RICE-Isaac - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Although Isaac Rice, farmer of Brown Twp in the Browns Valley country, has spent the major portion of his life in Fountain County, he has become well known and has many close friends since taking up his residence in Montgomery county, for he has shown himself to be neighborly, hospitable, energetic an dpublic spirited, a good man for any neighborhood, in fact, every community wants such newcomers, and the reason is plain to see. Mr. Rice was born in Fountain County, Indiana on April 19, 1854; there he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools and there he resided continuously for a period of 41 years, removing to Montgomery Co in 1895, locating at Linden, where he lived 7 years, then moved to Brown Township, where he still resides. He is a son of "Boney" and Narcissus McCollins Rice. The father was born in Fountain County Indiana and there he spent his life engaged in farming, staying close to his work and taking little part in public affairs, although he was a staunch Democrat. His death occurred on Feb 11, 1876. His wife was born in Kentucky, and her death occurred in Fountain County. They were good, honest people. They were the parents of 14 children, 7 of whom are still living. Isaac Rice was married on December 31, 1876 to Florence Parrent who was born in Fountain County, this state on Jan 1, 1856. She is a daughter of William and Ellen Stephens Parrent, a highly respected family. Five children have been born to our subject and wife, 3 of whom are still living, namely: Elva, Mabel and Clare. Mr. Rice has always engaged in farming, and his efforts have been crowned with success. He has made a specialty of raising spotted Poland-China hogs, also draft road horses, also raised Barred Plymouth Rock chickens for over 30 years. He has had great success with his fine poultry and live stock. He is the owner of 160 acres nearly all of which is under a fine state of cultivation or at least is tillable with the possible exception of about 20 acres. His fields are fairly well tilled. He has a good home well furnished. He is still very actively engaged in general farming and stock raising and is regarded as one of the leading men of these honored vocations in the Browns valley country. Mr. Rice is a member of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He belongs to the Baptist Church and politically he is a Democrat, and has always been loyal in his support of the same, although he has never been an aspirant for public honors.

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Isaac RICE, merchant and farmer, Newtown was born in Henry Co KY Feb 13, 1821 and was the son of Jonathan and Rebecca Reynolds Rice. HIs father was a blacksmith and gunsmith but he was raised a farmer. In 1829 the family moved to Indiana and took up their residence in Brown Twp, Montgomery County and in 1841, Mr. Rice came to Richland, this county where he celebrated his marriage with Miss Margaret Stevens on November 4 of that same year. From that time he devote dhimself to farming till 1866 when he began merchandising in Newtown in partnership with his brother, William. He retired in 1875 and the following year was elected sheriff of Fountain Co and held the office two years. He then went to selling goods again with his brother. In the spring of 1880 the latter sold his interest to John W. Gebhart. Mr. Rice owns 180 acres of land a mile and a half northwest of Newtown valued at $9,000. He has always stood and still stands faithfully in the ranks of the democratic party and enjoys the equal respect and confidence of friends and opponents. He has been in communion in the Baptist Church 37 years and his wife 35. They have buried two sons and a daughter, and have one daughter living, Rebecca Jane, wife of Isaiah Jones.