Rice, Amory bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 415-416; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Amory Rice, one of the pioneers of this county, was born in Westminster, Mass., March 29, 1813. His father, Dr. Asaph Rice, was born in the same town, where Grandfather Rice was engaged in preaching the Gospel, having charge of the Congregational Church for half a century. Rev. Asaph Rice was born either in England or in Massachusetts, of English ancestry. He entered into rest in the town in which he had so long and faithfully labored to win souls for Christ.
The father of our subject received a collegiate education, and took up the study of medicine in his youth. After having practiced three or four years in New York, he returned to Westminster, making that place his home until 1823. He then removed to Orford, N. H., locating upon a farm, which he superintended while continuing his professional labors. Four years later he removed to Thetford, Vt., and resided there until 1831, during which year he came to Illinois, He was accompanied by his family; the journey was made with teams and consumed eight weeks. They arrived in Fulton County when it was still but sparsely settled, Canton being then a hamlet of a few buildings, most of which were constructed of logs. Dr. Rice purchased a tract of Government land two miles from that village and at once began to improve a farm. The storm which devastated Canton in 1835 unroofed his house. During that year he sold his property, and coming to Lewistown Township, purchased the tract upon which the subject of this sketch and his family now reside.
There was a log house on the place and eight acres under cultivation, these constituting the improvements which had been made. The greater part of the remainder of the land was covered with timber and brush. The family occupied the log house until 1847, when the Doctor built a portion of the frame dwelling which is still standing. With the exception of a few years spent in Lewistown at the home of his daughter, Dr. Rice resided upon the farm until his death on April 27, 1871, when ninety-four years of age. His wife, formerly Abigail Sawyer, was born in Bolton, Mass., and died in Lewistown in 1851, at the age of sixty-three years. They reared eight children - Erasmus D., Benjamin, Adeline, Amory, Catherine, Adelia, Amanda and Jane.
The subject of these brief notes was reared and educated in his native State, being a young man of eighteen years when he came with his parents to this county. He has lived to see the wonderful growth and development which has made of it the leading agricultural county in the State, and is now the proprietor of one of its finest farms. In 1830 he went to Galena to work in the lead mines, and there being no railroads, he made the entire distance on foot. At harvest-time he returned home to assist in the busy scenes of that season, then walked back again, carrying all his effects on his back. He was engaged at the mines for a period of about two years altogether, and with this exception has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. For several years past he has lived retired, the management of the homestead being in the hands of his only son.
In 1842 Mr. Rice led to the hymeneal altar Miss Martha C. Dewey, a native of Hanover Center, N. H., and daughter of Oliver and Jemima (Wright) Dewey. Two children have been born of this union - Henry, the first child, opened his eyes to the light June 3, 1843. On August 12, 1862, although still lacking more than a year of his majority, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, and being mustered into the service at Peoria, October 2, accompanied his regiment to Tennessee in November. He laid down his life for his country, dying at Jackson, Tenn., February 10, 1862, {this date is before his muster in date} a promising career being thus cut short. His remains were brought back to Lewistown, where his grave is kept green by those who ever mourn their loss.
The only surviving child of our subject and his wife is Oliver, who was born January 2, 1846. He was educated in the public schools, and when a young man taught one term. For one year he was engaged in the banking business at Toulon, Stark County, but with these exceptions has been engaged in agricultural pursuits from his youth. For the past twenty years he has managed the old homestead, which under his intelligent conduct continues to prove a valuable piece of property. His marriage to Miss Abbie M. Burgett was solemnized October 1, 1873. His chosen companion was born in Hartland, Windsor County, Vt.; is a daughter of D. A. and Adeline (Myron) Burgett, under whose careful training her mind was developed, her character adorned with fine principles and she well fitted for her position. The couple have three children - Henry B., Mary A. and Frances M.
The Rice family are identified with the Presbyterian Church, and both our subject and his son belong to the Republican party. Their intelligence, good citizenship and fine characters entitle them to the esteem of their acquaintances, and their friends are many and sincere.