Rutland

JOYCE, Charles H.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 228-229 
(portrait p 228)

Charles H. JOYCE, of Rutland [Rutland County, Vermont], was born 30 January 
1830 in Wherwell, England, son of Charles and Martha E. (GRIST) JOYCE. HE 
came to this country with his parents in 1836, and settled at Waitsfield 
[Washington County, Vermont]. He worked on a farm and attended the district 
school, winters, until he was eighteen years old, when he left the farm and 
completed his education at the Waitsfield and Northfield Academies and at 
Newbury Seminary. He was a page in the Vermont House of Representatives 
three sessions, assistant librarian one year, and librarian one year. He 
taught school several terms, at the same time pursuing his legal studies 
under Hon. F. F. MERRILL of Montpelier and the late Col. F. V. RANDALL of 
Northfield [both in Washington County, Vermont]. He was admitted to the bar 
of Washington County court at the September term 1856; elected state's 
attorney of Washington County, and re-elected in 1857. During the last year 
of service has state's attorney he greatly distinguished himself in the 
prosecution and conviction of one Ariel MARTIN, for the murder of two men in 
Calais [Washington County, Vermont]. Hon. James BARRETT presided at the 
trial and MARTIN was defended by Paul DILLINGHAM and Luther L. DURANT.

In June 1861 he was appointed by Gov. Erastus FAIRBANKS major of the Second 
Regiment Vermont Volunteer Infantry, the first three years' regiment to leave 
the state, and in June following he was promoted by Gov. HOLBROOK to 
lieutenant colonel in the same regiment. He fought gallantly with his 
regiment in the first battle of Bull Run; Lees Mills, Williamsburgh, Golden's 
Farm, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, second battle of Bull Run, and at 
Fredericksburg. In several of these battles he was specially mentioned by 
his superior officers for gallant conduct upon the field. In January 1863 he 
was compelled to resign his commission on account of a severe disability 
contracted during the campaign of 1861.

On his retirement from the army Col. JOYCE removed to Rutland and resumed the 
practice of his profession. At the March term, 1869, of the Rutland County 
court, the case of State vs. Ziba, Fred and Horace PLUMLEY for the murder of 
one John GILMAN was tried; Col. JOYCE had charge of the defense, and his 
argument for the respondents attracted wide attention and placed him at once 
in the front rank of jury advocates in this state. In 1874 he was engaged to 
assist as state's attorney in the prosecution of John P. FAIR for the murder 
of one Anne FRIEZE at Rutland under the most horrible circumstances. The 
case attracted wide attention and it was said by the daily press of the day 
that Col. JOYCE's closing argument was a masterly effort and highly 
appreciated by the bar and the vast audience present at the trial. But 
probably the greatest effort ever made by him and the most splendid victory 
he ever achieved at the bar, was in the celebrated case of Calvin S. INMAN of 
Poultney [Rutland County, Vermont], tried for the shooting of Patrick 
SENNOTT, at the September term of Rutland County court, 1889, and acquitted. 
The colonel made the closing argument for the defense and during its delivery 
the large court room was packed with people from all parts of the county. A 
death-like stillness was preserved by the vast audience until he closed, when 
the deep murmur of applause showed the effect produced by the fiery and 
eloquent words of the advocate. The "Rutland Daily Herald" speaking of the 
argument said, "Col. JOYCE was eloquent and impressive. It was the effort of 
his life. He was inspiring; he was pathetic; and with the magical witchery 
of a silver tongue he painted a portrait so touching, so saddening that at 
times there was scarcely a dry eye in the audience. Again in characterizing 
the affray, and that which led up to it, he gave full reign to his terrible 
power of denunciation."

In 1869 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives from the town 
of Rutland, and in 1870 re-elected for two years, during which time he was 
speaker of the House. In 1874 he was elected to Congress from the first 
congressional district, and re-elected in 1876, 1878 and 1880. Col. JOYCE 
took an active part during his eight years service in the national House of 
Representatives, in the discussion of most of the important questions which 
came before Congress. In 1876 he made speeches on the death of Vice 
President WILSON, presentation of Ethan ALLEN statue; centennial independence 
celebration; in 1878 on repeal of resumption act and remonetization of 
silver, election of President and Vice president, the tariff, amendment to 
Mexican war pension bill excluding rebels; in 1879 on Democrat's policy of 
forcing an extra session of Congress by failing to pass regular appropriation 
bills; in 1880 on commercial reciprocity between U. S. & Canada; alcoholic 
liquor tariff; in 1882 on Chinese immigration, apportionment of 
representatives to national Congress, and government policy on pensions. 
Many of these speeches attracted the attention not only of the people of 
Vermont, but of the whole country and were widely circulated. He has always 
been a thorough-going Republican; has in every presidential campaign since 
1852 done effective work upon the stump for his party, not only in Vermont, 
but in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Indiana and New York.

He has long been ranked among the leading platform orators in the country; a 
fine voice, an earnest, impressive manner, a thorough knowledge of his 
subject, and a firm conviction of the truth of what he utters, are among the 
elements which make him one of the most eloquent and effective speakers 
before a popular audience in this country. During all the years of his busy 
and laborious life, in his profession and in Congress, he has found time to 
respond to all the numerous calls made upon him for the Fourth of July 
orations, addresses at agricultural fairs, Memorial Day addresses, and 
lectures upon a great variety of subjects. He has always been a close and 
thorough student and a keen and interested observer of men and things. His 
favorite books outside of the law are the Bible, Shakespeare, Milton, 
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Scott's works and Dickens,' while history, 
biography, political economy and general literature make up the catalogue. 
The esteem in which Col. JOYCE has always been held by the people of his 
adopted state is fully shown by the positions of trust and honor to which 
they have so often called him.

On 21 February 1853 he [Charles H. JOYCE] was married to Rouene Morris, 
daughter of Gurdon and Laura (SCOTT) RANDALL, of Northfield [Washington 
County, Vermont]. Of this union there are now living one son and one 
daughter. The son, Charles Pitt F., graduated at Princeton in 1887, and at 
Dartmouth Medical College in 1892. The daughter, Inez Rouene (educated at 
Tilden Seminary, Lebanon [Grafton County], New Hampshire, and Temple Grove, 
Saratoga [Saratoga County], New York) was married in March 1877 at 
Washington, D. C., to Theron C. CRAWFORD, of Michigan.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly