Augustus Rice was born in Rockfield, Worcester county, Massachusetts, August 25, 1800. He early studied navigation, and went to sea, spending four consecutive years on board a vessel, and visiting nearly all the seaport towns of Europe and America. In 1825 he married Miss Esther Brooks, a sister of Pardon. A. Brooks, of Rockfield, Massachusetts. He emigrated West, with his family and goods in wagons, making the overland route to Illinois, and arrived at Lyndon on Christmas day, 1836. He first rented apartments in a log house now in the township of Fenton, from John Freek, where he remained during
the Winter. He made a claim adjoining, which he afterwards sold, and bought the claim of William Farrington, in Lyndon township, where he continued to
live until his death, which occurred November 24, 1864, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. He was County Commissioner for several years before the county was organized into townships. Mr. Rice became a member of the Baptist Church at Lyndon, May 19, 1839, and was chosen Deacon February 9, 1850.
His family consisted of four sons and one daughter, John B.(Brooks) is a well known prominent lawyer of Ottawa, Illinois. F.(Franklin) A., a farmer, died September 5, 1854 aged twenty-four years. Lucius E. (Eli) lives on the old homestead, and is a prominent and esteemed citizen. F. H. practices law in Boston, residing at
Watertown, Massachusetts. Esther D. married H. G. Putnam, of Lyndon, and resides in that place.
Bent & Wilson History 1877
Augustus Rice was the son of John Rice & Catherine Walker
