REUBEN BOYCE, farmer, Secs. 35 and 36: P.O. Brooklyn; born in Grafton Co., N.H. Nov. 26, 1826; son of Reuben and Polly (Watleigh) Boyce, who left Onondago Co., N.Y. in July, 1843, and came up the lakes to Racine, and in August, 1843, bought the Boyce homestead of J.A. Griffith; he had broken 27 acres and built a 16 x 18 log house, where for a time after, the Boyce family settled; here sixteen persons lived, though part of them slept in the adjoining county (*Green); the smallness of the cabin and proximity of the county-line explain this. Reuben Boyce, Sr. held many official positions, Chairman of Oregon, etc. His son has proven himself worthy of his heritage having erected a substantial farm-house in the place of the pioneer cabin, also the needed barns, stables, etc.; he has 480 acres as the home farm; 200 on Secs. 31 and 32, Oregon, besides land in Trempeleau and Grant Counties. He married in the town of Brooklyn, Miss Ann M. McLoughlin, born August, 1, 1831, in Clark Co., Ohio; her father, W.W. McLoughlin, was one of the foremost of the pioneers of Wisconsin, a member of the Legislature, Chairman of Brooklyn ten or twelve years, and lost his life from exposure on a return from Madison, where he has been to look after interests of his town in war times. Mr. and Mrs. Boyce have six children – Willis C., Frank L., Clara L., Jesse W., Anna L., and Fred L., all born on the homestead. Mr. B. is a Republican, and was Chairman of his town in 18–; has devoted much time, money and work during the past ten years to the breeding of superior stock; his Clyde stallion, Banker, bought of Lysaght & Oglesby, was imported from Canada; he weighs 1,960 lbs, is sixteen hands and three inches high and cost Mr. Boyce $1,600 a year ago, this horse and five of his colts took the sweepstakes and special (Anderson) prizes at the State fair. The name and face of Reuben Boyce are familiar on the fair grounds at both Madison and St. Paul, where he has captured many premiums with his superb stock of horses and Poland-China hogs; his Durhams have taken off many ribbons at the county fairs, but his specialty is horses; a pair of 5-year old grade Clyde mares, weighing 3,550 lbs, are among his drove of draft houses, which is a hard drove to beat in Wisconsin.
1880 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 1234.