JOYCE, DAVID 1825 – 1894

JOYCE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/8/2011 at 15:15:33

Clinton Weekly Herald, Thursday December 6, 1894, P. 4
LYONS.
D. JOYCE IS DEAD.
Death Occurs at Minneapolis From Paralysis
LIFE OF THE LUMBER MILLIONAIRE.
A Man of Sturdy Qualities and a Wonderful Head for Business – The Head Officer in Many Large Business Concerns in the Northwest – He Did a Great Deal for Lyons – Death of ex-Representative – His Life.
From Tuesday’s Daily,
“Father died at 4 o’clock this morning, shortly after the second stroke of paralysis,” is the substance of a telegram received this morning by J. F. Conway from Mr. Will Joyce at Minneapolis. The news is a shock to the people of Lyons, although it has been known that Mr. Joyce had been dangerously ill. His death occurred at the West Hotel, Minneapolis, where he had been sick since November 22nd. His wife and only son have been at his bedside during his entire illness. Mr. Joyce has been absent from this city for nearly four months, spending his time in Wisconsin and Minnesota looking after his extensive lumber and logging interests there.
In his death, Lyons loses one of her foremost and best citizens; the business world loses one of its most tireless and successful workers; and Iowa loses one of her wealthiest men.
David Joyce was born in Berkshire, Mass., Feb. 25, 1825. He received a common school education, later taking up the study of civil engineering. In 1860 he came west, locating in this city, where he has since made his home. Shortly after he purchased what was known as the “Stumbaugh” mill. From this small beginning, by diligent labor and careful and painstaking devotion to the business, has grown the immense holding he has had for the past years.
He was a man who seemed equal to almost any business task, as is shown by the successful management of so many vast enterprises. At the time of his death he was president of the First National Bank, Lyons; Trinity County Lumber Co., Groveton, Texas; Langford & Hall Lumber Co., Fulton, Ill; Benjamin Machine Co, Chicago; Crescent Springs Railroad Company, Crescent Springs, Wis; secretary and treasurer of the Barronett Lumber Co., Barronett, Wis; and Shell Lake Lumber Co., Shell Lake, Wis. He was also one of the heaviest stockholders in the White River Lumber Co., Mason, Wis.; Park Hotel, Hot Springs, Ark.; and the Mississippi River Logging Co. and the several enterprises of the last named company. He also held stock in a number of Chicago Banks, and owned large tracts of timber land in Wisconsin and Texas. All these enterprises, together with his mill in this city and the many lumber yards in various towns in the State, were looked after by him personally.
He was mayor of Lyons from 1872 to 1876, being nominated against his expressed wishes and elected without opposition. He never aspired to political honors, preferring to devote his time, energy and talents to his business. He was a man of genial nature, approachable by all.
He has done much for Lyons, chief among the monuments he leaves behind him is Joyce’s Park and the street railway. His wife and only son, William T., survive him.
The body arrived in this city from Minneapolis Wednesday morning by way of the Burlington road, and was conveyed at once to the family residence on Eighth street. The body was accompanied by the sorrowing wife and son. Funeral arrangements have not yet been entirely completed, although it has been definitely decided to hold it Friday afternoon from the residence probably at 2 o’clock with burial at Oakland cemetery. Several relatives of the deceased have been informed of the sad news. The mill and business office in this city have been closed until after the funeral, and a visit to the office of the dead lumberman found everything there still, except a knot of yard watchmen sorrowfully discussing the death of the man they respected and revered.

Clinton Weekly Herald, Saturday December 8, 1894, P. 4
LYONS.
LAST SAD RITES.
Funeral Services of the Late David Joyce.
ONE OF THE LARGEST EVER HELD.
Hundreds of Sorrowing Friends Pay Their Respect to the Memory of the Dead Millionaire – Ceremonies at the Residence – Conducted by Revs. A. R. Bickenback and G. R. Manning – Pall Bearers, Etc.
From Friday’s Daily,
The last solemn rites over the remains of David Joyce were performed this afternoon, the funeral being held at the residence, corner Eighth and Commercial streets. The hour set for the ceremonies was 1:30 o’clock, but at one o’clock friends of the deceased began to arrive, and it was nearly two o’clock before the people stopped coming. The large house was filled to its utmost, while many of the late comers stood outside. It was one of the largest, if not the largest, funeral ever held in Lyons. Hundreds of sorrowing friends from the tri-cities of Lyons, Clinton and Fulton were there to pay respect to the memory of the dead man.
The services were conducted by the Rev. A. R. Bickenback of the Presbyterian church, assisted by the Rev. G. R. Manning, of the M. E. church. The services were plain and unostentatious, as was the life of the deceased. After the ceremonies the funeral cortege formed and moved slowly up Seventh street to Oakland cemetery, where the body was interred in a steel vault.
The pall-bearers were H. Rohwedder, W. L. McArthur and J. H. Peters, of this city; Clarence Green, Fulton, Ill.; V. Hinrichs, Carroll, Ia.; and W. A. Remmick, Minneapolis, Minn., all men with whom the deceased had been associated during his busy life.
Among those present from out of town were-
Mr. W. W. Sperr, Falls Village, Conn.
Mr. H. C. Akeley, Minneapolis, Minn.
Mr. and Mrs. Robt. Turnbull, Minneapolis, Minn.
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Remmick, Minneapolis, Minn.
Mr. W. R. Bourne, St. Paul, Minn.
Mrs. V. Hinrichs, Carroll, Ia.
Mr. M. W. McDonnall, Winona, Minn.
Messrs. A. H. Earl, James Devereaux, and Peter Heigard, Shell Lake, Wis.
The First National Bank, of which the deceased was president, closed at noon for the day, as did also the Citizens National Bank.