Harvey J. Rice Biography


	This biography appears on pages 764-767 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				HARVEY J. RICE. 

	Harvey J. Rice has led an active life in connection with business 
affairs and as the incumbent in public office. He makes his home in 
Huron and six times he has been honored with election to the mayoralty 
of his city. He was born in Freeport, Illinois, April 23, 1849, and in 
early childhood accompanied his parents on their removal to Nauvoo, 
Illinois. His early educational advantages were supplemented by study 
in the University of Carlinville (Ill.), from which he was graduated 
with the class of 1865. Soon afterward he pursued a business course in 
the Bryant &, Stratton Commercial College of Chicago and in 1869, when 
twenty years of age, engaged in the dry-goods business in that city, 
there remaining until after the great Chicago fire of 1871. It was in 
1876 that Mr. Rice entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railway Company and in 1879 he was sent to Tracy, Minnesota, where he 
was placed in charge of all the material for the construction of the 
road west from that point, the lines being known as the Dakota Central 
and the Chicago & Dakota Railways. In January, 1880, he removed his 
headquarters to Volga and when the line was completed to Huron in July 
of that year he moved the base of supplies to the latter point and at 
Huron all supplies were handled for the construction of the lines to 
Pierre, from Hawarden to Oakes, Brookings to Redfield and from Doland 
to Groton. 

	Mr. Rice discharged the responsible duties of his position with 
marked ability and fidelity, but severed his connection with the 
railway company in 1887 to accept the position of teller in the Huron 
National Bank. In 1889 he was appointed railway commissioner by 
Governor A. C. Mellette and filled that position until March, 1893, 
when he turned his attention to merchandising in Huron. He has long 
been prominently connected with business activity in this city and in 
that regard has made for himself a creditable name and place. He is 
perhaps even better known, however, because of his political activity. 
In 1884 he was elected mayor of the city and five times was reelected 
to that office by the vote of his fellow townsmen, who recognized in 
him a most capable, faithful, loyal and progressive official, his 
administration at all times being businesslike. In 1902 he w as 
appointed receiver for the United States land office and remained in 
that connection until the office was closed. 

	Mr. Rice has always been active in Masonic circles, is a Knight 
Templar, a thirty-second degree Mason and a Mystic Shriner. That he 
holds high rank in the order is indicated in the fact that he has 
filled the offices of grand master, grand high priest and grand 
commander. He has been closely identified with the Odd Fellows since 
1883, was grand waster of that organization in 1886 and was elected 
grand secretary in 1894, serving continuously in that position to the 
present time. He has left the impress of his individuality for good 
upon many lines of activity leading to the material, political and 
sociological development of the northwest. Early in his career he 
marked out his course and has never deviated from the principles which 
he set up as his standard.