Upshur County, West Virginia          Biography of MARTIN M. RICE

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 487

MARTIN M. RICE was one of the venerable residents of
Upshur County at the time of his death, January 18, 1922.
He had attained the age of eighty-nine, and for a number
of years had been retired from the activities which for-
merly engaged him in the Rock Cave community of Upshur
County, where he was a farmer, merchant, and in every
sense a leader in community affairs.

Mr. Rice was born in Highland County, Virginia, Jan-
uary 21, 1833. His father, Jotham Rice, was a native of
Connecticut, where he was reared and educated. He be-
came a Yankee peddler, and in the course of his experi-
ences he sold goods in Highland County, Virginia, where
he met and married Elizabeth Moyers, a native of that
county. Some years after their marriage they brought their
family to Lewis County, West Virginia, but sold their
farm there and moved to the vicinity of Canaan in Upshur
County, where Jotham Rice bought a tract of timbered
land and cleared a farm. After the death of his wife
he left that farm and lived with his son Martin. He was
an active member of the Methodist Church and a democrat
in politics. His six children were: Sarah A., who became
the wife of Henry Friend; Martin M; Samuel and Lewis;
Margaret, who became the wife of Henry Chase; and
James.

Of these children Martin M. Rice was the last survivor.
He spent his early life on a farm, attended subscription
schools, and after leaving home he became a farmer in
Upshur County. For many years he was in business at
Rock Cave as a merchant and postmaster, but some years
ago retired from business, though at the time of his death
he owned 200 acres of land at Rock Cave and also 200
acres in the Cannan community of Upshur County.

On April 18, 1867, Mr. Rice married Samaria E. Reger,
a. native of Upshur County. She became the mother of
six children, and she and these children are also deceased.
On July 12, 1899; Mr. Rice married Anna Belle Reger, a
second cousin of his former wife. She was born in Lewis
County, February 1, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Rice had a son,
Martin V., born October 30, 1904, now a student in the
public schools. Mr. Rice was a democrat in politics.