The Pine Plains Register
Pine Plains, New York
Thursday, April 4, 1940
Front page

Dr. John N. Boyce
Native Of Pine
Plains Died Friday

Dr. John Newton Boyce, 66, widely-known practicing physician throughout Dutchess county, and veteran of two wars, died suddenly at his home, 67 South Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie, on Friday night.

Dr. Boyce came from a family which had settled in Dutchess county prior to the American Revolutionary war. He was born in Pine Plains on August 11, 1873, the son of Nehemiah Jacob Boyce and Zaid Carpenter Boyce.

His first education was at the old Seymour Smith Institute in this village. He later attended Poughkeepsie High school, from which he was graduated in 18923. In 1895 he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia university, interning at the Kings County hospital in Brooklyn.

Admitted to practice, Dr. Boyce served as ship surgeon for nearly three years on passenger ships of the United Fruit lines, plying between New York and Rio de Janeiro. In 1898 he went to Poughkeepsie and opened an office at Academy and Cannon streets.

Dr. Boyce's first practice in Poughkeepsie was short-lived as he offered himself to the colors shortly after the United States declared war on Spain in May, 1898. During the war and for some time after, Dr. Boyce was transport surgeon on Army ships traveling between the United States and the Philippines. America was forced to keep an expeditionary force in the island for several years after the end of the Spanish-American war because of the insurrection of the native rebel Emilio Aguinaldo.

On July 28, 1901, Dr. Boyce was married to Josephine Delaney of Dallas, Texas in San Francisco. Dr. Boyce took his bride with him to the Philippines to spend the next year as contract surgeon with the Army in coping with the disastrous cholera plague.

In 1902 he returned to Dutchess county to open an office at Stanfordville, where he practiced for approximately 15 years. He closed his Stanfordville office in 1917 to again offer himself to an America at war. He spent his first year as recruiting officer with the rank of captain at Camp Devens, Mass.

In July, 1918, Dr. Boyce went abroad to join the 301st Field Signal battalion in France, serving as surgeon in a number of the field hospitals along the battle front. After the armistice he remained in service for some time in the Duchy of Luxembourg and in Germany. He returned to this country on May 30, 1919.

He then opened an office in the Potterson building at 64 Market street, later moving to the Professional building in Noxon street. For the last five years he maintained his office in the basement of his home at 67 South Hamilton St.

Professionally, Dr. Boyce was a member of the Dutchess County Medical society, the American Medical association, and the staff of Vassar Brothers' hospital. He was formerly on the staff of St. Francis' hospital.

Dr. Boyce was a charter member of Lafayette post, American legion, and chaplain at different periods. He was also a member of Triune Masonic lodge and the Square club, the Amrita club, and a former member of the Kiwanis club. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church.

He is survived by his wife, a daughter, Mrs. Paul Courtney of Poughkeepsie; three brother(s), Samuel C. Boyce of Danbury, Conn.; Benjamin C. Boyce of Nutley, N. J.; and Harry Boyce of Passaic, N. J.; and two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Dewight of New Haven, Ct., and Mrs. Wm. Carroll, 41 Corlies Ave., Poughkeepsie.

Funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian church, Poughkeepsie at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon. Dr. Harold Benner Kerschner, pastor of the church, officiating. Burial was in the Stanfordville cemetery.

Honorary bearers were Drs. Scott Lord Smith, James T. Harrington, John I. Cotter, John M. Jacobus, F. M. Hedgecock, and Robert Breed.