Born in Shelby county, Kentucky, the 29th of October, 1820. He commenced going to school when but five years of age, and at six could read very well. He continued to attend school until he was eleven years of age, at which time the family removed to Montgomery county, Indiana. Here he went to a district school occasionally, in the winter months, working meanwhile upon the farm until 1843, when he retired from agricultural pursuits to a high school in that county, and subsequently attended school and taught for four years. His health failing him he returned to the farm, where he remained for eight years, during which time he read law, and was made justice of the peace, which office he held for five years. He possessed himself of a law library, and continued his study of law. At the end of eight years he entered the senior law department of Asbury University, Indiana, from which he graduated in the winter of 1856. He married, in 1846, Miss Mary G. Hufstedier, of Indiana. Upon his graduation he came with his family to Osceola, and commenced the practice of law. He was appointed, by the board of supervisors, county judge, in January, 1861, which office he continued to hold for nine years, continuing his practice in other courts of the state during his official term. In 1871 he was elected to the Fourteenth General Assembly of the State legislature. This was an unusually long term, lasting in all one hundred and forty days, with an intermediate adjournment. Judge Rice acted upon the judiciary committee which produced the "Code of Iowa." At the general election of 1874 he was elected to fill a vacancy in the State senate. Judge Rice was a strong Presbyterian churchman, and was an elder in the church for twenty years. He has taken great interest in educational matters, and in the Sabbath school. He was originally a Whig in politics, voting for Henry Clay, General Taylor, General Scott and General Fremont. He joined the republican party upon its formation, voting the two terms for Mr. Lincoln, for General Grant the first term, and for Peter Cooper in 1876.
If you would like to get the permanent link to a url other than the page you are currently viewing you can paste
a url inside of the destination box and hit regenerate
Print
Permanent Link