Asa Joy, a thoroughly practical farmer and fruit-grower, and a highly-esteemed citizen of Ottawa County, is a native of Michigan and was born in Redford, Wayne County, October 6, 1839. His father, Bennett Joy, was born in New York State and long made his home near Syracuse. When about forty-five years of age he journeyed to the West, and located in Michigan in 1837. While serving bravely in the War of 1812, he was wounded and taken prisoner at Plattsburgh and held in the Quebec prison for three years, being released at the close of the war. He later worked on the Erie Canal and continued in that business until his removal to Michigan. Making his permanent home in Wayne County, he resided in Redford until his death. His family of eleven children was composed of five sons and six daughters. Two daughters and three sons are yet living.

Our subject, the third son, remained in his birthplace until the death of his mother, when he was about twelve years old. He made his home with a sister in Plymouth until 1862, at which time he enlisted in the service of the Government, entering the Twentieth Michigan Infantry, under Col. Henry A. Morrow. He was placed in the Old Iron Brigade, First Division, First Corps, Army of the Potomac, under Gen. Wadsworth. The first commander of the Army of the Potomac was Gen. Franklin, the second being Gen. John a. Reynolds. Mr. Joy participated in many of the most decisive engagements and aided in covering the retreat from the Battle of Bull Run. He fought at Fredericksburg and was one of the soldiers who took an active part in Burnside’s "Mud March". He was with the Fifth Wisconsin when they laid the pontoon bridges at the charge of the Rappahannock, on the Fitz Hugh Crossing, before the second battle of Fredericksburg.

From this scene of war our subject proceeded to the battlefield of Chancellorsville, and thence made his way to the conflict at Gettysburg, where in the first day’s fight he lost a leg. He was in the hospital in Gettysburg for six weeks, and now receives a pension of $30 per month, being on the roll of honor. As soon as able he returned to Plymouth, Wayne County, Mich., where for seventeen years he engaged in the milling business. About 1881 he went to Kansas, and, locating in Dorrance, Russell County, remained there for five years, devoting himself entirely to agricultural pursuits. At the expiration of that time he returned to the Wolverine State and settled permanently upon his present homestead. The farm contains eighty-five acres, about fifty of which have been brought to a high state of cultivation and yield annually an abundance of general farming products, as well as a variety of fruit, Mr. Joy meeting with especial success in the culture of grapes and apples.

When twenty-four years of age our subject was united in marriages in Canton, Wayne County, Mich., with Miss Helen E. Safford, whose parents were natives of Connecticut. It was in 1829 that the Saffords emigrated from their Eastern home to the wilds of Michigan, where they shared in the privations and peculiar experiences of the pioneer days. Three of the four children who blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Joy now survive: Eva, Mary and Maggie. Eva married G. B. Atkinson and lives on the farm; Mary is the wife of Dr. Brown and makes her home in Dorrance; and Maggie resides with her parents. Mrs. Joy is an adherent of the Democratic party, although he has at times advocated the principles of the Greenbackers. Fraternally, he is identified with the order of the United Workmen. In religious affiliation he is a Presbyterian, his wife also being a member of that denomination. In the varied experiences of his life, in times of peace and war, Mr. Joy has with loyal courage done his full duty, and is well worthy of the respect and confidence which he receives from a host of old-time friends and acquaintances.

Transcriber: Evelyn M. Sawyer
Created: 1 September 2003
URL: http://ottawa.migenweb.net/biographies/1893/joya.html

Contact County Coordinator: Evelyn_Sawyer@msn.com