Biography - Edward Rice
Judge Edward Young RICE, attorney, Springfield, was born in Logan County, Ky., February 8, 1820. In his native State, he remained until about fifteen years of age, when he came with his parents to Macoupin County, Ill. His father, Francis RICE, was a native of Caswell County, N. C. He was engaged in a ministerial life, and identified with agricultural and mercantile pursuits. His death occurred in August, 1837, aged about sixty-three years. His wife was Mary GOOCH, also a native of Caswell County, N. C., and a daughter of William and Mrs. (CARR) GOOCH. Both were among the prominent families of North Carolina. The parents of our subject had seven sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are now living, of whom the Judge is the youngest. The eldest, Hiram J., a farmer of Macoupin County, and Susan, widow of Robert ANDREWS, of the above county. The Judge received a limited education in the common school, with the addition of about two years at Shurtleff College. He then taught school and studied law with Gov. PALMER, at Carlinville, from which place he was admitted to the bar in February, 1844. In September of the following year he came to Hillsboro, where he practiced his profession until in October, 1881, when he entered into partnership with Judge A. N. J. CROOK, at Springfield, Ill. While engaged in the practice of his profession, he has always been honored with a large and lucrative practice. In 1847, he was elected to the office of Recorder of Deeds of Montgomery County. In November, 1848, he was honored with an election to the Lower House of the Illinois Legislature, a special session carrying him to the year 1851, and in that year he was elected to the office of County Judge to fill the unexpired term caused by the resignation of Joseph RALSTON, and during the years 1853 to 1857, he was Master in Chancery. In April, 1857, he was elected to the office of Circuit Judge for a term of four years, but by the formation of a new circuit, composed of Sangamon, Macoupin, Montgomery, and Christian Counties, he was re-elected for a term of six years, and in 1867 for a term of six years longer, but before the term expired he resigned his office to accept the nomination for Congress from the "old Tenth District". In that position he served until in March, 1873, and it was during his term that the State was re-districted. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention which assembled in December, 1869, and completed its work in May, 1870. In this convention he served upon many important committees. In the early part of 1874, he, in connection with his son-in-law, Amos MILLER, opened their present law office in Hillsboro, now under the firm name of RICE, MILLER, & McDAVID. He was married November 29, 1849, to Mrs. Susan R. (ALLEN) COUDY, a native of Clark County, Ky. She had one child - Isabella, wife of F. C. BOLTON, a railroad operator in Indianapolis. By this marriage, the Judge has two children living - Mary, wife of Amos MILLER, and James E. Y., who is attending Blackburn University. He is a Democrat in political tenets, and, with his wife, belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
Extracted 19 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 114-115.
