HENRY S. RICE
Henry
S. Rice, who since 1894 has resided at Humeston, Iowa, after a
long and successful career as agriculturist in Wayne county,
where he cultivated two hundred and fifty-seven acres in Clay
township for a number of years, has also earned distinction as
one of those men who stood in defense of the Union at the time
of the darkest hour in this country’s history. He was born in
Fayette county, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1841, and grew to
manhood in Greene county of the same state. His parents,
natives of Pennsylvania, were William and Sarah (Jackson)
Rice, who died in their native state in 1862 and 1844
respectively. In
their family were thirteen children, of whom three died in
infancy, the others being:
Mrs. Lucinda Sharpneck-Cravennutt, deceased; Mrs.
Margaret Haver, deceased; Mrs. Isabelle Kline, deceased; Mrs.
Sarah Ann Curl, deceased; Mrs. Libby Haver, deceased; William,
deceased; James, deceased; Samuel Jackson, who at the age of
seventy-eight years resides in Wyoming, Stark county,
Illinois; Henry S., of this review; and one half brother, Abel
Young Rice, deceased. All
of these children were born in Greene county, Pennsylvania,
with the exception of our subject.
Up
to 1863 Henry S. Rice followed agricultural pursuits but in
that year, removing to Peoria county, Illinois, enlisted in
Company A with the One Hundred and Fifty-first Illinois
Volunteer Infantry Regiment, under Captain Andrews, and served
with distinction until the close of the Civil war. He was mustered out
at Columbus, Georgia, January 24, 1866, and, returning to
Peoria, remained there until 1870, in which year he removed to
Appanoose county, Iowa, and there engaged in farming. In 1876 he came to
Wayne county, following his occupation until his removal to
Humeston in 1894. His
farm consisted of two hundred and fifty-seven acres of rich
and fertile land in Clay township and to its cultivation and
improvement he gave his whole attention, instituting a number
of improvements which have made the place one of the most
valuable in this section.
He also interested himself largely in stock-raising,
specializing in full-blooded shorthorn cattle and Poland China
hogs and deriving from this branch of his efforts a gratifying
income. In 1894
he sold his farming interests and removed to Humeston, where
he purchased a comfortable home and where he and his wife now
spend their declining days in rest and comfort well earned. He has also other
city property.
Mr. Rice was married on December 12, 1867, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Curl) Sharpneck, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1844. Her parents were Membrance and Emeline (Anderson) Curl, natives of Pennsylvania, the latter being born June 7, 1820. The father passed away at Hopeville, Clarke county, Iowa, in 1901, but the mother is still surviving at the age of ninety-three years and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Rice of this review. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Curl were the following children: John, residing at Indianola, Iowa; Membrance, who makes his home near Cincinnati, Appanoose county, this state; William, of Wellman Iowa; Alexander and Corwin, deceased; Mrs. Henry S. Rice; Mrs. Airie Anderson, of Union county, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Beal, a resident of Peoria county, Illinois; Mrs. Charlotte Hudson, residing at Cincinnati, Appanoose county, this state; and Mrs. Rachel Fritz, of Washington county, Iowa. The four eldest of these children were born in Pennsylvania but the younger ones are natives of Peoria county, Illinois. Mrs. Rice by a former union was the mother of one son, William Sharpneck, born September 30, 1862, who resides in Davis county, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Rice were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living: George Henry, born August 4, 1869, who resides near Omaha, Nebraska; James Alexander, who was born November 15, 1872, and makes his home in Oregon; Theodore, born in April, 1874, residing at home; Thomas Newton, born September 4, 1875, a resident of Little Rock, Arkansas; Mrs. Sarah Ann Steere, born January 3, 1879, who resides in St. Paul, Minnesota, where her husband is manager of a large pickle factory; Emma, born July 7, 1881, who is attending a training school for nurses in Valparaiso, Indiana; John, deceased; Roy, born September 7, 1886, who resides at St. Paul, Minnesota; and Mrs. Laura Syres, born September 15, 1888, a resident of Centerville, this state. George Henry Rice, the eldest child, is a native of Illinois, while the two next in order of birth were born in Appanoose county, Iowa, and the younger ones in Wayne county. Miss Emma Rice was one of the most successful teachers in the state, being employed for a number of years in various of the leading high schools before undertaking the study of nursing. Mr. Rice determined that all his children should receive the very best education that the community afforded, as his own advantages along that line in his boyhood were sadly neglected. This was one of the reasons that decided him to move into Humeston, and he can find pride in the fact that he has sent forth all of his children well equipped for the battle of life.
Mr. Rice gives his allegiance to the democratic party and has always taken a deep and active interest in all matters concerning public affairs. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Humeston and he belongs to the Wayne Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, where he delights to meet his former comrades in arms. Not only have his life labors constituted a valuable part of the development of Wayne county along agricultural lines but the country honors in him one of those who willingly offered their services at a critical period in the history of the country for the preservation of the Union. Although seventy-two years of age, he still interests himself in all matters which concern the city in which he makes his home and gives his support to all those measures which he deems beneficial. His has been a busy and useful life which has been a serviceable factor in the growth and upbuilding of Wayne county, and although here have been no spectacular phases in his life record his history is one which may well inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished when energy and ambition lead the way.