Rice, Phidelah A; 1905 Bio, Mesa County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/mesa/bios/ricepa.txt --------------------------------------- Donated April 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Phidelah A. Rice P.A. Rice was born near Glasgow, Barren county, Kentucky, on January 22, 1845, and is the son of David and Selina H. (Bender) Rice, the former a native of Kentucky, of Welch descent, and the latter of Indiana, of German descent. His paternal great-grandfather was one of the early settlers of Kentucky and the first Presbyterian preacher in that state. He rose to eminence in his profession and the general influence and duties of good citizenship. Mr. Rice's father, who was a teacher, died in 1850, when the son was but six years old, and eight years later the mother moved to southwestern Missouri, taking with her three sons and one daughter, and some years afterward she died there. Phidelah, the oldest of the children, received a limited public school education in his native state, and after reaching Missouri had the benefit of a two-years course at the State University. After leaving that institution he entered the ministry of the Presbyterian church, in which for two or three years he was employed in traveling mission work. His duties were arduous and impaired his health. He was then called to the pastorate of the First Cumberland Presbyterian church at Springfield, Missouri, one of the most important appointments in the synod. After one successful year he was obliged to quit his post, owing to the state of his health, and seek an outdoor life. He came to Colorado and located at Canon City. Here he engaged in the cattle industry, and as he regained his strength he returned to the ministry at various times, only to be forced out again by failing health. In 1883 he came to Grand Junction and, in partnership with his brother, William A. Rice, established the lumber business which he is now conducting, his brother having retired in 1896. This enterprise has grown to great proportions and been a very successful venture. In addition to it Mr. Rice has extensive saw-mill interests in the San Juan country, and he also is engaged in raising fruit, having developed an extensive and valuable ranch. He is still recognized as a minister, and is frequently called upon to officiate at funerals and other services. He is a regular attendant at the presbyteries, and always is deeply interested in church work of every kind, giving freely of his time and money to all forms of its usefulness. With his late brother William he started the prohibition movement in Mesa county, and from time to time has been its candidate for public office, twice for the office of secretary of state. In the fall of 1870 he was married to Miss Annie M. Bernard, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of Joab and Arabella (Biers) Bernard, Marylanders by nativity who located in Westport in 1856, when Kansas City was known as Westport Landing. The father was engaged in freighting and did an extensive business. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have five children, Mary B., Bernard L., Phidelia D., William O. and Ralph H. The oldest son has taken the Bachelor of Arts course at Colorado College and spent one year at the Theological Seminary of Cumberland University in Tennessee. The second son is also well educated, having graduated in the class of 1904 at Colorado College. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.