The late Thomas H. Boyce, who was one of the most prosperous and successful farmers of the southeastern part of Idaho, was born in the vicinity of South Cottonwood, Utah, July 19, 1859, and died at his home one-half mile northwest of Lewisville, Jefferson county, Idaho, October 30, 1914, after an illness of one week. He was a son of William and Phoebe (Spears) Boyce, both originally from the state of Michigan, who joined a party of immigrants in 1851, crossed the plains by ox-team and finally settled not far from South Cottonwood, Utah. There they spent the rest of their lives, which were quietly uneventful, applying themselves diligently to agriculture. The father died in 1887, and the death of the mother occurred April 6, 1908 (1906 per headstone), after she had reached the age of eighty-six years.
From boyhood Thomas H. Boyce was a farmer and he received his training in this occupation under the excellent tutelage of his father, whom he assisted in tilling the paternal acres until he became a man. In 1883 he associated himself with a group of settlers whose destination was southeastern Idaho and after carefully spying out the land in this section for a suitable location, Mr. Boyce settled near Lewisville, now Jefferson county. Here he filed a claim on the tract which his wife still owns. At the beginning his holding was a mere expanse of wild, new land but by sheer strength of will, consistent application and hard labor he improved his farm until at the time of his death it was considered one of the most modern and best equipped in the state of Idaho. Besides farming Mr. Boyce had other business interests and was a stockholder in the C. A. Smith Mercantile Company of Lewisville. He participated in the construction of the Park and Lewisville canal, an irrigation project which has proved to be one of the most important factors in the agricultural development of this section, and he secured the first water right from the Government on record.
On May 25, 1885, Mr. Boyce was married to Clarissa E. Selck, who still survives and is now residing in Lewisville. She is a daughter of William W. and Annie C. (Sorenson) Selck, early settlers in the vicinity of Lewisville, Jefferson county, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Boyce became the parents of ten children, who in order of birth are as follows; William H., born October 27, 1887; George F., December 13, 1889; Eliza C, April 29, 1892; Ivy I., who was born July 30, 1894, and died March 2, 1896; Clarence L., born July 12, 1896; Ernest L., who was born October 23, 1898, and whose death occurred on January 28, 1899; Irene, who was born March 11, 1900, and died June 13, 1902; Reed Smoot, born April 18, 1902; L. Eileen, in April, 1905, and Thomas R., November 23, 1907.
Mr. Boyce was, as is his wife, a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he served at different times in various capacities. From 1891 until 1893 he disseminated the teaching of his church as a missionary in Hol- land and later in England, and in November, 1902, he was called to Beaver City, Utah, on a mission for the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. Again, in December, 19 07, he was sent as a missionary to the Central States but bad health compelled him to give up his work in the July of the following year. At the time of his death he was high counselor of the Rigby stake. Mr. Boyce did not affiliate with any political party, preferring to exercise his right of franchise independently. However, this did not prevent him from taking a keen interest in public affairs. One of the most successful farmers in Jefferson county, he showed how effectually a man can use his religion in conducting his business affairs, and in all his dealings he was actuated by the spirit of strict honesty and that of the Golden Rule. He was a man whose influence could ill be lost to his community, but his example can well be emulated by generations to come.
(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley, 1920; bio courtesy Amanda Fox)
From boyhood Thomas H. Boyce was a farmer and he received his training in this occupation under the excellent tutelage of his father, whom he assisted in tilling the paternal acres until he became a man. In 1883 he associated himself with a group of settlers whose destination was southeastern Idaho and after carefully spying out the land in this section for a suitable location, Mr. Boyce settled near Lewisville, now Jefferson county. Here he filed a claim on the tract which his wife still owns. At the beginning his holding was a mere expanse of wild, new land but by sheer strength of will, consistent application and hard labor he improved his farm until at the time of his death it was considered one of the most modern and best equipped in the state of Idaho. Besides farming Mr. Boyce had other business interests and was a stockholder in the C. A. Smith Mercantile Company of Lewisville. He participated in the construction of the Park and Lewisville canal, an irrigation project which has proved to be one of the most important factors in the agricultural development of this section, and he secured the first water right from the Government on record.
On May 25, 1885, Mr. Boyce was married to Clarissa E. Selck, who still survives and is now residing in Lewisville. She is a daughter of William W. and Annie C. (Sorenson) Selck, early settlers in the vicinity of Lewisville, Jefferson county, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Boyce became the parents of ten children, who in order of birth are as follows; William H., born October 27, 1887; George F., December 13, 1889; Eliza C, April 29, 1892; Ivy I., who was born July 30, 1894, and died March 2, 1896; Clarence L., born July 12, 1896; Ernest L., who was born October 23, 1898, and whose death occurred on January 28, 1899; Irene, who was born March 11, 1900, and died June 13, 1902; Reed Smoot, born April 18, 1902; L. Eileen, in April, 1905, and Thomas R., November 23, 1907.
Mr. Boyce was, as is his wife, a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he served at different times in various capacities. From 1891 until 1893 he disseminated the teaching of his church as a missionary in Hol- land and later in England, and in November, 1902, he was called to Beaver City, Utah, on a mission for the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. Again, in December, 19 07, he was sent as a missionary to the Central States but bad health compelled him to give up his work in the July of the following year. At the time of his death he was high counselor of the Rigby stake. Mr. Boyce did not affiliate with any political party, preferring to exercise his right of franchise independently. However, this did not prevent him from taking a keen interest in public affairs. One of the most successful farmers in Jefferson county, he showed how effectually a man can use his religion in conducting his business affairs, and in all his dealings he was actuated by the spirit of strict honesty and that of the Golden Rule. He was a man whose influence could ill be lost to his community, but his example can well be emulated by generations to come.
(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley, 1920; bio courtesy Amanda Fox)
The late Thomas H. Boyce, who was one of the most prosperous and successful farmers of the southeastern part of Idaho, was born in the vicinity of South Cottonwood, Utah, July 19, 1859, and died at his home one-half mile northwest of Lewisville, Jefferson county, Idaho, October 30, 1914, after an illness of one week. He was a son of William and Phoebe (Spears) Boyce, both originally from the state of Michigan, who joined a party of immigrants in 1851, crossed the plains by ox-team and finally settled not far from South Cottonwood, Utah. There they spent the rest of their lives, which were quietly uneventful, applying themselves diligently to agriculture. The father died in 1887, and the death of the mother occurred April 6, 1908 (1906 per headstone), after she had reached the age of eighty-six years.
From boyhood Thomas H. Boyce was a farmer and he received his training in this occupation under the excellent tutelage of his father, whom he assisted in tilling the paternal acres until he became a man. In 1883 he associated himself with a group of settlers whose destination was southeastern Idaho and after carefully spying out the land in this section for a suitable location, Mr. Boyce settled near Lewisville, now Jefferson county. Here he filed a claim on the tract which his wife still owns. At the beginning his holding was a mere expanse of wild, new land but by sheer strength of will, consistent application and hard labor he improved his farm until at the time of his death it was considered one of the most modern and best equipped in the state of Idaho. Besides farming Mr. Boyce had other business interests and was a stockholder in the C. A. Smith Mercantile Company of Lewisville. He participated in the construction of the Park and Lewisville canal, an irrigation project which has proved to be one of the most important factors in the agricultural development of this section, and he secured the first water right from the Government on record.
On May 25, 1885, Mr. Boyce was married to Clarissa E. Selck, who still survives and is now residing in Lewisville. She is a daughter of William W. and Annie C. (Sorenson) Selck, early settlers in the vicinity of Lewisville, Jefferson county, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Boyce became the parents of ten children, who in order of birth are as follows; William H., born October 27, 1887; George F., December 13, 1889; Eliza C, April 29, 1892; Ivy I., who was born July 30, 1894, and died March 2, 1896; Clarence L., born July 12, 1896; Ernest L., who was born October 23, 1898, and whose death occurred on January 28, 1899; Irene, who was born March 11, 1900, and died June 13, 1902; Reed Smoot, born April 18, 1902; L. Eileen, in April, 1905, and Thomas R., November 23, 1907.
Mr. Boyce was, as is his wife, a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he served at different times in various capacities. From 1891 until 1893 he disseminated the teaching of his church as a missionary in Hol- land and later in England, and in November, 1902, he was called to Beaver City, Utah, on a mission for the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. Again, in December, 19 07, he was sent as a missionary to the Central States but bad health compelled him to give up his work in the July of the following year. At the time of his death he was high counselor of the Rigby stake. Mr. Boyce did not affiliate with any political party, preferring to exercise his right of franchise independently. However, this did not prevent him from taking a keen interest in public affairs. One of the most successful farmers in Jefferson county, he showed how effectually a man can use his religion in conducting his business affairs, and in all his dealings he was actuated by the spirit of strict honesty and that of the Golden Rule. He was a man whose influence could ill be lost to his community, but his example can well be emulated by generations to come.
(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley, 1920; bio courtesy Amanda Fox)
From boyhood Thomas H. Boyce was a farmer and he received his training in this occupation under the excellent tutelage of his father, whom he assisted in tilling the paternal acres until he became a man. In 1883 he associated himself with a group of settlers whose destination was southeastern Idaho and after carefully spying out the land in this section for a suitable location, Mr. Boyce settled near Lewisville, now Jefferson county. Here he filed a claim on the tract which his wife still owns. At the beginning his holding was a mere expanse of wild, new land but by sheer strength of will, consistent application and hard labor he improved his farm until at the time of his death it was considered one of the most modern and best equipped in the state of Idaho. Besides farming Mr. Boyce had other business interests and was a stockholder in the C. A. Smith Mercantile Company of Lewisville. He participated in the construction of the Park and Lewisville canal, an irrigation project which has proved to be one of the most important factors in the agricultural development of this section, and he secured the first water right from the Government on record.
On May 25, 1885, Mr. Boyce was married to Clarissa E. Selck, who still survives and is now residing in Lewisville. She is a daughter of William W. and Annie C. (Sorenson) Selck, early settlers in the vicinity of Lewisville, Jefferson county, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Boyce became the parents of ten children, who in order of birth are as follows; William H., born October 27, 1887; George F., December 13, 1889; Eliza C, April 29, 1892; Ivy I., who was born July 30, 1894, and died March 2, 1896; Clarence L., born July 12, 1896; Ernest L., who was born October 23, 1898, and whose death occurred on January 28, 1899; Irene, who was born March 11, 1900, and died June 13, 1902; Reed Smoot, born April 18, 1902; L. Eileen, in April, 1905, and Thomas R., November 23, 1907.
Mr. Boyce was, as is his wife, a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he served at different times in various capacities. From 1891 until 1893 he disseminated the teaching of his church as a missionary in Hol- land and later in England, and in November, 1902, he was called to Beaver City, Utah, on a mission for the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association. Again, in December, 19 07, he was sent as a missionary to the Central States but bad health compelled him to give up his work in the July of the following year. At the time of his death he was high counselor of the Rigby stake. Mr. Boyce did not affiliate with any political party, preferring to exercise his right of franchise independently. However, this did not prevent him from taking a keen interest in public affairs. One of the most successful farmers in Jefferson county, he showed how effectually a man can use his religion in conducting his business affairs, and in all his dealings he was actuated by the spirit of strict honesty and that of the Golden Rule. He was a man whose influence could ill be lost to his community, but his example can well be emulated by generations to come.
(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley, 1920; bio courtesy Amanda Fox)
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