Michael Roger Joyce

• Preferred Name: Michael Roger Joyce
  
• Gender: M
  
• Birth: 12 JUN 1840 in Whitegate, County Clare, Ireland
  
• Occupation: in Carpenter
  
• Cremation: in Roman Catholic
  
• Burial: in Harvard, Nebraska
  
• Death: 21 AUG 1921 in Hastings, Clay Co., Nebraska
  
• Notes:

  Married in 1872. Lived in Streeter, IL
  1884 purchased the NW quarter, Section 25, Township 6, Range 7 in Clay Co., built a home and family.
  
  From "Along the County Line":
  
  Another pioneering family to come from Illinois into Clay County, Nebraska, was that of Michael and Ellen Joyce, paternal grandparents of the writers.
  
  The vast majority of the Joyces in English speaking lands are of Irish ancestry. In Irealand the nature of the terrian where the Joyce clans flourished tended to keep together as a closley knit unit, since their lands were safe from outside invasion.
  
  The Joyce who settled in Clay County was a truly Irish family man wholeft his native soil to seek his fortune in America. Michael Joyce, who came to this county in 1884, was born in County Clare, Ireland, onJune 12, 1840. His father, Walter Joyce, was born in County Clare while his mother, Margaret Ryan Joyce, was born in County Tipperary. His grandfather, Michael Joyce, and his grandmother, Anne Maloney Joyce, were both born in County Clare.
  
  Ellen Mulcahy, who married Michael Joyce in Chicago, Illinois, was born April 1, 1849, in County Clare, Ireland. Her father Tim Mulcahy, her mother Mary Costello Mulcahy, her grandfather Martin Mulcahy and her grandmother Mary Butler Mulcahy were all born in County Clare, Ireland.
  
  It took an abundance of courage for these young people to leave the land of their birth to cross the Atlantic to come to America. It took the same courage for this family from the older state of Illinois to come to the comparatively new state of Nebraska to found a new home.
  
  After their marriage in 1872 which took place in Chicago, Illinois, Michael and Ellen Joyce lived in Streeter, Illinois, where their children Walter, twins Mary and Annie, Nellie, Catherine, Timothy, and Michael were born. The family knew sadness when one of the infant twins, Mary, was taken in death.
  
  In 1884, Michael Joyce purchased the NW quarter, Section 25, Township6, Range 7, in Clay County, Nebraska, and built a home for his family. He had been a carpenter and with the help of friendshauled lumber from Harvard to build his home on the farm about four and a half milesfrom Clay Center.
  
  However, before the home was finished, his wife Ellen was anxious forthe family to be together. Like many of the early pioneers they lived wherever they could find accommodations until their permanent home could be built. The Joyces lived in a small home in back of a store in Harvard. It was in this home that their son William Patrick was born on January 10, 1885, and a duaghter, which they named Mary after the infant they lost, was orn on September 15, 1886. This daughter also died as an infant.
  
  In the spring of 1887 the family moved onto the farm where their two youngest daughters, May and Laura, were born.
  
  The children of this pioneering family received their early educationat the Wolfe School District No. 55, located midway between Clay Center and Fairfield, a country school in Clay County. One of the sad memories of this family during their early childhood was the death of their brother Michael in 1892 at the age of nine. As the children were coming from school, in the wagon, the team of horses became frightened and ran away. Michael was thrown from the wagon and killed.
  
  This family, like many another early pioneering family, opened their hearts and home to relatives who had come to America from across the sea. Bill, Martin, Bea and Margaret Hogan were welcomed by the family. Bill, Bea and Margaret Hogan Sheridan were pioneer residents who still make their homes at Sutton.
  
  During the 1900's the children of Michael and Ellen Mulcahy Joyce were beginning homes of their own. These years were filled with happiness for this God fearing Irish family. In 1900, Walt, the oldest, married Kate Sanders, and they made their home at Harvard. They were blessed with a large family, many of whom still live in Clay County.
  
  Mrs. Walter Joyce must have experienced the emotions of happiness andloss at the marriage of each of her children. In 1948 she wrote the following poem to Teresa Leveling who was soon to become the bride of her youngest son, Jespeh, who was serving his county in the armed services.
  
  Day Dreams of Mother Joyce
  
  Yes! I know you are very happy,
  Looking forward to the day,
  You will be united to your loved one,
  Who is now so far away.
  
  Who leaves his lonely, gray-haired mother,
  Who is giving her last son,
  From a family of eighteen children,
  Who have gone from here one by one.
  
  But your joy is my consolation,
  And I dearly hope and pray,
  That God will shower His blessings,
  In each and every way.
  
  May your home be blessed with children,
  So the joy of motherhood you may share,
  As you guide them through their childhood,
  With your kind and loving care.
  
  You will see both joy and sorrow,
  But, to meet them bravely is the goal.
  You must trust in God Almighty
  To help you save your immortal soul.
  
  As you travel o'er live's journey
  You will meet with trails and care
  If you share them both together,
  You should make a happy pair.
  
  --- Catherine Sanders Joyce

• m. 1872 in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois

1. Annie Joyce, b. 1874     d. 1915
2. Catherine Agnes Joyce, b. 27 DEC 1879 in Streator, La Salle Co., Illinois     d. 14 JUL 1943 in Heartwell, Kearney Co., Nebraska
3. Loretta Frances Joyce, b. 4 MAY 1890 in Fairfield, Nebraska     d. 23 JUN 1985 in Spalding, Nebraska
4. Mary Joyce, b. 15 SEP 1886     d. ABT 1887
5. Mary Joyce, b. 1874     d. BET 1872 AND 1884
6. May Joyce, b. 18 SEP 1887     d. 20 FEB 1967 in Alexandria, Virginia
7. Michael Joyce, b. 1883 in Streator, Illinois     d. 1892 in Harvard, Nebraska
8. Nellie Joyce, b. 4 APR 1877 in Streator, Illinois     d. 2 MAR 1951
9. Timothy Joyce, b. 1881 in Streator, Illinois    
10. Walter Joyce, b. 1873    
11. William Patrick Joyce, b. 10 JAN 1885 in Harvard, Nebraska