My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS J. JOYCE was born August 20, 1847, in Bedford County, and was the eldest of twelve children born to Anderson and Elizabeth Joyce. The father was born December 24, 1820, and died November 17, 1881. He was a successful farmer and at the time of his death was worth about $8,400 that he had accumulated by his own unaided efforts. The mother was born about 1830 and is still living. Our subject grew to manhood on the farm, and at the age of seventeen enlisted in the Confederate Army, Company A, Col. Hill’s cavalry regiment. He was in but one battle before the surrender — the battle of Franklin. At the age of twenty-two he and his eldest brother engaged in the stock business, buying and selling horses and cattle, and this they continued very successfully up to 1882. September 24, 1874, he wedded Bettie Bounds, of this county. The results of this union were two children: C. A., born February 7, 1876, and L. P., born December 12, 1879. Mr. Joyce is a good citizen and is scrupulously honest in every particular. He is a law-abiding man; never was sued or had a lawsuit in his life. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is politically a Democrat and a member of the Masonic lodge, which body he joined about 1870.