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William Joyce, a venerable and
worthy man, resides near Valden,
Mississippi. The position he occupies in life renders his
character deserving of consideration and it is with pleasure that his biography
is recorded on these pages. He was born
in Maury County, Tennessee, May 25, 1822.
His father, Robert Joyce, was born in Rockingham County, North Carolina
in 1779 and was of Irish descent. He was
married in his native state to Nancy Jennings, who was born in North Carolina and
belonged to an old and respected family.
In the year of his marriage, 1813, he removed to Tennessee
from North Carolina and became one of the
prominent planters of Maury
County. He accumulated a comfortable competence and
enjoyed the most pleasant business relations.
He died in the year 1847. His
wife passed away in 1829.
William Joyce, son of the above, is
one of a family of four sons and three daughters; all lived to maturity and
with the exception of one, became the heads of families. He and one brother, Harding Joyce, are the
only surviving members. This brother
resided in Texas
and he reached his seventy fifth year.
William Joyce spent his youth in his native county, where he received a
fair English education at a private school.
He came to Mississippi in the year 1843
and first located in Holmes
County on a farm, where
he lived for several years. He married
in Attala County, January 26, 1846, to Miss. E.J.
McKay, a daughter of the Rev. E.B. McKay, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. This estimable woman died
in the year 1860. Mr. Joyce removed from
Holmes to Leake County and engaged in the mercantile
trade, continuing in this business for a number of years. In August, 1863, he entered the Confederate
Army, enlisting in Col. Armstead’s cavalry brigade and serving until the close
of the war. He entered as an orderly. He participated in a number of engagements of
importance and in many skirmishes and scouting parties. At the close of the war, he war paroled at Gainesville, Alabama and
then returned to Mississippi. He located in Durant, Holmes County
and for three years was engaged in the mercantile business. In 1871, he moved to Carroll County
and purchased a plantation on which he now resides. He has many modern improvements. He is one of the most successful planters of
the county and although well advanced in years, he gives his personal attention
to the management of the business. Twice
a week he drives to town, where his tall straight form and long white beard
make him a conspicuous figure.
He was married a second time in Attala County, Mississippi,
in November 1866, to Miss Mollie Tribble, a daughter of Alfred Tribble and a
niece of Col. Coffey, of Durant. She
died about the year 1879. Mr. Joyce was
married again in 1881, in Canton,
Mississippi, to Miss Mary
Chambers, a daughter of the Rev. Edward Chambers of Madison County,
Mississippi. Mrs. Joyce was reared in Madison County,
but received her education at Holly
Springs. By this marriage, Mr. Joyce had five children
and four by the second marriage. The
children of the first marriage are: Miss
N.A. Joyce; William E, unmarried; R.P.H. Joyce, married and a planter; John F.,
married and a resident of Bolivar
County; E.H. Joyce, a
young man of superior worth and fine character.
He was beloved and respected by all who knew him. His death occurred in 1889. He was a bookkeeper by profession. In the Methodist Episcopal Church South, he
was an active worker and a worthy and consistent member.
By his second marriage, William
Joyce had four children, as before stated:
Fannie B.; J.R., a student at Starksville
College; Valdora, a student at Grenada College and Percy K., a lad of fourteen
years who is at home. Mr. Joyce is
devoted to his family and is giving his children that from which the world can
not rob them, a good substantial education.
With the exception of the youngest child, the family are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South. The
father has for many years been a steward of the church. He is a Royal Arch Mason.
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi, Vol. 1,
page 1064.
Published 1891, Chicago, Goodspeed
Publishing Co.
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