William Thompson was a very practical, honest, hard-working man. But he also had some some annoying personality quirks, friends and acquaintances weren’t impressed with his looks, and his children were scared to death of him. That’s the very mixed portrait of this great American pioneer that emerges from interviews done 80-odd years ago with the people who knew him. The sometimes snarky reminiscences […]
J.R. Boyce Pays Tribute to Dead for Benefit of Living
James Richard (J.R.) Boyce was a real sweetheart, a deep believer in the nobility of womankind. The Confederate Army major, who became a Montana dry goods merchant, wanted to ensure his ancestors knew what outstanding stock they came from. So he left behind a highly detailed October 23, 1893, letter addressed to his grandchildren. Unfortunately, […]
Annie Maria Boyce Thompson Lived a Hard Life
Only five of Annie Maria Boyce’s ten children lived to adulthood, and ill health forced her to spend summers in California. Like many Western pioneers, Annie Maria Boyce Thompson lived a hard life, though she was steadfast in her faith and greatly inspired her children. Born August 15, 1846, in Boone County, Missouri, Annie traveled with her mother and father, […]
Visit to Boyce, Virginia Leaves One With More Questions Than Answers
I seldom see a town that bears my unusual family name. So I had more than passing interest in visiting the town of Boyce, Virginia, located only a two-hour drive from my hometown of Washington D.C. Unfortunately, the trip to the former railroad town left me with more questions than answers. A commemorative plaque in downtown Boyce, located […]