JOSEPH L. RICE-- A banker at Mount Morris, Ill., was born in Maryland Township, Ogle County, Ill., on December 23, 1866. His father and mother, Isaac RICE and Sarah (HIESTAND) RICE, were brought to Ogle County by their respective parents, the former at the age of ten years, and the latter when one year old. Jacob and Mary (ROWLAND) RICE the paternal grandparents, located in the same county in 1837, settling in Mount Morris Township, where Jacob RICE died at the age of eighty-six years. Dr. Isaac RICE, who was a graduate of Rush Medical College, Chicago, with the class of 1856, was married at Mount Morris, and after practing there a few months, was engaged in farming several years in Maryland and Mount Morris Townships, and subsequently taking up his residence in the village of Mount Morris, entering the banking business in partnership with Charles NEWCOMER. He died on May 3, 1897, when seventy years old. In politics he was a Republican, and served five years in the State Legislature-- first two terms in the lower branch and later in the Senate, being Chairman of the Committee on Banks and Banking in the latter body, and a leader in temperance legislation. After the death of his father he acquired the old homestead property, retaining it during the remainder of his life. His venerable widow is still a greatly respected resident of Mount Morris. Of their two children, Anna and Joseph L., the former died at the age of eighteen years, just after graduating at Rock River Seminary. The subject of this sketch was reared in the village of Mount Morris, and after completing his preparatory studies in the public schools and spending two years in the Rock River Seminary, took a course in the Northwestern University at Evanston. Accompanied by J. HIESTAND, Mr. RICE made a trip to Europe in 1891, and has, at different times, traveled extensively in the United States. On January 19, 1893, together with his cousin, John W. RICE, he organized the Citizen's Bank, and at a later period, purchased the Bank of Mount Morris. He is also President of the First National Bank, of Oregon, Ogle County. On December 23, 1895, Mr. RICE was united in marriage with Emily NEWCOMER, a daughter of Mrs. Margaret NEWCOMER, of Mount Morris. On political issues, although not an active partisan, Mr. RICE is classed with the Republican party. He is a member of the State Bankers' Association.

1909 Historical Encyclopedia and the History of Ogle County Volume 2 by Munsell Publishing, Chicago, IL.

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