David Files Rice was an important figure in Jackson's railroad history. He was named for his uncle who was reportedly "killed in the service of the Confederacy." His newly-wed parents (James H. Rice and second wife Winnie Hyche Rice, m. January 20, 1874) were still living in Northport when he was born on October 12, 1874. He was probably raised in a Baptist Church.

Some of D.F.'s employment records were located at the University of South Alabama in the Brock Collection (Mr. Brock was his boss at GM&O in the 1940s). Records reflect that DF attended grammar school in both Tuscaloosa and Jefferson Counties. He also attended "Private School in Birmingham one year, run by Mr. Seamore", and attended North Birmingham High School. Assuming he attended high school in his late teens, he would have graduated-if he did- around 1892.

On Dec 5, 1895, DF took a job with the Mobile and Ohio Railroad as a "Track Laborer", but he only held that lowly position for about a year. It is not clear from my research exactly where he made his home or where he was assigned to work. His niece, Ann, offered a recollection-

Ann: 'As a boy, he worked part time for the M&O as a water boy in his hometown of Bayou LaBatre. As he grew older, he worked "on the road" and probably met Lizzie Brown through Aunt Lena (Brown) who married "out of Lockhart" to Meridian…'

In just his second year of employment, DF was promoted to "work Train Conductor". It seems that DF's work took him to the Meridian/Lockhart, Mississippi area, as he met and married a good Methodist girl, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Brown of Lockhart, Mississippi (on the M&O route) in February 1898. She was expecting her uncles and a preacher, but was surprised when all of Lockhart and her relatives from Meridian showed up. He and Lizzie tried to began their family immediately with the birth of daughter Aline in Lockhart, Mississippi on December 2, 1898; poor little Aline died the same day.

In 1899, DF was promoted to "Transportation Conductor" for both freight and passenger trains; clearly his star was noticed and on the rise. He and Lizzie were living in or near Theodore and nearby Bayou La Batre, Alabama, and continued trying to expand their family- Winnie Mae was born in Theodore in 1900; DF Jr was born in 1901in Bayou La Batre, as were Carry Wood (1903, died 1904) and Charles Pigford(1905). [Uncle Charlie taught me to drive his giant Chrysler with push button gears!]

After roughly seven years, DF was promoted to "Assistant Trainmaster" and apparently renewed his ties with the Meridian, Mississippi area, having two more children there- Elizabeth, who lived only two weeks in 1907, and Thomas Norwood in 1909.

In 1916, DF was promoted yet again to "Trainmaster". A year later in Tuscaloosa, he and Lizzie had their last child- William Russell Rice in 1917.

Finally, in 1923, DF was promoted to Superintendent, Northern Division of the GM&O Railroad, and I believe he moved his family to Jackson, Tennessee a year or two prior to that time. There they joined the First United Methodist Church and worshiped in the sanctuary that still stands today (2011), about five rows from the back, just to stage left. I occasionally open a hymnal in that pew and find their names in the "In Memory Of" box.

Settled in Jackson, DF and Lizzie lived in a large house at 474 North Royal (on the corner south of the bridge). The house backed right up to the tracks and what are politely called "hobos" would walk up to the back door and knock to ask for food or work. I can recall stories of Papa Rice worrying about Lizzie because she would always give them food or find something for them to do to earn a little change. DF could walk to work at the depot on Depot Street

DF held the Superintendent position until his retirement, and at least during WWII, he worked for Mr.GP Brock, "VP and General Manager". Mr. Brock's personal records are archived at the University of South Alabama. In these records, the position of Superintendent is described in a document basically asking the government if the railroad could give him a pay raise during the war:

"Chief Division Operating Officer, having practically complete authority and responsibility for the safe movement of cars, trains and locomotives on the Northern Division, approximately 660 miles of railroad. He is responsible for the employment and training of train and engine service men, train dispatchers, operators, towermen and interlocker operators. Mr. Rice divides his time in the office and on the line of road (day and/or night). He is responsible for the service rendered the public on his Division. He is also responsible for the proper distribution of cars, and for the compliance in railroad operation with all laws, City, State, and Federal. No regular hours attach to the position, it is one generally known as a 24 hour job."

The first indication of any health problems shows up in the Summer of 1943, when he missed some work due to kidney stones, a malady with which Mr. Brock acknowledged having had previous personal experience. A note to Mr. Brock indicates that humor was among the character traits of DF:

July 16, 1943 to Mr. Brock: "I am back on the job and I will be in pretty good shape for a little while at least, if the doctors were not fooling me, as they said I could go to the Army from my waist up, but doubted if I would be able to do much marching…"

World War II was raging during this period and the railroads were vital to the national effort. There are several notations in DF's personnel file commending the collective efforts of the GM&O staff on the movement of wartime "cargo"- be it petroleum and/or troops. DF had two sons working for the railroad during the war, Thomas (Pete) as an engineer, and Dave Jr, a "terminal trainmaster' at Okalona, Miss. Mr. Brock was very aware that DF's youngest son, Russell, left his job with the GM&O to enlist in the war, and inquired about him often.

Mr. Brock seemed to recognize that DF, a railroader since 1895, was "a natural" and that it was better to let DF run his own show than have bureaucrats try to tell him how to run the railroad. Mr. Brock's right hand man, PB Bridges, tried to boss DF around in late 1943 instructing him to "annul" locals and switchers over the Christmas Holidays to save money. DF apparently told him that was a dumb idea, and simply refused to comply. Bridges wrote Brock behind DF's back to tattle: "I just don't believe that he has the "guts" to cut expenses- I think he considers his men first, and the management second, but please consider this as personal and confidential". Two weeks later, DF's file indicates a letter of commendation from Mr. Brock and the paperwork for a pay raise!

DF was hospitalized with an unnamed illness at the Missouri-Pacific Hospital in St. Louis for "several months" during late 1944 to at least February 1945. Whatever it was, it marked the end of his railroading days:

February 7, 1945 from Mr. Brock: "…I know that no one can serve a railroad for 50 years without having some kind of regret in retiring from active service, but all of us hope that you will not feel but what you are still a part of us and always will be. It will not fall to the lot of many of us to have so successfully served a single employer for half a century…"

When DF had to retire due to his health in 1945, he told Mr. Bridges his retirement would be effective March 1, but in communications between Bridges and Brock it became February 1, causing great consternation in both Mr. Brock and Lizzie Rice. Mr. I.B. Tigrett, owner of the GM&O, got involved personally. Mr. Brock apologized profusely as DF was laid up in the hospital when Mr. W. H. Forlines was named his successor in February. Lizzie wrote back that it was just a mistake and not to worry about it. Mr. Brock was a good and loyal boss.

March 1, 1945 DF officially retired, and the GM&O newspaper reported it and included a Jackson Sun editorial wishing him good health! (Both in the Tennessee Room of the Jackson Madison County Library).Even after retirement, Mr. Brock continued to correspond with DF about his health, but also about DF's youngest son, Russell, who was in the south Pacific fighting the Japanese.

May 28, 1945 to Brock: "…Heard from the hospital doctor today and they advise me I can Climb steps, drive automobile or do whatever I please. You can't appreciate this mear as much as I can. I still hear from Russell every few days and he is getting along okay. He is still on Tinian Island…"

D.F. and Lizzie moved to a smaller house on Arlington and stayed there for the rest of his life. D.F. Rice passed in 1957, just months after I was born.

Paul F. Rice (grandson): Sources- Collection of GP Brock Records, Univ. of South Alabama/Mobile, Rebel News, publication of GM&O Railroad Vol XXIV No. 2 Feb 15, 1945, and Jackson Sun editorial contained therein. Family lore.