The subject of this sketch was born in Travis county, Texas, May 8, 1842, and his life was one of thrilling events in which courage, perseverance and fair dealing were manifested to a marked degree. His parents moved to Texas from Missouri in 1839, and located in Travis County. In 1853 the family moved to Round Rock, Williamson County, and thence to Burnet County, where the elder Boyce and his four sons established a ranch and farm, and were among the first to turn the sod and plant the Golden corn. Indian raids were frequent in those days and the Boyces could be depended upon at all times when courage and endurances were in demand.

At the age of nineteen, Albert G. Boyce enlisted in the Confederate army and spent four years of hard soldier life. He first saw service under Captain Nick Darnell, serving in the Mississippi department. He took part in several engagements, was captured at the fall of Arkansas Post, and was imprisoned several months at Fort Douglas, Chicago. He was afterwards exchanged, and was in General Bragg's Division, where he was wounded at Chickamauga in 1863. When able to travel, he was given a parole and walked the long distance back to his home in Texas. He afterwards was in General Ford's command on the Rio Grande, under D. M. Wilson, and was in the last battle of the Civil War, which was fought between Banks' soldiers and the Confederates on the old battlefield of Palo Alto, April 13, 1865, four days after the surrender of General Robert E. Lee.

After the war, Colonel Boyce embarked in the cattle business. He was one of the few men who drove a herd of Texas cattle to the California coast in 1867. The trip required two years, and the entire route was fraught with great danger from hostile Indians and bands of outlaws.

In 1887 he took up his residence on the Staked Plains of Texas, as manager of the XIT Ranch, the largest in the world, composed of 3,000,000 acres. He was in active management of this ranch for eighteen years.

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