BIO: Henry HICE, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 359-361. _________________________________________________________________ HON. HENRY HICE, who enjoys a wide reputation as a member of the legal profession, has been engaged in practice for almost a half century, and for a period of eleven years was judge of the Thirty-sixth Judicial District of Pennsylvania. He was born in Independence township, Beaver county, Pa., January 24, 1834, and is a son of William and Hannah (Eachel) Hice, and grandson of Henry and Catherine Hice. Mr. Hice was the second child born to his parents, and received his scholastic training in the public schools of his native county, taking a finishing course at Beaver Academy. Choosing as his life-work the profession of law, he became a law student under the preceptorship of Richard P. Roberts, of Beaver, Pa. Mr. Roberts was a man of prominence in that section, and during the Civil War became colonel of the 140th Reg., Pa. Vol. Inf., meeting a brave but unfortunate death at the terrible battle of Gettysburg, where so many gallant defenders of the Union fell. Under his preceptorship, young Hice made rapid progress, and was admitted to the Beaver county bar in 1859. He was immediately taken in as a partner with Mr. Roberts, in the practice of his profession, and remained as such until the death of the latter. In 1867, Frank Wilson became associated with Mr. Hice, and continued to be his law partner until 1874, when the subject of this sketch was appointed judge of the Thirty-sixth Judicial District of Pennsylvania, which office was filled by him in a most acceptable manner, until 1885. His opinions were delivered firmly and courageously, and with full intent to treat each case fairly and impartially. He was courteous alike to the youngest attorney and to the oldest member of the bar. At the expiration of his term, Judge Hice resumed his long neglected practice, and was joined, in 1894, by his son, Agnew Hice, - the firm name becoming Hice & Hice. Judge Hice first married Ruth Ann Rals- 360 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES ton, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Ralston, of Hanover township, Beaver county, where Mr. Ralston was a prominent agriculturist. Their happy union resulted in the birth of two sons and two daughters, viz.: Mary, who is unmarried; Richard, who is superintendent of the Fallston Fire Clay Company, and who married May Kells; Agnew; and Laura. Agnew studied law with his father, with whom he is now associated as partner, having been admitted to the bar in 1894. He is fast assuming the heavier duties of the firm, thus enabling his father to enjoy more leisure and the rest so richly deserved. Judge Hice was deprived of his much beloved companion in 1872, when she was called to the life beyond, having attained the age of thirty-six years only. Judge Hice contracted a second matrimonial alliance, - in this instance with Mrs. Sarah H. Minis, a daughter of ex-Chief Justice Daniel Agnew. Henry Hice, the grandfather of the subject hereof, is believed to have removed from New Jersey to Indiana county, Pa., whence after purchasing a tract of land in the forests of the Ligonier valley, he returned to New Jersey after his family, who accompanied him to his new home, where they lived the simple, unpretending lives of sturdy pioneers, - enduring with others the many hardships and privations incident to such a life. Mr. Hice engaged himself in felling the forest trees and improving the land as best he could with the few facilities of a newly settled country. Here on this farm Mr. Hice's grandparents spent their last years and reared their family, consisting of three sons and one daughter, whose names are as follows: John; George; Catherine; and William. William Hice, father of the subject hereof, was born on the old homestead in Indiana county, Pa., in 1793. As he grew to manhood, he assisted his father in clearing the land, and in 1819 or 1820, he removed to the vicinity of Clinton, Allegheny county, Pa. After purchasing a farm but little improved, he extended the improvements by clearing more land, and building a set of buildings, which have since been replaced by new ones. The farm, then occupied by the elder Mr. Hice, is now owned by John Miller, and was sold by William Hice, in 1840. He then bought a better farm at Frankfort Springs, which became his permanent home during life. Upon this farm, known as the J. Stephenson farm, he built a very substantial dwelling, which is still standing; but the barn, then built, has long since been destroyed by fire. Starting out with nothing except a determined will power and a strong constitution, by persistent and untiring efforts, together with successful management, he amassed considerable property. Although he was a shrewd business man, he was kind of heart, and a liberal neighbor, never turning a deaf ear to an appeal for charity. Thus he endeared himself to many, and his loss was deeply mourned. His death occurred in 1868, at the age of seventy-three years. His life companion was Hannah Eachel, a daughter of Andrew Eachel, and she died when about fifty years old. Their children numbered BEAVER COUNTY 361 seven, five daughters and two sons, as follows: Mary Ann, deceased; Catherine, also deceased; Eliza, still residing at Beaver, and unmarried; Sarah, wife of Joseph Brown, of Iowa; Hannah, of Beaver, also single; William,, a retired farmer residing in Kansas City, Mo.; and Henry, the subject of this brief sketch. Judge Hice purchased for his home the R. P. Roberts homestead, on the corner of Market and North Park streets. Removing the old house, in 1876, he built upon the same attractive and well selected spot a handsome, modern brick house and office. Both are appropriately and handsomely furnished. He has taken an active part in the progress of his home borough and county. Aside from attending to his practice, he has been associated with manufacturing, banking, and other enterprises. Judge Hice worships with the Presbyterians, and liberally supports that denomination. His portrait is shown on preceding page.