My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH A. RICE, came to Jasper county, Mo., and settled on his present farm, and has proved himself a good and successful farmer, and is quite well identified with the growth and prosperity of the county. He was born in Blunt county, Tenn., July 20, 1830. His parents, Alexander and Elizabeth Rice, had nine children, our subject being the second child, and was reared in Cass county, Mo., and received a limited education; but he is a great reader and has studied and improved it, and keeps himself posted on the topics of the day. Our subject was married to Miss Flovilla St. Leadger, Dec. 10, 1854. Her parents, John and Mary, were natives of Virginia, her father having served in the War of 1812. He had fifteen children, Mrs. Rice being the youngest child, being born May 5, 1834, in Pennsylvania, and reared in Virginia. Our subject moved to Kansas, and was next neighbor to John Brown, and lived there twelve years. During the war he was freighting for the government across the plains. He next moved and located on his present fine farm of 120 acres, all of which is under cultivation. He has a fine two-story frame house, and the necessary out-buildings Mr. Rice has four children: Alice, Lizzie Spurgeon, Mollie, and Sadie, who are ladies of refinement and culture, and great favorites in society. Mr. Rice’s reputation for upright and honorable dealings has won him a foremost place in the community.