Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Boyce, Jacob A. February 19, 1834 - 
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Source: Twentieth Century History of Altoona and Blair County, Pennsylvania, and Representative Citizens, Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold, 1911
Author: Jesse C. Sell

JACOB A. BOYCE, who has had an active and varied career in the business
world, is engaged in truck gardening at Eldorado, Blair County, Pa. He was
born in Bucks County, Pa., February 19, 1834, and is a son of Jacob and
Charlotte (Davis) Boyce.
     Jacob Boyce, the father of subject, was a civil engineer and also
conducted a store while in Bucks County. He moved west to Cambria County,
near Carrolltown, and thereafter followed his profession. While thus engaged
he came across a beautiful place in the corner of Clearfield County, which he
purchased and resided upon until his death. This farm is rich in coal and
timber, is now owned by the two survivors of the family, Jacob A. and his
brother M. L. Boyce, the latter of whom resides on the place. Of the other
children, Evan died in the west; John died in the army during the Civil War;
another son died in infancy, and a daughter, Charlotte, died in early
womanhood. The father of this family was a man of exceptional education for
his days, and gave his children superior training at home, so that there was
little to be gained from attendance in the common school.
     Jacob A. Boyce was educated largely at home, but attended the public
schools some time and afterward received instruction from an old professor.
At an early age he learned civil engineering, which he has followed more or
less all his life. He began teaching school at Cherry Tree, Indiana County,
as early as 1858, and continued in that profession, with some interruptions
until 1882. He has been a resident of Eldorado since 1863, and for some two
years taught in the old school standing opposite his residence. His last two
years as a teacher were spent in the schools of Altoona. He operated a saw
mill up in the mountains until 1869, and was afterwards variously employed
until 1882, at which time he was appointed agent of the station at Eldorado,
and also postmaster. He filled these positions in a most acceptable manner
for more than 25 years, and was also during that time proprietor of a store.
In connection with his duties as agent and postmaster he carried on a coal
business, which he still retains. About the time he became agent at Eldorado,
Mr. Boyce began gardening in a small way, and after leaving that position went
into it more extensively, building a large greenhouse. He sells his products
directly to the customer in Altoona, and has some who have been his patrons
for more than 20 years.
     In 1865 Mr. Boyce married Sarah Lance, whose sad loss he was called upon
to mourn in January, 1909. She is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery. Four children
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Boyce: Jennie, who has charge of the railroad
office at Eldorado; Anna (Culbert), living in Philadelphia, Pa.; Kate
(Gorsuch), a resident of Patten, Pa.; and Mary, also employed in the railroad
office at Eldorado. Mr. Boyce is politically a Republican, and religiously,
the family attend the Fifth Avenue Church at Altoona.

Additional Comments:
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Blair 
County Genealogical Society, 431 Scotch Valley Road, 
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Copied and proofread by Linda M. 
Shillinger LindasTree@aol.com  OCRed by Judy Banja 
jbanja@comcast.net

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