Orson Rice

RICE, VINCENT

Posted By: Diane Wilson (email)
Date: 5/19/2004 at 22:34:40

Orson Rice was a native of Ohio, coming to this State from Illinois, arriving in Butler county in 1854, and taking a claim. He was a man of about 28 years of age, and had a family. He was very illiterate and knew nothing at all of law when he commenced practice; but he was energetic, independent and entirely reckless as to the language he used. He would murder the English language and grammar in a way that often made him the laughing stock. He remained in the county, practicing law, until 1864 or 1865, when he removed to Spirit Lake, and is still at his profession, having served one term as district attorney, and came very near the Circuit Judgeship.
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Many laughable and pithy anecdotes are told of Rice, which illustrate the difficulties, in the way of insufficient education, against which he had to battle in his early practice. Several of these will be presented.
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On one occasion Mr. Rice had a case before justice of the peace, J. M. Vincent, as opposing counsel. The “Squire” was as illiterate as was Mr. Rice, and in drawing up the notice made a serious mistake. It was a case in which some one claimed $22, and some one else refused to pay. The names of parties have been forgotten, but they are immaterial. The “Squire” in drawing up the notice made the amount read “twenty-too dollars.” Rice was quick to see a point, but did not have knowledge to push it. When the case was called, Orson Rice, attorney for defendant, moved to “squash, as there was no specific amount or sum stated.” The justice said: “Don’t be a fool, Riche, and show how blamed ignorant your are.” Rice, however, insisted upon “squashing” the case, and remarked that “everyone knows that there is no sense to ‘twenty-too-a child knows it. Now, if it had read ‘twenty-t-o dollars,’ it would have had some weight. But as it is it must be ‘squashed.’” The justice stuck to “too,” and said he knew it was right, while Rice as vehemently stuck to “to.” Finally they agreed to let outside parties, who were authority on spelling, decide which of the two were right. How it was decided has not been told, but members of the bar tell the story of the squabble over the little word “two” with great relish.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Pages 332-333