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Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     BILL JOYCE is one of those sturdy characters whose exploits and explorations are not confined to any one state and who have covered the entire western portion of the United States and Canada as well as Alaska. He has shown himself a real leader of pioneers, and a man of the front ranks of frontiersmen and it is with pleasure that we have granted him space in the history of Okanogan county.
     Bill Joyce was born in Johnson county, Virginia, on January 11, 1837, the son of William and Mary (Callin) Joyce, both natives of Johnson county, Virginia. The father was a well educated man and followed teaching during his life. He died in Young county, Texas, in 1879. His ancestors were from Scotland while the mother's people came from England. When our subject was eleven years of age, he went with the balance of the family to Illinois, and when seventeen he joined the Texas Rangers, under Captain McAdams. In this capacity he did much fighting with the Indians and had many close calls. On one occasion he took a belt from an Indian supposed to be the son of Chief Lone Wolf, which has attached to it, seven white scalps. He was offered fifteen hundred dollars for the belt, but refused it. Afterwards it was stolen. After four years with the rangers, Mr. Joyce went to trapping wolf and bear in various places through Texas and in this pursuit he had some of the most thrilling adventures which it is the lot of one man to experience, both with savage beasts and Indians. He followed hunting and scouting until 1871, then went through Mexico and Arizona to Bradshaw City, where he prospected. Twice he was wounded by the Indians and many times he was ambushed, making his escape only by hard running.  During these times he saw the first Colt's revolver that was made. After many experiences in Arizona, he came to Salt Lake. On the plains east from there and in Wyoming, Kansas, Colorado, and in Montana he did trapping and hunted buffalo. He was also in Idaho. In 1881 he went to San Francisco and took the steamer Idaho to Juneau, Alaska, after which he went to Sitka, then over the range to the head waters of the Yukon, where he did trapping, prospecting, and mining. It is impossible for us to tell in detail the arduous labors, many narrow escapes from death in storm and by other casualties that Mr. Joyce experienced in this northwest country. He made several fortunes in these endeavors and lost the same. He finally decided to leave the bleak north, and so in 1899, he found his way into the Okanogan country and bought his present place, which lies four miles west from Riverside. The estate consists of two hundred and forty acres of land, all fenced and fertile. It is improved by a good residence, large barn, orchard, and so forth.
     Mr. Joyce has a nice band of cattle and horses, all needed farming implements, and he is one of the prosperous men of this section now.
     On March 23, 1900, Mr. Joyce married Miss Julia Nolte, who was born in Salem, Oregon, and reared in Western Washington. Her father, Frederick Nolte, married Miss Julia Schultz, who died on December 13, 1894. He died on March 6, 1893. Both were natives of Germany. Mrs. Joyce has two brothers, George and Charles, both well known on the Sound. At the time of the Klondike excitement, Mrs. Joyce went to Alaska as a nurse and Mr. Joyce met her at Dawson. She spent a year and a half there and was the first white woman to ascend the Stewart river. Mr. and Mrs. Joyce have well earned the quiet retirement and good competence which they enjoy. They are highly respected people and among the substantial citizens of the county.