E.
T. RICE, county treasurer of Macoupin
County and one of the substantial residents of Gillespie township, whose
portrait accompanies this sketch, was born in this county August 14, 1853,
and is a son of Hugh and Christina Rice, natives of Ireland and the State of
Ohio, respectively
Hugh Rice came from Ireland to this country in
1837, and in 1843 located at Alton, Illinois, where he resided four years.
He enlisted for service in the United States Army during the Mexican War,
and his record as a soldier was an honorable one. In 1849 he went to the
gold fields of California, and upon his return to Illinois in 1851 purchased
a tract of land in Cahokia township, Macoupin County, where he was engaged
in agricultural pursuits and in raising and dealing in livestock during the
remainder of his life. He was one of the good substantial residents of the
county, and his death, which occurred in August, 1898, at the age of 81
years, was regretted by everyone who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
Mrs. Rice, who was born October 3, 1831, died December 21, 1880, at the age
of 49 years. They were the parents of the following children: E. T., subject
of this biography; Mary (Steidley); H. W.; J. P.; E. A.; Catherine (Zenor);
Laura (Ganey); Mae, deceased; W. H.; and Maud (Ibbetson). Mr. Rice was a
Democrat in politics, but never accepted office of any kind.
E. T.
Rice was educated in the common schools of Macoupin County, and in Blackburn
University at Carlinville. After the completion of his schooling, he turned
his attention to farming, in which business he has engaged continuously up
to the present time. He has 160 acres of valuable land in Gillespie
township, which he devotes to general farming and stock raising. He has been
successful at this vocation, and is one of the prosperous business men of
the community. He has always been unswerving in his support of the
Democratic party, and was elected to township offices a number of times. In
1903 he was elected county treasurer of Macoupin County by the handsome
majority of 750 votes and has since discharged the duties of the office in a
most satisfactory manner.
On February 20, 1879, Mr. Rice was united
in marriage with Miss R. E. Francis, a native of Macoupin County, and this
union has resulted in the following offspring: Pauline C.; Stewart P.; Mary
E.; Mae; Frances; and Charles. Fraternally, Mr. Rice is a member of the
Modern Woodmen of America.
Extracted 2018 May 06 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 168-170.
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