My Genealogy Hound

A. J. Joyce is of Irish descent, and was born in Patrick County, Va., in 1815, being one of nine children born to the marriage of Alexander Joyce and Mary Coffee, natives, respectively, of Virginia and North Carolina. The father was reared in Stokes County, N. C., and, after his marriage, returned to his native State, and, in 1829, located in Indiana, taking up his abode in Johnson County of that State, where he was engaged in farming until his death, in 1872, his wife’s death having occurred in 1847, and her birth February 29, 1782. The paternal grandfather, who also bore the name of Alexander, was a citizen of North Carolina from Virginia, the latter being probably his native State. A. J. Joyce was reared in his native State, and, at the age of sixteen years, removed with his parents to Indiana, and was there married, in 1838, to Miss Keturah R. Mann, who was born in Kentucky on the 11th of January, 1817, and removed to Indiana in 1835. Seven of the fourteen children born to their union are yet living: Mildred, Mary F. (deceased), Thomas S., who died while serving in the Union army; Lucinda F., wife of John W. Hughes; Elizabeth, Tilitha B., Arch. H., Margaret L. (deceased), Frank A., Judson (deceased), Charles F. (deceased), Ruth A., Horace and A. J. (deceased). Mr. Joyce was engaged in farming while in Indiana, but also gave some attention to merchandising, and, previous to coming to Barton County, failed in business. From that time up to three years since he dealt in stock, but afterward gave his entire attention to farming his land (130 acres), at which he did well financially. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church for fifty years, and in favor of Prohibition.