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

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

From this scene of war our subject proceeded to the battlefield ofChancellorsville, and thence made his way to the conflict at Gettysburg, wherein the first day’s fight he lost a leg. He was in the hospital in Gettysburgfor six weeks, and now receives a pension of $30 per month, being on the roll ofhonor. As soon as able he returned to Plymouth, Wayne County, Mich., where forseventeen years he engaged in the milling business. About 1881 he went toKansas, and, locating in Dorrance, Russell County, remained there for fiveyears, devoting himself entirely to agricultural pursuits. At the expiration ofthat time he returned to the Wolverine State and settled permanently upon hispresent homestead. The farm contains eighty-five acres, about fifty of whichhave been brought to a high state of cultivation and yield annually an abundanceof general farming products, as well as a variety of fruit, Mr. Joy meeting withespecial 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 ofConnecticut. It was in 1829 that the Saffords emigrated from their Eastern hometo the wilds of Michigan, where they shared in the privations and peculiarexperiences of the pioneer days. Three of the four children who blessed the homeof 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 homein Dorrance; and Maggie resides with her parents. Mrs. Joy is an adherent of theDemocratic party, although he has at times advocated the principles of theGreenbackers. Fraternally, he is identified with the order of the UnitedWorkmen. In religious affiliation he is a Presbyterian, his wife also being amember of that denomination. In the varied experiences of his life, in times ofpeace and war, Mr. Joy has with loyal courage done his full duty, and is wellworthy of the respect and confidence which he receives from a host of old-timefriends and acquaintances.