Edwin K. Rice

RICE, KENNEDY, ANDERSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/18/2015 at 21:12:30

Northwestern Iowa
Its History and Traditions
1804 – 1926

Among the men who in their respective fields of effort are contributing to the commercial and industrial prosperity of Sioux City, specific mention should here be made of Edwin K. Rice, the able and successful vice-president and manager of the Johnson Biscuit Company. He was born in Clinton, Wisconsin, on the 14th of May, 1874, and is the fourth in order of birth of the five children of Albert C. and Sarah E. (Kennedy) Rice, natives of Illinois, who in an early day moved to Wisconsin, where the father was for a number of years engaged in mercantile business. Later he became a traveling salesman, which vocation he followed up to the time of his death, which occurred in Beloit, Wisconsin, about 1901. In 1887 the family had moved to Mitchell, South Dakota, remaining there about four years and in 1891 came to Sioux City. Eventually they returned to Beloit, Wisconsin, and after the father’s death the mother moved to Evanston, Illinois, where she died in 1926.

Edwin K. Rice received his educational training in the public schools of Wisconsin and South Dakota. He came to Sioux City with the family in 1891 and entered the employ of the Tolerton & Stetson Company, now the Tolerton & Warfield Company, remaining with that concern until 1896, when he went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he became a department manager for the Fort Dodge Grocery Company. In 1910 he returned to Sioux City and became a department manager for the Tolerton & Warfield Company, with whom he remained five years, at the end of which time he became identified with the Johnson Biscuit Company, of which he was made vice-president, and the following year was also made manager, both of which offices he is still holding. He is a man of sound business judgment, progressive in his ideas and energetic in his methods, so that his record in the direction of the operations of the company with which he is identified has been one of which he may justifiable be proud.

On September 28, 1899, in Mitchell, South Dakota, Mr. Rice was united in marriage to Miss Edith S. Anderson, the daughter of George and Ann (Holmes) Anderson. Mr. Rice is a member of the Morningside Country Club, the Midland Confectionery Association, of which he was president in 1921, and the National Confectioners’ Association, being a member of its executive committee in 1921-22. He belongs to the First Presbyterian Church. He has taken a commendable interest in local public affairs, particularly such as relate to the advancement of his community, and stands on the right side of every moral issue. Because of his well-rounded character, his business success and his genial social relations, he has long held an enviable place in public esteem and is regarded as one of the representative men of his city.