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Biography
- James Rice |
| I submit for inclusion on
your site the biography of my great, great, grandfather
James Rice (1795-1874) who was a resident of Eagle Creek
Township, Lake County, Indiana for about 18 years
(1856-1874). He can be found in both the 1860 and 1870 US
Federal Census’s for Eagle Creek Township. Gene Patterson dgpatterson@earthlink.net James Rice James Rice was born 27 November 1795 in the area of Wythe and Russell Counties, Virginia which later became Tazewell County created 20 December 1799. Specific parents cannot be proven. His age and birth date are taken from his Hebron Cemetery burial record; age at death. 6 August 1874, 78 years, 8 months, 10 days. James’ family moved from Virginia to Gallia County, Ohio in the early 1800’s. James can first be documented in August 1812 in Gallia County, Ohio where he is reflected as a private in the Ohio Militia in Captain Isaac Butler’s Company (9Aug1812 – 9Oct1812) which was mobilized for the War of 1812. He again enlisted in Captain Joseph W. Ross’ Company (1Sep1813 – 1Mar1814) and served in the Detroit, Michigan area until discharged in March 1814. In 1850 James filed a Land Bounty claim with the US Government for this military service and was awarded 160 acres of government land located in Iowa. He later sold his interest in that land to another individual who took possession of the land in Iowa. In 1815 James Rice married Violetta “Zeletty” Keeton, 21 February 1815, in Gallia County, Ohio. Violetta Keeton was the daughter of David Keeton a Revolutionary War soldier residing in Gallia County, Ohio at the time. That marriage produced seven children, daughters Irena, Fatima and Esther, and sons Edward W., Tazwell (T.S.), Elias M., and James V. They were all born in the Gallia/Jackson/Athens County area of Ohio. In late 1834, James Rice purchased land equating to approximately 120 acres in Athens County, Ohio (Athens County Deeds, Vol 7, pg 704). In 1850 due to county boundary changes that land relocated into newly formed Vinton County, Ohio. In the 1850 US Federal Census, the family was living in South Brown Township, Vinton County, Ohio. The James Rice family lived at this location until September 1856 when James and Violetta sold the family farm and moved to Eagle Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana. All of their seven children and their families moved with them to Indiana. James was a farmer in Lake/Porter County, Indiana until his death, 6 August 1874. He owned land in Sections 15 and 16, Township 33N, Range 7W. Land which straddled County Line Road between Lake and Porter Counties. His wife, Violetta, preceded him in death (15 September 1869). Both are buried in the Hebron Cemetery, Hebron, Indiana. His obituary is a two sentence entry in the Porter County Vidette, dated 13 August 1874, Vol. 18, Pg.3, Col. 5. “Died, on the 5th inst., at his residence two miles southwest of here, James Rice, Sen. He was a soldier in the War of 1812”. Biography researched and written by Ruth Rice Patterson, great, great granddaughter. Sincerely, Ruth Rice Patterson |