Frederick Rice
Frederick Rice, retired farmer, Chester Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1815. His grandfather, Frederick Rice, was also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1760, and for five years was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving under Washington at Valley Forge and Trenton. He married a Miss Lauffer, of Westmoreland County, Penn., and to them were born ten children, all of whom have been dead for many years. In 1812 he moved with his family to Wayne County, Ohio, and settled on a tract of wild land south of Wooster, where he improved a good farm, making it his home forty years. His death occurred in 1850. His son, Christian Rice, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1793, making that county his home until 1819, when he followed his father to Wayne County, Ohio. He located near Tylertown, settling on a tract of land his father had entered, on which he lived a number of years, when he purchased and moved to the farm now owned by his son Frederick. Christian Rice married Charlotte Hine, a native of Westmoreland County, Penn., and to them were born ten children, three of whom are now living.
Frederick Rice, subject of our notice, as has already been seen, is a representative of one of the earliest pioneer families. He was early inured to the work of the farm, his education being only such as was obtained at the log school-house. He has been successful in the vocation of his choice, and now owns 400 acres of valuable land, which is divided into several farms, all being under cultivation. He is one of the prominent citizens of Chester Township, and is now enjoying the rest from labor and the esteem of numerous friends which his early life of usefulness so much merits. He was married in 1840 to Diana Firestone, duaghter of John Firestone. They have had twelve children, eleven of whom are living: Margaret Ann, Elixabeth, John, Charlotte, Simon, Rachel, Frank, Lydia, Jane, Frederick, and Ann. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889