My Genealogy Hound

Dr. R. L. Boyce, physician and surgeon, Tuckerman, Ark. Dr. Boyce is recognized throughout the county as a friend of and laborer in the cause and advancement of the medical fraternity. He is a native of Rails County, Mo., born in 1832, and is the fourth in a family of six children, born to Richard and Elizabeth (Foreman) Boyce, natives of the Blue Grass State. Dr. Boyce was reared to farm labor, and in 1849, when but seventeen years of age, he was seized with the gold fever and started with an ox-team to cross the plains to California. He was three months in making the perilous trip, and after reaching that State was engaged in mining until 1852, when he returned to Rails County, Mo., quite well satisfied with the result of his visit to the Golden State, after which he engaged in cultivating the soil, and in 1854 entered the State University at Columbia, Mo., taking a literary course. He subsequently entered the St. Louis Medical University, graduating from that institution in the spring of 1860. He first began practicing medicine in Macon County, Mo., in 1857, where he remained until 1859, entering the St. Louis Medical University, graduating at the dates stated above. Then moving to Bird Township, Jackson County, Ark., he purchased a farm near Elgin, and began a systematic course of fertilizing and cultivating the soil. At the breaking out of the late conflict, he enlisted, in 1861, in Lawrence County, and was regimental surgeon in Col. Adams’ regiment, Col. Shaver’s brigade, and under Gen. Hindman, but part of the time served as brigade surgeon. He remained in service until 1863, when he returned to Jackson County, and resumed the practice of medicine, which he has followed ever since. He has been actively engaged in farming and having it carried on, and is now the owner of 320 acres of good land, with 160 acres in tillable condition. He has contributed more than any other man to the introduction of fine stock in his neighborhood. He brought the first Durham and Berkshire stock into that part of the county. The Doctor is quite active in politics, and votes with and is a supporter of the Democratic party. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In his religious conviction he adheres to the Presbyterian Church, and is a liberal contributor to the same. He is deeply, interested in educational matters, and is at present a member of the school board. His parents emigrated to Missouri at an early period, settling in what is Ralls County, where the father tilled the soil for many years. He was quite an active man, politically, was county judge of Ralls County, quite a number of years, and was a good and useful citizen. He served in the War of 1812 from Kentucky, under Old Hickory. He died in 1869, and his wife, previously, in 1867. Their family consisted of the following children: James, the eldest, first settled on a farm in Missouri, later moved to Texas, locating near Bastrop, where he tilled the soil until his death, in 1859; Aaron, married, settled also in Texas, before it was part of the United States, having many fights with the Indians and narrow escapes, and there his death occurred in 1856; Nicholas, was also a pioneer of Texas, and died in 1858. A. W. Boyce, brother of the Doctor, came to Jackson County, with his family in 1884, and settled on a farm where the subject of this sketch resides, and there died in 1886, leaving a widow and two bright and promising children, son and daughter — the son holding a responsible position among the county officials — E. L. and Lucia. R. L. Boyce, the subject of this sketch had four sisters, all of whom married men of some distinction, and all have joined the silent throng, that are passing on before.