Bio of Willard D. RICE (b.1857), Wright Co., MN

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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Glen Pettit
Transcribed by: Glen Pettit

This Bio is from the HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY, Volumes I and II,
Published in 1915 by Franklin Curtiss - Wedge.
Surname Index for The HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY can be found at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/wright/wright.html
Under HISTORY.

NOTE: This file was scanned and changed to text so there may
be some typos.

pg 366
HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY

Willard D. Rice, farmer and stockraiser, Clearwater township, was born 
in Winnebago county, Wis., February 23, 1857, son of Clark and Emily 
(Draper) Rice, natives of Vermont, who came to Wright county in 1879 
and located in Clearwater township, where the father died September 5, 
1913, and the mother in 1893. In the famliy there were seven children: 
Willard D., Philo, Harland, of Clearwater; Minnie, wife of F. Trafton, 
of Clearwater; Clark, of California, and Levi and Ell, both deceased. 
Born in a log cabin in Wisconsin, Willard D. Rice started out for himself 
at the age of sixteen by securing farm employment at $18 a month. For 
several years he worked as a farm hand and in the lumber woods. In 1879 
he came to Wright county and started working for his father, taking care 
of the stock, and doing general work around the farm. In 1891 he bought 
a farm joining the old home farm. It consists of 163 acres on section 12. 
He has made many improvements, including the erection of a new modern barn. 
His success as a farmer and stock raiser has been marked. Mr. Rice is a 
Republican in politics and has served on the school board for several 
years. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Rice is a splendid 
type of American citizen. He knew the rigors of pioneer endeavor, and with 
no resources save his own strength, and

pg 367 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY
ability and the heritage of sturdy manhood and integrity left by his 
rugged ancestors he has carved for himself an honored position in the 
community, and is often held up to the younger generation as a model 
of what hard work and industry may accomplish. Mrs. Rice is a fine 
representative of the women of eastern birth whose graciousness and 
housewifely thrift have helped make Minnesota what it is today. She 
has encouraged her husband in all his undertakings, has been a sympathetic 
wife and an understanding mother. She is the friend and the inspiration 
of many of the young people in the community, and the Rice home is known 
for its hospitality and cheer. Mr. Rice was married May 17, 1893, to 
Elmira Brandow, who was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, September 
20, 1862, daughter of James and Catherine (Shadick) Brandow, natives 
of New York state who in 1849 came west to Winnebago county and engaged 
in farming. There the father died in 1902 and the mother is now living 
at Neenah in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, at the good old age of eighty-
three years. In the Brandow family there are ten children, as follows: 
Henry A., Alfred, George M., Harland, Walter, Elmira, Emmie, Hiram E., 
Helen May and James B. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have one son Leroy, born August 
8, 1894, who is engaged in farming with his father.