend and fellow citizen. Interment was made in Riverside Cemetery at Payette.
