San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JAMES C. JOYCE
The son of a worthy and esteemed
early settler of Stockton is James C. Joyce, who was about a year old when with
his mother and brother he arrived in this city, coming via Panama. Born in Waltham, Massachusetts on October 15,
1862, he is the son of Alfred and Margaret (McFarland) Joyce, both natives of
Ireland; his father was a baker by trade who came to California via the Isthmus
of Panama in the spring of 1863 and settled in Stockton. Three days out of the week he worked on the
levee and the other three days made yeast and sold it from house to house;
later he was cook in the What Cheer Hotel, which stood at the corner of Center
and Main streets; and then head cook at the State Hospital, remaining there for
nine years. After he had saved some
money he went to Captain Weber’s office and told his clerk, L. M. Cutting, that
he wanted to purchase a lot for a home.
Mr. Cutting recognized him as a man he had known in Waltham,
Massachusetts, and the friendship was renewed.
Mr. Joyce purchased a one-fourth of a block for $500 on East Oak Street
at the corner of Sacramento, and here he erected his house and barns and later
his bake shop, which was called the Pacific Bakery. This was the only house in that part of town
and was considered out in the country at that time; he carried on his business
until 1910. There were four children in
the family: John F.; Lizzie; James C.,
our subject; and Mary, the widow of the late Jacob R. Koch, cashier of the San
Joaquin Valley Bank. Alfred Joyce, the
pioneer, passed away in 1913; the mother made her home with the children at the
old home until her death in March, 1922, aged ninety-three years, hale and
hearty till her last illness of only a month’s duration.
James C. first attended the Vineyard
School at the corner of Park and Pilgrim streets; later when the Jefferson
School was built he attended there, and during odd times he helped his father
in the bakery and thus learned the trade.
As his father grew old, he and his brother, John F., took over the
business and ran it as the Pioneer Bakery until 1917 when they closed out the
business and retired. They built up a
large business, running three delivery wagons, and were among the oldest in
this line of business. Having followed
the bakery business from twelve years of age, since 1874, Mr. Joyce retired
after forty-three years. However,
wishing to again have something definite to occupy his time, he entered the
employ of Oranges Bros’. Garage. Mr. Joyce was a member of the Volunteer Fire
Department in early days, foreman of Hose No. 4, which was dubbed the “crazy
four.” He is loyally interested in
everything that pertains to the advancement of the community which has been his
home for so many years of his life.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1044. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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