IA-IRISH-L Archives

From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IA-IRISH] Bio of Robert Boyce
Date: Mon, 2 Sep 2002 17:05:57 -0500

Surnames: Boyce, Hall, Tapper, Irwin

Past and Present in Allamakee County, by Ellery M. Hancock. 2 vols. Chicago:
S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1913. pgs. 277-278

Esteem and veneration is due to Robert Boyce not only for what he has
achieved along agricultural lines and for the financial successes which have
come to him but also for the service which he rendered his country at the
time of the Civil war, for he is one of that fast disappearing band of
volunteers who willingly offered his life in order to preserve the unity of
a nation. A native of Pennsylvania, Robert Boyce was born in McKean county,
August 23, 1841, a son of Samuel and Betsy Ann (Hall) Boyce. Both parents
were natives of County Armagh, Ireland. The father always followed
agricultural pursuits and in his early manhood became a resident of
Pennsylvania where he resided about one year before coming to Iowa. Here he
located at Garnavillo, Clayton county, where he remained only about a year
when he died. The mother subsequently married again, her second husband
being Charles Lord, and they soon thereafter came to Allamakee county and
settled near the mission house in Linton township. Later they came to
Franklin township and there Mr. and Mrs. Lord resided on the farm which is
now part of our subject's holdings. Both spent their latter lives retired in
Monona, where they passed away.
Robert Boyce is fifth in order of birth of the six living children born
to his mother's first marriage. On the second marriage there were born three
children, all of whom have passed away. Robert Boyce attended school in
Clayton county, receiving his lessons in the district school of Reed
township, and later continued his lessons in the district school of Franklin
township. When eighteen years of age he bought forty acres of his present
farm from his father and engaged independently in agricultural pursuits
until on February 18, 1862, he enlisted with Company H, First Battalion,
Sixteenth United States Regular Regiment, as a private. He valiantly served
his country for three years, enduring the hardships of the campaign and the
dangers of battle and camp until he was mustered out at Lookout Mountain,
Tennessee. He was never wounded but contracted sickness, spending some time
in a hospital at Keokuk, Iowa. After being discharged from the service he
returned to the farm and has continued here ever since, having increased his
holdings as prosperity has come to him and now owning one hundred and eighty
acres. His fields are under high cultivation and his buildings are kept in
good repair. The most modern machinery has been installed upon the place and
his methods have resulted in a gratifying degree of prosperity to him. Mr.
Boyce also owns valuable property in Monona. He is a stockholder in the
Citizens Bank of that place and has other interests.
On September 11, 1866, occurred the marriage of Mr. Boyce to Miss Mary
Jane Tapper, who was the first white child born at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, her
day of birth being January 16, 1841. She is a daughter of James and Ellen
(Irwin) Tapper, the father a native of England and the mother of Ireland.
The father was one of the pioneers in this section and for many years was in
the employ of the United States government as Fort Atkinson as a carpenter.
He was prominent and highly esteemed in his locality, holding several
township offices, serving as trustee, justice of the peace and supervisor.
Although Mr. Boyce has never aspired to public office, he has been
prevailed upon to serve as trustee of Franklin township and in that capacity
discharged his duties with conspicuous ability. His political faith is that
of the republican party and he ever upholds its candidates and principles.
He keeps in tough with his comrades of the battlefields of the south as a
member of the Grand Army Post, No. 445, at Monona. The spirit of patriotism
which led him to follow the flag at the time of the great civil conflict has
never left him and he is today, in times of peace, as much a force for good
as he was when he upheld the Union cause in the south. He is ever interested
in worthy public enterprises and ever ready to give of his means and
influence in the support of the same. Such prosperity as has come to him is
but the natural result of well applied labor and there is none who begrudges
him but the natural result of well applied labor and there is none who
begrudges him his present affluence. On the contrary, he is highly respected
for what he has achieved and is venerated and beloved for his sterling
traits of character.


Cathy Joynt Labath
The Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm

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