Marcus James Boyce

BOYCE, MINER, MITCHELL, SMITH

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/7/2004 at 11:55:06

Among the progressive and well-to-do farmers of Douglas township is Marcus T. Boyce a native of this state, born in Des Moines county on the 25th of February 1857. His parents, Samuel M. and Marianna (Mitchell) Boyce, were both born in Preble county, Ohio, the father on the 15th of June, 1816 and the mother in 1820. Samuel M. Boyce was reared upon a farm and educated m the
public schools. In early manhood he taught in the distnct schools near his home and while living in Ohio also worked at the harnessmaker's trade in Fairhaven. He was married there and in the early '50s his wife accompanied her family to Des Moines county, Iowa. Some time later Mr. Boyce followed with their household goods, and, joining his wife in Des Moines county, they located on a farm. Condition were those of a pioneer locality and there were many discouragements, but after a few years prosperity began to reward them for their determination and industry. For many years Mr. Boyce was elder in the United Presbyterian church and he was also active in educational work. His demise occurred on the 1st of December, 1872, and his wife died in 1861. To them were born two children, the brother of our subject being Rufus, who is residing in New Mexico.

Marcus J Boyce attended the district schools of his native county until about sixteen yars of age, when he went to live with an uncle in Polk county, this state, and supplemented his early education by attending the A. C. Jennings Business College at Des Moines. After that he worked upon the farm belonging to his uncle, D. R. Mitchell, and was also a farm hand in the employ of neighbors until 1881. In that year he removed to Madison county and purchased land but did not take up his residence upon his farm until 1883. He has since concentrated his energies upon the cultivation of his land, which is situated on section 22, Douglas township, and he now owns three hundred and forty acres in this county, most of which is in a high state of cultivation and from which he derives a handsome annual ncome. His home place is known as Cedar Lawn and the residence is attractive and comfortable, while the grounds are pleasing. He engages in general farming.

In 1890 Mr. Boyce was united in marriage to Miss Grace Smith, who was born near Osceola, Iowa, and is a daughter of William H. and Mary (Miner) Smith, both of whom are natives of Greene county, Indiana, the former's birth occurring in 1845 and the latter's in 1852. Both are now living at Winterset. In the early '50s Mr. Smith accompanied his father, Zebulon Smith, from Greene
county, Indiana, to dark county, Iowa. The latter was a cabinet-maker and taught his son that trade, which he followed in dark county in connection with farming. In 1871 William H. Smith removed with his family to Winterset and now engages in painting and paper-hanging, which trade he learned a number of years ago. To him and his wife were born two children, of whom Mrs. Boyce is the older. Both entered the primary grade in the Winterset public schools and passed through consecutive grades until graduated from the high school. To Mr. and Mrs. Boyce have been born eight children: Ernest, born July 11, 1892, is taking the civil engineering course at the Iowa State College at Ames and he started the Douglas Center township band; Joseph, born February 8, 1894, attended the Winterset high school and now assists his father with the farm work; Martha, born July 11, 1896, will graduate from the Winterset high school with the class of 1915; Ruth, born on the 9th of October, 1898, is a sophomore in the high school; Alma was born February 8, 1901; Hugh was born May 28, 1903; Daniel was born December 18, 1965; and Bertha was born March 20, 1908. It is interesting to note that the first and third of the children have the same birthday and also the second and fifth.

Mr. Boyce is a prohibitionist. The record of his life is open to all, as he has at all times sincerely endeavored to follow the highest moral teachings, and his many friends hold him in warm regard.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915"