Joy, Arthur P.

JOY, THOMAS, HAMILTON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/12/2009 at 19:53:07

Arthur P. Joy, a prominent dentist of Newton, was born in Hancock County, Me., June 14, 1849, and is a son of Hollis and Barbara R. (Thomas) Joy. The father of Doctor Joy was of Scotch and Welsh ancestry, his paternal great-grandfather having been born in Wales, while his forefathers on his great-grand-mother's side came from Scotland. The great-great-grandfather, whose name was Rossand, was a Scotchman and a prominent physician in his day, and the mother of our subject now has in her possession an old leather covered trunk that he brought with him from Scotland. The family settled in Maine, the original emigrants being residents of Portland at the time of their demise.

Grandfather Hiram Joy was born in Maine and was by occupation a farmer and stockman, and after selling a large lot of stock and having the money in his possession was foully murdered. Hollis Joy was born in Gouldsboro, Hancock County, Me., and is a graduate of the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, beginning the practice of his profession at the age of twenty and still conducting the same in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. One of his brothers, Howard, was a Sea captain and was lost with his ship on the ocean. William Thomas, the grandfather of Doctor Joy on the maternal side, was an Englishman, and like the paternal grandfather was a prominent farmer and murdered for his money after having made a large sale.

The subject of this sketch is the third in a family of four children. His two sisters died in infancy. His brother, William H., was born in Pembroke, Me., August 14, 1847, and received his education at Windsor, Nova Scotia, to which point his parents removed in 1857; he is now a resident of Halifax. The Doctor accompanied his parents to Nova Scotia in 1857, and returned with them to the States in 1868, locating in Chicago, Ill., and later removing to Will County, Ill., where he stayed for several years, then removed to Indiana, were he engage in practice for one year.

The Doctor's early education was gained in the academy at Windsor, Nova Scotia, and in 1868 he commenced the study of dentistry in Chicago, graduating from the College of Dentistry in that city in 1870. Opening an office, he continued to practice his profession in Chicago until 1879,when he came to Newton, and has, since been actively engaged in professional duties. While living in Chicago he married Miss Annie E., only daughter of the late Prof. James E. Hamilton, who was a grandson of Lord Hamilton, of Ireland, and was born on French waters on board ship while his parents were on their way to France. He was a man of superior education, having had the advantage of the best high-grade schools in France, Germany and England. After coming to America he was a private instructor in the languages for many years in Chicago, where he died in 1879.

It was under the instruction of this polished scholar that Mrs. Joy received her early training, and later she was graduated from the Chicago High School. In 1882 she commenced the study of dentistry with her husband, and since that time has been his assistant, being a graduate of the Iowa State University at Iowa City, where she was graduated in 1893.

The Doctor and his wife have had four children, two sons and two daughters, one of the latter dying in infancy. Hollis J., the elder son, was educated in the high school of Newton and the Iowa State University, and is now practicing dentistry with his father. Maud R. has completed her literary studies and is now being educated in music, being talented in that art and a leader in musical circles. Arthur H., the youngest child, is now being educated in the schools of Newton. The Doctor and his wife also have an adopted daughter, Grace Roe.

Possessing considerable musical ability, Doctor Joy for many years assisted in the church choir, though not identified with any denomination. He holds fraternal relations with the Modern Woodmen of America. While not zealous in his partisanship, he gives the weight of his influence and his ballot to the nominees and principles of the Republican Party, to which he has always given his loyal allegiance. In his chosen profession he has achieved great success, and as a dentist he has gained an enviable reputation among the people of the county. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 441.