BIO: Solomon D. TICE, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  SOLOMON D. TICE, one of the self-made men and leading farmers of 
Howard township, Centre county, commenced life with a cash capital of 
ten cents. He now represents a very valuable property, all of which he 
has accumulated through his own perseverance and industry, guided by 
sound judgment and resistless will power.
  In Miami county, Ohio, Mr. Tice was born October 9, 1848, a son of 
George and Susannah (Dohner) Tice, who were natives of Lebanon county, 
Penn., but were married in Miami county, Ohio, where they continued to 
make their home throughout the remainder of their lives. During his 
younger years the father followed the carpenter's trade, but later gave 
his attention to farming. Both were members of the River Brethren in 
Christ Church, and in politics he was identified with the Republican 
party, on which ticket he was elected to several township offices of 
honor and trust. He died July 12, 1887, at the age of eighty-five 
years, and the mother of our subject died in 1854, at the age of forty-
two. After her death he had wedded Sarah Myers, and when she, too, was 
called away he married Mary Musselman. His parents, George and 
Elizabeth Tice, were natives of Switzerland, and on coming to the 
United States located upon a farm in Lebanon county, Penn., where they 
spent their remaining days. The maternal grandparents of our subject, 
Rev. Christian and Mary (Long) Dohner, were natives of Lebanon county, 
but at an early date emigrated to Ohio, where the grandfather served as 
a minister of the River Brethren Church.
  Eight children were born to the parents of our subject: Jonah, a 
railroad contractor residing in Ohio; Noah (deceased); Mary, deceased 
wife of Samuel Crider, a farmer of Lebanon county; Solomon D., the 
subject of this sketch; Levi (deceased); Elizabeth, wife of Rev. Martin 
Heisey, a farmer and minister of the Dunkard Brethren Church of Lebanon 
county; and Eli and Aaron, both deceased.
  Solomon D. Tice early became familiar with agricultural pursuits upon 
the home farm, and in the public schools of the neighborhood acquired 
his education. On attaining his majority he started out in the world 
for himself, and has since been dependent upon his own resources. 
Although he had no capital, he was the possessor of a good name, and 
began his farming operations on rented land in Lebanon county, which he 
stocked and cultivated for five years. For the same length of time he 
also lived upon a farm in Clinton county, after which he came to Howard 
and worked in a gristmill for a year. He then removed to his present 
farm in Howard township; but at the end of four years returned to the 
village, where for five years he served as pike manager of the Bald 
Eagle, Nittany, Brush & Penn's Valley Pike Road Co. Since that time, 
however, he has made his home upon his present farm, which is under a 
high state of cultivation and well-improved with good buildings. For 
the past twelve years he has also served as pike manager, which 
position he has faithfully and capably filled.
  On December 1, 1870, Mr. Tice was married to Miss Emma B. Long, and 
to them have been born six children: Elizabeth W. and Cyrus M. (an 
engineer), at home; William A., who married Maggie M. Fisher, a farmer 
of Howard township, Centre county; Ira E., who is attending the Central 
State Normal School at Lock Haven; Ellery W., at home; and Florence, 
who died in childhood.
  Mrs. Tice was born in Nittany Valley, Clinton Co., Penn., October 31, 
1853, and is daughter of Conrad and Hannah (Kaufman) Long, natives of 
Lancaster and Centre counties, Penn., respectively. They were married 
in Centre county, where the father died March 18, 1896. He was born 
August 23, 1822, in his younger days followed boating, and later became 
an extensive grain dealer, farmer and miller, but 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  395

spent the last seven years of his life in retirement. He also served as 
a minister of the River Brethren Church. His faithful wife, who was 
born November 27, 1825, still survives him, and is a resident of 
Howard, Centre county.
  Mr. Tice uniformly votes the Republican ticket, and in religious 
faith is a consistent member of the River Brethren in Christ Church. To 
such men of progressive and liberal ideas, generous and benevolent in 
spirit, is Centre county indebted for its great prosperity.