continued
To add to our education and appreciation of life, Dad taught the five of us various musical instruments. We attended a number of events that we might not have gone to otherwise. However, after our sister, Joyce's, death in 1948, performing was never the same.
Public education in the '30's and '40's was quite basic in our rural schools. In fact, it was rather boring. Education at home was not boring. Our folks seemingly were always at least two steps ahead. A large chalkboard was kept in a prominent place in the kitchen. One time it might be a work place for a laggard in long division. Many times it was divided into five sections with the words "Aren't -- Ain't." If anyone caught you saying "Ain't" you got a tally mark against you. Too many of them and you didn't get a nickel that week. Some of us still say "Ain't" but at least Mom tried to instill good grammar. If we were to be taught fractions or decimals in January, somehow or another, Mom and Dad were playing math work featuring the new skills in November.
This information was not fed to us as games, however. We learned through sewing, cooking, music, farmwork, etc. Fractions were taught through music. Practical math through work. Visits to the Bushnell library were weekly affairs. Our house featured boxes, shelves, bookcases and attics of books, pictures and magazines.
This treasure had been gathered by four generations of the Fouts family that included my mother, Alta Fouts. I used to sneak a last peek with a flashlight at an old Youth Companion since the folks would see the old "Delco" light in my bedroom.
We moved back and forth from our home south of Ellisville to a farm near Bushnell every fall and spring from 1945 to 1949 in order that we might secure a better education from the Bushnell schools. And, I might add, I believe that we did. Leila, Norman and I did graduate from Bushnell High School.
After Joyce's death in 1948, the family made one more complete move and then moved back to the Ellisville farm to stay. The Bushnell farm was sold later. My mother was never really happy at the Bushnell farm.
Some fond memories of my relatives and love of music include playing the piano -- "chording" for my grandfather George A. Helle, father Royle Helle and for my uncles Delbert, Don and Verle. I have also played or sung with various relatives -- Joann (Helle) Courtney, Allan Blout, Aunt Charlotte (Helle) Osbom and family plus my brothers, sisters, daughters and son, niece Paula Helle and nephew, Steve Helle.
I can remember always wanting to teach. My poor little brother, Glen, learned his abc's, numbers, etc., at a tender age; whether he wanted to or not. I know that my mother
often took sides and made me let him go play even though I wanted a hapless victim to "play school." Fortunately, the neighbor kids and some cousins were far more cooperative.
I got a chance to be a rural all - grade teacher at the age of nineteen at the Cottonwood School near Farmington. I was in seventh heaven for two school years -- 1949 - 50 and 1950 -51 -- with my ten to fifteen students ranging in ages from six to sixteen. I worked hard, made a lot of mistakes, but I learned and so did my students.
From 1948 to 1953 I taught two years at Cottonwood, one year as an intermediate grade teacher at Checkrow School in the Bushnell system, got my bachelor degree in education, my MRS. with marriage to SAMUEL EMERSON BOYCE and was employed for my second year at Checkrow.
After my marriage and the move to the orchard farm, I gained another old country home to love and work for. I had another father, Joe Boyce, who also taught me a lot. He was very much a part of our life for eight years. Three generations under one roof is educational. My father, also, in later years, spent a lot of time with us. He spent his last year at our home with exceptions of visits with his other children.
Our children; Jerry, Norma and June, were lucky to have their two grandfathers as a "special generation family."
The only major sorrow in our married life was the loss of our first child, Samuel Edward Boyce, who was stillborn on 30 December 1954. The children were born:
SAMUEL EDWARD BOYCE, 17g
b.
Avon, IL; Dec. 1954
Avon, IL; Dec. 1954d.Avon, IL; Dec. 1954
Avon, IL; Dec. 1954br. Canton, IL; Locust Lane Cemetery
JERRY LEE BOYCE, 17g
b.Galesburg, IL; June 1957
Galesburg, IL; June 1957 NORMA JANENE BOYCE, 17g
b.Galesburg, IL; Jan. 1959
Galesburg, IL; Jan. 1959 JUNE MARIE BOYCE, 17g
b.Galesburg, IL; June 1960
Galesburg, IL; June 1960 My major accomplishment in life has been our children. Other occupations have included dual roles on the farm and orchard, more teaching, substitute teaching, tutoring, news correspondent, 4-H leader, local and county HEA member and officer, etc. Hobbies have been people, reading, piano, gardening and selling of World Books. I firmly believe that "selling" has been the basis of my life; whether it is education, apples, books or ideas.
Emerson Boyce spent most of his life on an eighty acre farm located at the east edge of Deerfield Township. His father, Joe Boyce, was a coal miner and a farmer. The family planted fruit trees, strawberries and other fruits and planted com and hay crops for hogs, sheep and cattle. They learned the orchard business through experiences gained at working at a neighbor's orchard plus "trial and error." Joe kept working at the mine until he was injured in a mine accident which left him permanently disabled in the days before disability benefits.
Emerson spent eight years in a rural school and attended Fairview High School. He decided it would be more interesting and less expensive during those Depression years to stay home and help his brother and parents plant the orchard. Since that time his brother moved off the farm, entered military service, farmed and was never totally involved with the orchard again. After Emerson's mother died, he and his father lived together on the farm for twelve years. In 1953 he married Ava Helle and she promised him, "It will never be so quiet again." It hasn't been!
The orchard hit its productive years and this meant that cider shed, grading shed, sales and storage sheds needed to be built. The family displayed apples at the State Fair and other shows for approximately thirty - five years.
Emerson enjoys his three children and their spouses plus the four grandchildren. This fits in with his interest in people. He really views every customer as a friend. He has worked with young people by giving them a first paying job. serving as a 4-H leader, baseball coach and just being around to "talk with."
He has worked for Deerfield Township in several ways --first as the "old town - Dick," or constable, in the 1940's and 1950's; later as a township auditor and as a township supervisor -- serving thirteen years and three years respectively. He also served a four year term of the tri - township assessor committee of Deerfield, Harris and Lee Townships. He is currently serving on committees for agricultural and horticultural work in Fulton County
The Boyce Orchard and Ava and Emerson have been host to many preschool and school tours plus welcoming three different foreign Western Illinois University agricultural students into their home for a week at a time. Guests at the orchard have included many nationalities from various countries.
Long known as "Cider Man," Emerson's barrels of cider are a tradition in the area. As surely as the leaves begin to turn, the "Cider Man" gets ready for his favorite job. Fall brings friends, relatives and new friends to his doorstep. All the above, coupled with coonhunting, should be enough to keep any man happy. He can count on the cooperation of family and others to join in on the fun.
JERRY LEE BOYCE, - 17g (Ava Helle 16, Maternal: Alta
Fouts 15, Tracy Helle 14, Frederick 13. Patemal:
Royle 15, George A. 14, Frederick 13)
b.Galesburg, IL; June 1957
Galesburg, IL; June 1957m.Bushnell, IL; Methodist Church; Sep. 1979
Bushnell, IL; Methodist Church; Sep. 1979TERESA "TERI" JANE MCGREW, daughter of Thomas Milton and Jane Ellen McGrew.
b.Canton, IL; Dec. 1959
Canton, IL; Dec. 1959JERRY LEE BOYCE graduated from Spoon River Valley
High School, Fairview, and attended Spoon River College, Canton. At age twenty - two he married TERESA "TERI" JANE MCGREW. Teri is a graduate of Bushnell High School and attended classes at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg and Spoon River College in Canton. She is employed as a nurse aide at the Avon Nursing Home.
Jerry and Ten live on and he farms the Fouts "Home Place" purchased by his mother, Ava (Helle) Boyce. They are the parents of:
MELANIE LYNNE BOYCE, 18g
b.Canton, IL; May 1981
Canton, IL; May 1981ANDREW LEE BOYCE, 18g
b.Canton, IL; Mar. 1984
Canton, IL; Mar. 1984NORMA JANENE BOYCE, 17g (Ava Helle 16. Maternal:
Alta Fouts 15, Tracy Helle 14, Frederick 13.
Paternal: Royle 15, George A. 14, Frederick 13)
b.Galesburg, IL; Jan. 1959
Galesburg, IL; Jan. 1959m.Ellisville, IL; Wiley Lutheran Church; June 1980
Ellisville, IL; Wiley Lutheran Church; June 1980RICHARD "DICK" ALAN LINDSEY, son of
Junior Allen and J0 Ann (DeFord) Lindsey.
b.Canton, IL; Dec. 1957
Canton, IL; Dec. 1957