Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 367

B. F. TICE, a representative farmer of Bloomington Township, residing on section 21, was born in Washington County, Md., in 1821. His parents John A. and Anna Eliza ( Stoner ) Tice, who were also natives of Maryland, had a family of thirteen children, of whom he was the third in order of birth. His father was a miller by trade, and emigrated to Indiana in 1829, settling on a farm in Wayne County, where he made his home until 1848, and thence removed to Louisa County, Iowa. Residing in Grandview Township, near the present town of Letts, he there engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in Louisa County in 1855. His excellent wife survived him for about four years, her death occurring in 1859. Mr. Tice served in the War of 1812, and was a prominent and leading citizen of Louisa County.

Our subject passed the days of his boyhood upon the farm, and received his education in the district schools of Indiana. In 1848, he removed to Louisa County, Iowa, where he continued to reside until 1854, when he came to Muscatine County, and in 1858 removed to a farm in Goshen Township, which he rented for about seven years. He then made his first purchase of land, consisting of 112 acres known as Overman's Ferry, which was nearly all improved. For thirty years he had charge of the ferry, and also operated the farm. To the original purchase he has added until he now owns 320 acres of fine arable land in Goshen Township, all under cultivation and improved. In 1881 he purchased sixty acres of highly cultivated land in Bloomington Township, only one mile from the corporation limits of Muscatine, upon which he now resides. To a great extent he has retired from active duties of life, yet still raises considerable stock.

In 1850, in Muscatine, Mr. Tice married Miss Rebecca Desbro, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Jesse Desbro, who, with his wife, was born in New York, but settled in Illinois, near East St. Louis. at an early day, the father there engaging in farming. In 1850 they settled in Muscatine County on the Island, where they both died several years ago. After their marriage our subject and his wife began their domestic life upon a farm, and to them were born six children : Ann Eliza, now Mrs. Silvey, resides in Kansas ; William is married, and lives on the old homestead ; Martha Rebecca, wife of Hiram Devore, is living in Dakota ; John, is married, and resides in Jasper Count, Iowa ; Elizabeth, wife of Jerry Devore, is a resident of Dakota ; Josephine makes her home in Muscatine. In 1869 our subject was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. In 1880, in Muscatine County, he was again married, becoming the husband of Nancy Wymer, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Matthias and Hannah ( Baughman ) Wymer, who were born in Ohio. Her father was a farmer, and came to Iowa in 1840, settling in Cedar County, in the Peedee settlement, where he purchased land of the Government and developed a farm, which he cultivated until his death in 1841. Many long years his wife survived him, her death occurring in 1885, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. By the second union of our subject three children have been born : Franklin, Sarah and Maggie, who are all yet at home. In his political sentiments the father is a Democrat, and has held various township offices, and has served as County Supervisor. He is one of the self-made men of Muscatine County, having gained all that he has by his own efforts of industry, frugality and perseverance. He is well known throughout the community where he resides, and is held in high esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Fine portraits of this worthy couple are herewith presented to the patrons of this album.


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