Rice, Henry D.

RICE, SHATTUC, BARTON, SMITH

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/25/2006 at 12:01:10

RICE, HENRY D. (Deceased)

Henry D. Rice and his estimable wife made the Bonnie Doon Hotel one of the principal establishments of the kind in the northwest.

Henry D. Rice was born in Cambridge, Washington County, New York, twenty-five miles from Saratoga, and thirty-five miles from Albany, August 17, 1832. His education was secured in the local schools, and in the academy in Poultney, Vermont. In 1856 he came into the far west and joined a surveying party. They tramped through the wilds as far as Pembinia, and then returned to St. Paul. The following winter they footed it from Dubuque to St. Paul, as there were no railroads and the river was frozen. In the summer of 1857 they were again at work surveying in Minnesota. After completing the season he went back to the east, and for nine years was there engaged in farming, but in 1866 again came west, bringing his family with him, and settled for a time in Peterson, Clay County, Iowa, where he built a stone residence. The following winter he spent in O'Brien County, four miles from Peterson, and in the spring of 1868 in company with Lafayette Knight came to Lyon County, and on the site of the village of Doon, put up a cabin. Mr. Rice went back to Peterson for his family, and the following year put up the first frame house erected in this region. For the construction of this model dwelling he hauled the lumber from Sioux City, where they bought their provisions, and where for a time their mail also was delivered. The Rices entertained strangers. It is history that Mrs. Rice, who settled on the Rock River in 1870, was the first white woman on the river. After a time a railroad was finished to LeMars, and later to Sheldon, only twenty-six miles away, which seemed to them a wonderful convenient market. When a postal route and a station were established, the post office at Doon was put into the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Rice, who held it until the building of the Omaha road through Doon, when they turned it over to the agent of the road.

Mr. Rice built the hotel in 1880, which he named the Bonnie Doon, and was compelled ten years later to materially enlarge it by the steady increase of patronage. In 1902 he made a second addition, and retained his interests here until his death.

Mr. Rice was married August 17, 1858, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Dewey and Lorana (Shattuc) Barton. Her father was born in Bennington, Vermont, followed farming as his life occupation, and died at the age of seventy years. His father, Richard, who lived to be eighty years of age, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and came of a Welsh ancestry. Lorana Shattuc was a daughter of William and Sarah (Smith) Shattuc. He was born in England, and became a soldier in the War of 1812. Sarah Smith was a daughter of John Smith, who was a veteran of the Revolution.

Thomas Rice, the father of Henry D., was born in Connecticut in 1796 and died in 1859. His father, Roswell Rice, was born in England. Selina (Belling) Rice, the mother of Henry D., is the daughter of Ebenezer and Dollie (Danforth) Belling. Ebenezer Belling was born in Connecticut, and the history of the family is authentic back to 809. They belonged to the old puritans, and there is still in the family possession the hammer and square used in the building of the first meeting house near Boston. Dollie Danforth was the daughter of Jonathan Danforth, a soldier of the Revolution, who became a postmaster soon after the inauguration of Washington, a position he held as long as he lived.

Henry D. Rice cast his first vote for Fremont in 1856, and has since been a Republican. He was the first justice of the peace in this county, and in the early days married many couples. On one occasion he was called some twenty-five miles across the country to marry a couple. It was in the spring of the year, and Rock River was so high he had to leave his team to cross the river in a dugout, and walk the rest of the way. After the ceremony he was asked how much the charges were, and replied that the state allowed him two dollars, but the groom could pay him what more he thought fit as the journey had been especially hard. That worthy gentleman pondered a moment and then drew out a quarter from his wallet with the observation that that would pay him in addition to what the state gave him. Mr. Rice said he gave it back, and spent another day in getting home.

The Danforth family, of whom mention is made above, deserves more than passing attention. Joshua Danforth, the oldest son of Jonathan, was a lieutenant in the Continental army during the Revolution, and located on the Hudson River. At one time he was judge advocate. A Diary kept by him is now in the possession of Mrs. Fields of Minneapolis. Lydia Danforth married a Mr. Woodard, and lived in New York. The mother of Vice President Wheeler was one of her descendants. Keyes Danforth, a son of Jonathan, was born in Bellerica, June 4, 1736. Nicholas Danforth came to this country from Framlingham, England, in 1634, had three sons and three daughters. He settled in what is now Cambridge, Massachusetts. Jonathan Danforth, with his two sons, Joshua, aged sixteen, and Jonathan, aged fourteen, was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and served as MinuteMen until the close of the war. Joshua Danforth made his home in Pittsfield, where he married and remained, holding many offices and honor. President Washington made him postmaster of Pittsfield in 1784, the year the office was established. He was holding this position at the time of his death, January 30, 1837, being the oldest postmaster in length of service in the country.

The following is the genealogy of Mrs. Rice along the Danforth line: Nicholas Danforth was born in 1586, and died in 1638; Elizabeth Symmes, his wife, died in 1624. Their third son, Capt. Jonathan Danforth, was born in 1628, and died in 1712; Elizabeth Poulter, his wife, born in 1633, died in 1689. Their third child and oldest son was Ensign Jonathan Danforth, who was born in 1659, and died in 1712. His wife, Rebecca Parker, was born in 1661, and died in 1754. Their fifth child and third son, was Samuel Danforth, who was born in 1692, and died in 1742. His wife, Dorathy Shed, was born in 1691; their eighth son, and youngest of twelve children, Capt. Jonathan Danforth, was born in 1736, and died in 1802. His wife, Lydia Read, was the mother of the following family: Joshua, Jonathan, Dorathy, Lydia, and Hannah. Dorathy Danforth, who was always called Dollie, married Ebenezer Billing, and became the mother of the following children: Laura, Sophia, Danforth, Danforth (2), Selina, married Thomas Rice.

Henry D. Rice was the son of Thomas Rice, and Selina Billing. Thomas Rice was the son of Roswell Rice, who was born March 31, 1769, dying in 1849, and of Mary Nye, who died in 1796. Roswell Rice was the son of Thomas and Thankful (Eldredge) Rice; the father was born September 1, 1745, dying in 1833. Thomas Rice was the son of Daniel and Lydia (Royer) Rice. He was a twin brother with John Rice. The fifth in descent from William Brewster is Abigail Smith.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson