DICE-Jacob - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Rev. Jacob DICE, a local minister of the United Brethren Church, residing on Sec. 6, Van Buren Twp, is widely known and honored throughout Fountain County, as he has borne an honorable part in its public life, and has excercised a good influence on the morals and religion of the community. He is a son of John Dice, who was a conspicuous figure among the early pioneers of the county, and was actively identified with its agricultural growth for many years. The father of our subject was a native of Rockbridge County, VA. He was educated in its schools and was reared to the life of a farmer. He was married in 1818, in Augusta Co, VA to Miss Elizabeth Hawpe, who was born in that county in 1792. They continued to live in VA some 9 years after married but in 1827 made a change, leaving the state of their nativity to settled in the wilderness of this county. They located in the woods 3 miles south of where Veedersburg now stands, where their only neighbors were the Indians and wild beasts with the possible exception of 1 or 2 white settlers. By patient toil they converted a part of the forest into a beautiful home, and here they lived in comfort and happiness until death closed their eyes and they rested from their earthly labors, mother dying Jan 19, 1845 age 52 Y 9M 25 D, and father Aug 12, 1847, 53Y 9M 25D. They reared a family of 7 sons, 4 of whom are living, and they gave them as good educations as circumstances would permit, and trained them carefully in all that goes to make them good men and desirable citizens. William, John and James M. are the names of the sons that are dead. Those living: Jacob; Franklin; Henry and George, all residents of Van Buren Twp The father was a patriotic citizen and served with credit in the War of 1812. He was a man of exemplary habits, was strictly temperate and had great firmness of character, united with a social disposition. He was generous to the poor and a willing supporter of all benevolent causes. He was very active in religious matters as a member of the Presbyterian Church. His home was ever open to its preachers, and divine services were often held in his barn. The subject of this brief biographical record was born in VA April 5, 1824 and was 4 when the family migrated from the pleasant scenes of his birth to the forest of Indiana. He has a clear remembrance of the incidents of their pioneer life and of the primitive mode of living, necessitated by their great distance from civilization. His school days were passed in a log schoolhouse, typical of the times, that had no windows, was furnished with rude home-made benches and heated bya fireplace and the school was conducted on the subscription plans, there being no free schools in those days. At age 18 our subject was united with the United Brethren Church at the house of William Hoobler and he was also licensed to preach, he having a gift that way. At that age he learned the trade of blacksmith, and he worked at it 3 years. In 1848 he was licensed to perach at an annual conference at Vermillion County, in this state and has ever since acted as a local preacher. He was ordained as Elder in his church in 1852 at Westfield, Coles County IL, and he has worked long and earnestly to propogate the faith so dear to his heart. His labors have been blessed and he has been a potent factor in extending the faith of which he is so worthy an exponent. He has a fine farm of 80 acres in Van Buren Twp, but does not care to farm very much, preferring to devote himself to his ministerial duties. He worked at his trade as a blacksmith many years while preaching. Jacob Dice and Mary Rynearson were united in marriage in 1844. Mrs. Dice is a daughter of Ezekial Rynearson one of the early settlers of Fountain County who is represented in the biography of his son, Washington on another pof this work. Mrs. Dice's paretns were born in KY and the family removed to Warren County OH where Mrs. Dice was born whence they came to this county when she was 2 1/2 years old, and from that time until her marriage she lived on the Rynearson homestead in Can Twp, now owned by her brother Washington. The marriage with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of 4, of whom 3 are spared to be the stay and comfort of their declining years. A sketch of their son, Francis M. appears in another part of this work. Their daughter, Sarah Ellen is the wife of Newton Board, a prominent farmer of Vermilion County, Ill; Martha F, is the wife of George Mennick, a prominent farmer of Van Buren Twp; James Monroe who was engaged in the mercantile business at the time of his death died March 12, 1862 aged 27 years 3 months 5 days. He left a wife, formerly Mary Smith and one child, Kate. The breaking out of the great rebellion found our subject a loyal unon man, whose heart beat high with patriotic love of country, which he proved his willingness to serve even unto death, if need be, by enlisting in Co, C, 154th Indiana Infantry. He was made captain of the company and nobly did his duty while in the field. His life as a soldier is commemorated by his membership with the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he has always been actively interested. He has done a great deal to forward the cause of education in this county. He was one of the first Trustees of the township, served 10 years and held that office while the most of the schoolhouses of the county were bult. Politically, he is a Republican, who has always stood by his colors. In 1851 he was elected to represent the county in the State Legislature. Edward A. hannagan being his opponent, and he served six months as a Legislator, that being known as the "long session." William H. English of Indianapolis, who is his personal friend, was his fellow member in that Legislature. Our subject has performed the marriage ceremony for 300 couples in Fountain County.