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Samuel Joseph Rice
Born October 5, 1859 |
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| Samuel Joseph Rice, who prepared the account of Scotch Grove township which appears in this history of Jones county, is an agriculturist of note and a man whose foresight in meeting the needs of those engaged in the same line of work, has materially lightened their labors. He was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, October 5, 1859, of sturdy Scotch parentage. His father, Rev. John Rice, was born in Paisley, Scotland, February 23, 1824, and, having been educated for the Covenanter ministry, preached in the north of Scotland for a number of years before he came to the United States. In 1853 he crossed the Atlantic and after his arrival upon our shores, pursued the same vocation here as in the land of his birth. On the 23d of May, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Maria Diven, a daughter of Joseph and Nancy Diven, and they became the parents of four children. Samuel J. is the eldest. Robert Martin, the second, died in infancy. Andrew Alexander, who was born March 22, 1864, married Miss Eva Thomas. February 23, 1887, and died September 10, 1899, leaving two daughters, Ethel M. and Miriam E. Mary Elizabeth, born October 13, 1867, is now the wife of Donald 0. Sinclair. In 1873 the family came to Scotch Grove township, and in the spring of the following year moved to the homestead now occupied by Samuel Joseph Rice. Here Rev. Rice lived the remainder of his days, responding to the call of death October 9, 1808.
Samuel Joseph Rice was reared at home, acquiring under the guidance of his father those strong qualities which have made him one of the successful members of the community in which he lives. He devoted himself to agricultural pursuits early in his life, and while he has met with success in that line, it is as the inventor of the adjustable wagon scale stock rack that he is most widely known in this state and elsewhere, for this device has rendered some of the problems that confronted the stockman much simpler. It was patented in 1899 and has since been in general use, finding a ready sale wherever it has been introduced. The fact of the invention indicates the active mind which Mr. Rice has always brought to his daily work, so that it is natural that he should attain results in the cultivation of the soil impossible for a less progressive man. Under his management the boundaries of the homestead have been extended to include two hundred and twelve acres, eighty acres being valuable timber land, the remainder rich and arable. In connection with his other business, Mr. Rice has operated a threshing machine and sawmill and has also quarried considerable stone, meeting with success in all his undertakings.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 432. |
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© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison.
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