Santa Clara County CA Archives Biographies.....Rice, William Adam August 3, 1857 - 1932 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Carolyn Golowka http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002972 August 1, 2010, 12:33 am Source: History of Santa Clara County, California, published by Historic Record Company, 1922, page 1605 Author: Eugene T. Sawyers A rancher whose assiduous application to the problems of intensive agriculture and consequent success have entitled him to the satisfaction in retirement, is William A. Rice, now living at Morgan Hill. He came to California to reside about twenty years ago, and since then he has been more and more identified with the development of the Golden State's resources. He was born at Delton, Wis., on August 3, 1857, the son of Jacob and Nellie (Morrison) Rice, both natives of Ohio; and his father served with credit in the War of the Rebellion. He went as a volunteer from Wisconsin, returned home in 1864, but died soon after as the result of the hardships in his lot as a soldier warring in defense of the Union. All who ever knew him testified to his sterling character, and he thus bequeathed to his family the priceless legacy of a good name. Mrs. Rice died at her home in Minnesota in 1918, at the age of eighty-four years. Handicapped through the necessity of having to work for others when he was a mere boy, William Rice nevertheless acquired a fair public school education; and then he entered the employ of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway and for eight years served as section foreman in Monroe County, Wis., where he had charge of construction and road building. He then removed to Lyon County, Minn . and acquired by purchase 160 acres of railroad land near Marshall, in that state. He farmed there for nineteen years, served as school trustee for many years and was also treasurer of his township. In 1902, he came out to California; and inasmuch as a son-in-law, M. R. Beach, had preceded him four months to Morgan Hill, he too located there with his family. He has since improved several very desirable ranches, and he now owns twenty-five acres of fine prune orchard. He belongs to the California Prune and Apricot Association, and for sixteen years has conducted a neighborhood drying ground and yard, handling as high as 300 tons of fruit in one season. At Black River Falls, Wis., in 1882, Mr. Rice was married to Miss Minnie Bement, who was born at Madison, Wis., by whom he had one son, Arthur Rice, now married and living with his wife and two children at St. Paul. Mrs. Rice passed away in Wisconsin thirty-eight years ago. Mr. Rice again married in 1888, taking for his wife Miss Mary Johnson, who was born near Marshall, Minn. Five children have been born to this second union: Ella is the wife of E. A. Johnson, the contracting teamster who resides at Morgan Hill, and they have one child. Alice is Mrs. M. R. Beach, of the same locality. William A. Rice, Jr., saw faithful service in the late war, and now, married, has a ranch near Morgan Hill. Earl and Robert are at home. Additional Comments: William Adam Rice and his wife, Mary Ann Johnson Rice, are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County, California. Daughter, Ella May Rice, born May 23, 1889, died July 3, 1968, married Emil August Johnson, born July 26, 1878 in Illinois, died December 8, 1949. They had one son, Clarence R. Johnson, born September 07, 1915 in Santa Clara County, California, and died August 10, 1963 in Sacramento County, California. Ella, Emil and Clarence are all buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, Morgan Hill. Alice E. Rice, born April 27, 1891 in MN, died September 24, 1976 Santa Clara County, California, married Milton Roy Beach sometime between 1920 and 1922. Thus, the M. R. Beach in the above piece was William Adam Rice's son-in-law, but not at the time they came to Morgan Hill in about 1902. Milton was married to Mary L., born 1861, died October 19, 1915. They had one daughter, Helen Jeanette, born July 25, 1896 in Minnesota, died February 26, 1913 in Santa Clara County, California. With Milton and Mary in the 1910 US Census, Santa Clara County, California, was Milton's father, Jacob. Jacob, his wife and Milton's mother, Sarah M. Roy Rice, Mary L. Rice and Helen Jeanette Rice all share one tombstone in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Morgan Hill. Milton was in the 1920 Census for Morgan Hill as a single man. Alice and Milton had two children: Alta Lucille Beach, born April 22, 1925, died October 14, 1994, her married name was Huston; and Milton Roy Beach, Jr., born April 26, 1926, died August 29, 2000. Milton Jr.'s wife, Camille I., was born May 03, 1928 and died February 10, 2007. They share one stone in Mount Hope Cemetery. Son William Arlington Rice, was born July 22, 1895 in Minnesota and died March 29, 1950. Records show his wife was Eliza W. Chestnutt and they had at least three children: Richard W. Rice, Katharyn E. Rice, and William Arlington, Jr. William is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery. Earl J. Rice was married to Grace M. Earl was born about 1905 and Grace about 1906. Robert Charles Rice, born July 02, 1907, died February 12, 1986, was married to Marian Jean Allen, born May 15, 1915, died May 12, 1997. Both are buried in Mount Hope Cemetery. Robert eventually became the superintendent of the Morgan Hill schools. 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