Individual Details
Martin Luther RICE
(2 Dec 1824 - 2 Jan 1888 - 1891)
Occupation and place of death is from a bio of brother Charles A. Rice. The date of death in the bio is simply 1891 - the date in 1888 is from an unsourced, unverified gedcom.
The History of Clark County, Ohio, W. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1881, pages 907-909. Digitized at ancestry.com from a copy at FHL, #977.149 42R.
"Martin L. Rice, of the firm of James Neill & Co., manufacturers of and dealers in boots and shoes, Springfield. Mr. Rice has been identified with the growth and business of Springfield for nearly twenty years. He is a native of Worcester Co., Mass., born Dec. 2, 1824; he was one of five sons, whose father, believing every young man should have a trade, had each one apprenticed at a proper age. Martin L. was apprenticed to a baker, and afterward became associated with his father, Anson Rice, who was a merchant,, and the Postmaster at Northboro, Mass.; he remained in business there about fifteen years, then came West and located at Springfield; he was connected with the Yellow springs Agricultural Works, and one of four who lost $70,000 by the fire which destroyed the works in March, 1860, after which he became connected with the Lagonda Agricultural Works, and continued there about five years, during which important progress was made. In 1865, he retired, and became interested in merchandising, Rice & Co., being successors to W. S. Field & Co. in the business now conducted by Andrews, Wise & Putnam. After a very successful of about ten years, he sold out and became connected with the management and construction of the now Springfield Southern Railway, with which he continued to be actively interested about three years; in the meantime, he had purchased and become sole proprietor of the "Springfield Curved Elbow," which he still continues to manufacture with marked success. By reason of his connection with this patent, he became the defendant in the case known as that of Price vs. Rice, one of the most tedious, as it was the most persistently prosecuted and firmly defended, suits known to the courts of Clark County; after three trials in the Court of Common Pleas, and a hearing by appeal in the District Court, Mr. Rice triumphed, and, though the litigation cost him a good-sized fortune in money, and more in annoyance, he defeated what he then considered and what he now considers a very carefully planned and ably executed attempt to levy blackmail under cover of a claim for indebtedness. In 1879, he purchased the stock of the assignee and succeeded to the business of W. A. Hance, and has since conducted a large and flourishing trade in boots and shoes, at No. 38 East Main street, under the firm name of James Neill & Co. It will thus be seen Mr. Rice's life has been an unusually active one; in fact, he has earned the reputation of being indefatigable in business. He belongs to a family remarkable for their activity and capacity; his oldest brother, John A. Rice, now of the Tremont House, Chicago, has acquired distinction as a hotel manager; another brother, Myron G., now deceased, was prominent in railroad circles; Charles A. has been connected with the management of the United States & Canada Express Company for the past thirty years; and the youngest brother, Solon W., has been identified with the mining interest at Gold Hill, Nev., for the past fifteen years. Mr. Rice began life for himself as an apprentice, and has worked his way by a life of intense activity, and, though he has suffered losses, has accumulated a considerable estate, and now owns a number of valuable pieces of city property, including that occupied by the firms of which he is the financial and managing head; his residence, on Center street, corner of Mulberry, is a fine property; the building, having cost him $17,000, is a model of convenience and beauty. Mr. Rice has been a member of the Republic Printing Company since its organization, and is a public-spirited citizen, generous toward all worthy charities and enterprises of public benefit. His wife, nee Miss Maynard, is a daughter of Calvin and Judith Maynard, of Marlboro, Mass., and a sister of James F. Maynard, of the firm of Maynard, Skinner & Co., wholesale grocers of Boston, Mass.; her first husband, Stephen W. Eager, also of Marlboro, Mass., deceased only three months after their marriage; her marriage with Mr. Rice was celebrated in Boylston, Mass., Dec. 22, 1846; this union has been blessed with four children - three daughters and a son; the son died in infancy; two daughters, Emily M. and Addie M. are still at home; the other daughter is the wife of J. C. Brecht, who resides in Springfield, and is the well-known and reliable conductor of the "Short Line" accommodation between here and Cincinnati, he having held that position from the date of the first train (July 3,, 1872) to the present time; his record, in the language of one of the railroad officials, may be summed up in three words, viz., sobriety, honesty, industry. In 1858, Mr. Rice was made a Mason at Marlboro, Mass., and has ever since taken a deep interest in the Masonic fraternity, having been for twenty-one years a member of Clark Lodge No. 101, of Springfield. In politics, he was a Whig, and, since the organization of the Republican party, has been voting that ticket, having been always opposed to slavery and in favor of all men being free and equal."
The History of Clark County, Ohio, W. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1881, pages 907-909. Digitized at ancestry.com from a copy at FHL, #977.149 42R.
"Martin L. Rice, of the firm of James Neill & Co., manufacturers of and dealers in boots and shoes, Springfield. Mr. Rice has been identified with the growth and business of Springfield for nearly twenty years. He is a native of Worcester Co., Mass., born Dec. 2, 1824; he was one of five sons, whose father, believing every young man should have a trade, had each one apprenticed at a proper age. Martin L. was apprenticed to a baker, and afterward became associated with his father, Anson Rice, who was a merchant,, and the Postmaster at Northboro, Mass.; he remained in business there about fifteen years, then came West and located at Springfield; he was connected with the Yellow springs Agricultural Works, and one of four who lost $70,000 by the fire which destroyed the works in March, 1860, after which he became connected with the Lagonda Agricultural Works, and continued there about five years, during which important progress was made. In 1865, he retired, and became interested in merchandising, Rice & Co., being successors to W. S. Field & Co. in the business now conducted by Andrews, Wise & Putnam. After a very successful of about ten years, he sold out and became connected with the management and construction of the now Springfield Southern Railway, with which he continued to be actively interested about three years; in the meantime, he had purchased and become sole proprietor of the "Springfield Curved Elbow," which he still continues to manufacture with marked success. By reason of his connection with this patent, he became the defendant in the case known as that of Price vs. Rice, one of the most tedious, as it was the most persistently prosecuted and firmly defended, suits known to the courts of Clark County; after three trials in the Court of Common Pleas, and a hearing by appeal in the District Court, Mr. Rice triumphed, and, though the litigation cost him a good-sized fortune in money, and more in annoyance, he defeated what he then considered and what he now considers a very carefully planned and ably executed attempt to levy blackmail under cover of a claim for indebtedness. In 1879, he purchased the stock of the assignee and succeeded to the business of W. A. Hance, and has since conducted a large and flourishing trade in boots and shoes, at No. 38 East Main street, under the firm name of James Neill & Co. It will thus be seen Mr. Rice's life has been an unusually active one; in fact, he has earned the reputation of being indefatigable in business. He belongs to a family remarkable for their activity and capacity; his oldest brother, John A. Rice, now of the Tremont House, Chicago, has acquired distinction as a hotel manager; another brother, Myron G., now deceased, was prominent in railroad circles; Charles A. has been connected with the management of the United States & Canada Express Company for the past thirty years; and the youngest brother, Solon W., has been identified with the mining interest at Gold Hill, Nev., for the past fifteen years. Mr. Rice began life for himself as an apprentice, and has worked his way by a life of intense activity, and, though he has suffered losses, has accumulated a considerable estate, and now owns a number of valuable pieces of city property, including that occupied by the firms of which he is the financial and managing head; his residence, on Center street, corner of Mulberry, is a fine property; the building, having cost him $17,000, is a model of convenience and beauty. Mr. Rice has been a member of the Republic Printing Company since its organization, and is a public-spirited citizen, generous toward all worthy charities and enterprises of public benefit. His wife, nee Miss Maynard, is a daughter of Calvin and Judith Maynard, of Marlboro, Mass., and a sister of James F. Maynard, of the firm of Maynard, Skinner & Co., wholesale grocers of Boston, Mass.; her first husband, Stephen W. Eager, also of Marlboro, Mass., deceased only three months after their marriage; her marriage with Mr. Rice was celebrated in Boylston, Mass., Dec. 22, 1846; this union has been blessed with four children - three daughters and a son; the son died in infancy; two daughters, Emily M. and Addie M. are still at home; the other daughter is the wife of J. C. Brecht, who resides in Springfield, and is the well-known and reliable conductor of the "Short Line" accommodation between here and Cincinnati, he having held that position from the date of the first train (July 3,, 1872) to the present time; his record, in the language of one of the railroad officials, may be summed up in three words, viz., sobriety, honesty, industry. In 1858, Mr. Rice was made a Mason at Marlboro, Mass., and has ever since taken a deep interest in the Masonic fraternity, having been for twenty-one years a member of Clark Lodge No. 101, of Springfield. In politics, he was a Whig, and, since the organization of the Republican party, has been voting that ticket, having been always opposed to slavery and in favor of all men being free and equal."
Events
| Birth | 2 Dec 1824 | Northborough, Worcester Co., Massachusetts |  | ||
| Marriage | 5 Dec 1846 - 22 Dec 1846 | Boylston, Worcester Co., MA - Mary W MAYNARD |  | ||
| Census | 1 Jun 1850 | Pg. 504; Martin L. Rice, 25 (1824-25), born Mass., Trader. Also in household is Adeline Minn, 30, born Mass., Northborough, Worcester Co., Massachusetts | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1860 | 4th Ward, pg. 173; Martin L. Rice, head, 37 (1822-23), born Mass., manf. of apri insp (?), real estate of $5,000 personal of $1,000., Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio | | ||
| Census | 1 Jun 1870 | Ward 3, pg. 48; Martin Rice, head, 45 (1824-25), born Mass., Ret. Hardware Merchant, real estate of $30,000, personal of $17,000., Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio | | ||
| Census | 1 Jun 1880 | ED 46 pg. 13, 161 Centre Street; Martin L. Rice, head, 50 (1829-30), born Mass. both parents born Mass., boot and shoe merchant., Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio | | ||
| Death | 2 Jan 1888 - 1891 | Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio | |||
| Occupation | Unknown | Hardware manufacturer |
Families
| Spouse | Mary W MAYNARD (1827 - 1880) |
| Child | Mary Emily RICE (1848 - 1920) |
| Child | Anson Martin RICE (1850 - 1851) |
| Child | Sarah Lavina RICE (1852 - 1920) |
| Child | Addie Maria RICE (1857 - 1926) |
| Father | Anson RICE (1798 - 1875) |
| Mother | Lucy SHERMAN (1790 - 1868) |
| Sibling | Charles Anson "Charley" RICE (1826 - ) |
| Sibling | John Asaph RICE (1829 - 1880) |
| Sibling | Myron Grenville RICE (1830 - 1864) |
| Sibling | Mary Fairbanks Penny RICE (1832 - 1901) |
| Sibling | Solon Wood RICE (1835 - 1907) |
Notes
Marriage
Massachusetts Marriages, 1633-1850about Martin L. RiceName: Martin L. Rice
Gender: Male
Spouse: Mrs. Mary W. Eager
Marriage Date: 5 Dec 1846
City: Boylston
County: Worchester
Source: Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Film # 0873753 item 4.
Census
In 1860 census, in Martin's household were two men:Henry W. Munard [Maynard possibly?], 35 (1824-25), born Mass., Wheel Wright
Frederick C. Deming, 35, born Mass., Master Blacksmith.
Census
In 1870 census, also in Martin's household were:Joshua Gore, 58, born MD, Ret. ___ ____ dealer. Can't read some words.
Rebecca J. Gore, 50, born Ohio.
Census
In 1880 census, also in Martin's household is:Frank Woodbridge, 30, lodger, born Mass., both parents born Mass., civil engineer.
Endnotes
1. Vital Records of Northborough Massachusetts, Pg. 57.