BIOGRAPHY: Daniel S. RICE, M.D., Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 136-7
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DANIEL S. RICE, M. D., a physician and surgeon of character and distinction, 
whose professional life has been mostly spent at Hastings, is a son of Samuel 
and Eliza (Beck) Rice, and was born near Deckinspoint, Indiana county, 
Pennsylvania, September 17, 1859. Dr. Rice represents the fifth generation from 
the pioneer, Conrad Rice, who was a native of Lancaster county, and a blacksmith 
by trade. Conrad Rice purchased, in 1794, from a clergyman by the name of Smith, 
the right for a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land represented to be 
within nine miles of Greensburg, this State, but which Hon. William Finley, 
after a careful search of legal records, found to be near the waters of Two 
Lickcreek, in Indiana county. Mr. Rice, who had came as far as the site of 
Youngstown, Westmoreland county, after finding his land to be in Indiana county, 
proceeded there and found his tract, which afterwards became the James P. Carter 
farm, adjoining the borough line of the town of Indiana. Returning to the site 
of Youngstown, where he had left his family and team, he received information 
from Capt. Anderson Sharp that it would not be safe to settle there then on 
account of Indians, and went to Centerville, in the Ligonier valley, where he 
remained until the spring of 1795. He then removed to his land, of which about 
eight acres had been cleared by a previous occupant, who had his cabin burned 
and who had been driven away by the Indians. He erected a temporary shelter, 
built a cabin, and cleared some land; but before he had sown any grain his 
horses, four in number, died. He replaced his two teams with a yoke of oxen, and 
built a blacksmith shop, to which the settlers repaired for miles around. He was 
never molested by Indians, although making sugar each spring in the Cross Creek 
valley, a favorite Indian hunting-ground. His land, purchased for ten shillings 
per acre, in time became very valuable, and, between his farm and shop, he 
acquired a competency for that day. His son, Conrad Rice, Jr., was born in 
Lancaster county in 1783, and married Philipena Dickey, by whom he had eight 
children: Philip, Margaret, Elizabeth, Catherine (Mrs. James Middletoun), 
Philipena (Mrs. John Lynch), Susannah (Mrs. Robert Adams), Barbara (Mrs. John 
McDonald), and Conrad, who married Mary Farr. Philip, the eldest child by this 
marriage, was a blacksmith by trade, and a farmer by occupation. He wedded 
Margaret McAnulty, an aunt to Daniel S. McAnulty, whose sketch appears elsewhere 
in this volume. To this union were born five children, three sons and two 
daughters: Conrad, Samuel, John, Isabella, and Margaret, who married John 
Fisher. Samuel Rice, the second son, and the father of Dr. Rice, was born on the 
old Rice homestead, near the town of Indiana, in 1879. He was a blacksmith by 
trade, and owned a farm which he cultivated. He was a strong Jacksonian 
democrat, served many years as a justice of the peace, and held membership in 
the United Presbyterian church. His wife, Eliza Rice, whose maiden name was 
Beck, was a daughter of William and Margaret (Row) Beck, early residents of near 
the town of Indiana. The mother probably died in the same section. Squire and 
Mrs. Rice reared a family of eight children: Philip, a carpenter and contractor 
of near Dixonville, Indiana county; Mary, wife of Nelson O'Neil, of 
Jacksonville, in her native county; John and William B., both farmers in their 
native township; Dr. Daniel S.; Porter E., engaged in farming near Decker's 
Point, in Indiana county; and Frank A., of Hastings. 
     Dr. Daniel S. Rice was reared on the farm, received his education in the 
public schools, Purchase Line academy, and the select schools of Professor Wolf, 
of Marion Center, and taught during the winters of 1879-80 and 1880-81. He then 
commenced the study of medicine with Dr. J. B. Green, then of Dixonville, 
Indiana county, and now of Summerhill, and in 1882 entered the Cincinnati 
College of Medicine and Surgery, from which he was graduated in the class of 
1884. Returning home, he commenced the practice of his profession at St. 
Boniface, this county, which he left five years later to locate at Hastings, 
where he has practiced ever since. 
     On January 6, 1891, Dr. Rice was united in marriage with Nettie Corbin, of 
Houtzdale, this State. To their union have been born two children, a son and a 
daughter: Mary Hayes and Daniel Sweeny, now deceased. 
     Dr. Rice is a republican politically, and has been a Methodist for several 
years, being a member of the Hastings Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member 
of Somerset Lodge, No. 312, Free and Accepted Masons, of Ebensburg, the county 
seat, and Patton Lodge, No. 1089, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Patton. 
Dr. Rice is devoted to his profession, and in addition to his collegiate courses 
of lectures, has taken special courses. In 1886 he took a special course at the 
Philadelphia Polyclinic, and three years later another special course at the New 
York Post graduate Medical school. A pleasant and congenial gentleman, he is 
accessible to all, meeting every one with kindness and affability. Dr. Rice is a 
gentleman both at home and abroad. But it is in his profession -- to which he 
has devoted his life -- that he stands at his full height. All his reading and 
study are pursued with but one view, and that the better to qualify him for the 
discharge of his duty. He has a very large practice, and ranks as one of the 
most able, experienced and successful physicians of the county. Dr. Rice has 
never suffered himself to become antiquated in his profession, but has always 
kept fully abreast of all the advances made in medicine, and has been sometimes 
able to anticipate them in this great age of wonderful discoveries.