T. E. Rice
There is no nation that has contributed to the complex, makeup of our American social fabric an element of more sterling worth and of greater value in supporting and fostering our national institutions than has Germany. From this source our republic has had much to gain and nothing to lose. Germany has given us men of sturdy integrity, indomitable perseverance, higher intelligence and much business sagacity,----the result being the incorporation of a strong and strength-giving fibre ramifying through warp and woof. A man who may well look with pride upon his German-American origin is the subject of this review, who is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Wayne county, where he has passed practically his entire life, and where he is personally recognized as a representative citizen, having attained a gratifying success in his business operations and occupying an enviable standing in the community because of his personal worth as a man.
T. E. Rice was born at Cedar Valley, Wayne county, Ohio, on the 26th of January, 1874, and is the son of Thomas and Susan (Pfeiffer) Rice. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, though of sturdy German stock, his parents having emigrated to America directly from Switzerland, and settling in the Keystone state. Thomas Rice came to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1840, and lived here during the remaining years of his life, his death occurring in 1894 at which time he was sixty-three years of age. He was here engaged in the saw-mill business, in which he was fairly successful. He was widely known throughout this and adjoining counties and was a highly respected citizen. Susan Pfeiffer Rice was born in Wayne county, where her parents settled a short time prior to her birth.
They were farming folk and lived at Cedar Valley, Chester township, during the remainder of their lives. The old home is still in the family, and is occupied by the subject's mother, who is now seventy-five years old. To Thomas and Susan Rice were born six children, briefly mentioned as follows: C. C., of Lonoke, Arkansas; Mrs. Dr. W. H. Winkle, of Apple Creek, Ohio; Mrs. Emma Strauss, of Wooster, Ohio; Mrs. William Craven, of Cedar Valley, Ohio; Mrs. H. W. Berry, of Cedar Valley; the subject of this sketch is the youngest of the family.
Mr. Rice was reared to young manhood on the paternal homestead, and received his education in the common schools. At the age of fourteen years he entered the drug store of his brother-in-law, Dr. W. H. Winkle, at Apple Creek, where he remained seven and a half years. He was a careful salesman, took a healthy interest in his work and finally decided to make that his life work. To this end, he entered the Ohio Northern University, at Ada, where he pursued the pharmaceutical course, and subsequently took the examination before the state board of pharmacy, being granted a certificate. He then clerked in a drug store at Sherodsville, Ohio, where he remained about a year and a half. He then came to Orrville and purchased of C. D. Swan the drug store which he now owns. He has been very successful in this enterprise and has enjoyed his full share of the public patronage. He carries a full line of drugs and pharmaceutical goods, as well as all the lines generally to be found in an up-to-date drug store. He is accommodating in his dealings with the public and his honesty and fair dealing has won for him the confidence and good will of all who have had dealings with him. Mr. Rice has also engaged in the piano business, having a separate store room devoted to this line, and in this enterprise, too, he has achieved a distinctive success. He carries a splendid line of instruments and has placed a large number of them in the homes of this city and surrounding country. He has other mercantile interests, being a stockholder in the Orrville National Bank and the Cyclone Drill Company, as well as other investments, which return to him a fair income. He takes a commendable interest in local public affairs and has rendered valuable service to this city as a member of the board of public works.
On November 8, 1899, Mr. Rice took unto himself a helpmeet in the person of Maud P. Miller, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Miller both of whom were natives of Wayne county, Ohio, and are now residing at Orrville, where Mrs. Rice was born. One son has been born to this union, Belmont.
Socially Mr. Rice is an appreciative member of the Free and Accepted Masons, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, to which they give an earnest and generous support. Mr. Rice and family are well known in the community and their home has a reputation for hospitality. He is one of the leading business men and public-spirited citizens of the community and is held in the highest regard.
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910