| BIOGRAPHIES of Trempealeau County |
|
Trempealeau County, Wisconsin Biography William
O.
Rice
&
Susan
Ward
1896 William
O.
Rice was
born 15-Jul-1825 supposedly in Berkshire County, MA. The
1850 census lists him in Rock Co., WI, where he had immigrated to
Wisconsin with other family members, including his in-laws Elanson
& Jerusha Van Ness Ward, Noble Lobdell, his wife's uncle, and other
family friends, such as Beach's, Sly's, Purdy's, Northrop's, etc. from
Hamburg area of Erie County, NY in the
late 1840s; however, in 1861 he listed Richmond, IL
as his residence when he enlisted in 1st Chicago Light Artillery
for Union Army, thus he is
found in the 1860 census
in Richmond, McHenry Co., IL, Ringwood Post Office. 1870
census has him in Spring Grove, Green Co., WI. Described as 5' 10" blue eyes, brown
hair. 1880 census has
William, Susan & son George in Sumner Twp., Trempeleau Co., WI. The
1900 census lists him as living in Osseo, Trempleau Co., Wi. with his son,
&
George, Leonora (DL), and Bethia (GD), age 3.
From Graves Family
history (Sarah Ann Rice Graves was William's sister)
William
O.
Rice,
second
son
of
William
and
Aurelia [Orilla] Rice was born at Great
Barrington, Mass. in 1825. He married Susan Ward at Wagg's Corners, N.Y.
[Bixley's Corners, Hamburg, Erie Co,
NY]. William & Susan also removed to Richmond in McHenry County, Ill.
and later to Clarence in Green County, Wisconsin.
William
Rice
enlisted
for
service
early
in
the Civil War on Oct. 16th,
1861. He was mustered out at Pittsburg Landing [Tennessee] by
reason of disability [fell off a gun caisson] incurred in the line of
duty by a severe injury to one knee. Recovering sufficiently, he
reinlisted Jan 17th, 1864 in the 12th Wisconsin Light Artillery in Janesville, WI. from
which he served until the end of the War. He was mustered out at
Madison on June 17th, 1865. He was a Captain in Artillery and made the
famous march with General Sherman from
Atlanta to the Sea. He was once captured in South Carolina, but
later escaped. His eldest son, Nathan Rice also enlisted for
service in the War and had one leg shot off at the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. After
the
war,
William
Rice
lived
at
Humbird
in Trempealeau County,
Wisconsin, and later
at Osseo where he died. Grandmother Graves often told of her
brother William of whom she was very proud, especially on account of
his distinguished military service in the Civil War. I have a
small picture of Great-uncle William Rice and he was a very handsome
young man with a flowing beard.
William
O.
Rice
wrote
up
a
short
personal
account
of his Civil War experiences for
his
daughter
Ella:
In
his
own
words,
he says, "Enlisted in Capt.
Chas. Willards Battery Chicago Light Artillery, Oct. 31st, 1861.
Discharged
at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., Mar. 31st,
1862, because of injuries received on duty. After getting rid of
crutches reinlisted with [your] brother Nathan in 12th Wis Battery at Janesville for period
of three years commencing Jan 5th, 1863 [I believe it was 1864 -
ggg-granddaughter Sherrie Rice Smith], Captain Zickrick in
command. Went thru with Sherman to the sea. Found the
battle of Atlanta, Georgia, and fought the Rebels on the March whenever
called on to shell them out of any place where they held advance
infantry. I was under fire in the rear of Savannah, Geo. 5 days
living on 2 small ears of corn a day.
Afterwards
on
the
march
north
thru
So.
Car.
near
Cheraw
I was taken prisoner. In Libby Prison for a couple of weeks, then
paroled and made my way to Georgetown, So. Car. then to Charlestown then to Port Royal, So. Car.
then to Fort T[F}ucalligo So. Car., from there took ocean steamer to Wilmington, N. Car.
and there I overtook my battery, found Nathan well and the boys glad to
see me.
From
there
we
went
to
Raleigh,
No.
Car.
and
was there when Lincoln was assassinated. From there we came
to Richmond, Va, from there to Washington and from there to Madison and was
mustered out of service June 7th, 1865.
I
was
only
wounded
once,
that
was
in
the
rear while on duty at the city of Savannah, by a spent ball from a
shell. it struck me over the right eye in the forehead and
knocked me down acting crazy for a while. I still have the
ball. These are some of the most particulars."
23 July 1879
Declaration for an Original Invalid Pension:
William O. Rice who
was enrolled on the 16th day of October, 1861 in company A of the First
Regiment Illinois
Artillery commanded by Charles W. Williard (Williards and Ballou's were
prominent men in Oneida County, NY) and was honorably discharged
at Pittsburgh Tenn on the 31st day of March, 1862 that his personal
description is as follows: age, 37 years; height 5 feet 10 inches;
complexion, light hair, brown; eyes Blue. That while a member of the
organization aforesaid, in the service and in the line of his duty at
Pittsburgh, Tenn,
in
the
State
of
Tennessee
on
or
about the 28th day of February, 1862,
he was thrown from a caisson while Battery was on double quick March,
producing severe contusion of the right knee, and was discharged from
service in consequence of same. Afterward partially recovered and
enlisted again in 12 Wisconsin Batter and was enrolled on the 5th Day
of January, 1864 was again discharged the 7th day of June, 1865.
That he was treated
as follows: in cavalry and artillery hospital Paducah, KY, was treated
by John Bowman
Asst Surgeon. That his is now almost totally disabled from labor in
consequence of the above record at the time state above.
Living principally in
County of Trempealeau, WI.
Occupation: Mason and nearly totally disabled.
Daughter in
law Bertha Rice daugher
Alice Rice Anderson wrote the following: "No mention is made here
of the fact that his second enlistment was made because his son,
Nathan, enlisted and the father, William O., did not want his son to go
alone. He did not think the son (age 17) knew what hardships he
was encountering. They served together for the balance of the
war. He carried a shell in his knew after his injury. My
mother and father talked a great deal about him when I was young."
William
O.
Rice,
along
with
his
wife
Susan
Ward
Rice and grandchildren, Herbert Rice and Lula Ann Rice Zhe,
and her husband Frank Zhe, are buried in the Sumner Township Cemetery, Osseo, Wisconsin.
Submitted by Sherrie Rice Smith - ggg-granddaughter of this couple Susan Ward Rice's
(born 15-Apr-1825
Northampton, Monroe Co, New York & died
11-Jan-1899 in Osseo, WI) family is quite prominent in early New
England history. Her grandfather Cornelius Van Ness married into the
Lobdell family who have ancestors in the Connecticut area since 1632
with Rev. Hooker. The Van Ness family was prominent in New York state
history since the New Amsterdam days of the early 17th century. Susan's
great grandfather, Gerrit Van Ness, married to Efye Scherp, served in
the 14th & 16th Albany County militia during the American
Revolution, and is an ancestor in the Daughters of the American
Revolution.
Susan's
father, Elanson Ward, is
buried in the Northrup
Cemetery, Avon Township, Rock Co, WI. He died 1 March 1852 & was
born 15 Nov 1797, somewhere in NY state. Her mother Jerusha Van Ness
Ward was born 11 Feb 1806 Probably Northville, Fulton Co. New York
& died 11 Sept 1880 in the home of her daughter Rachel Hill in
Durand, WI. Jerusha is buried Durand, Pepin Co., WI. Forest Hill
Cem.Block 64, Lot 14.
Susan
& William Rice had 6
children: Nathan, Arthur
William George, Ella Leona McCafferty, Susan Maria Miller (Jacob),
Bertha May Howland, & George William Elmer.
Submitted by Sherrie Rice Smith - ggg-granddaughter of this couple Further Notes from the Submitter: William O. Rice, along with his wife Susan Ward Rice and grandchildren, Herbert Rice and Lula Ann Rice Zhe, and her husband Frank Zhe, are buried in the Sumner Township Cemetery, Osseo, Wisconsin. (Sarah Ann Rice Graves was William's sister) William O. Rice was born 15-Jul-1825 supposedly in Berkshire County, MA. The 1850 census lists him in Rock Co., WI, where he had immigrated to Wisconsin with other family members, including his in-laws Elanson & Jerusha Van Ness Ward, Noble Lobdell, his wife's uncle, and other family friends, such as Beach's, Sly's, Purdy's, Northrop's, etc. from Hamburg area of Erie County, NY in the late 1840s; however, in 1861 he listed Richmond, IL as his residence when he enlisted in 1st Chicago Light Artillery for Union Army, thus he is found in the 1860 census in Richmond, McHenry Co., IL, Ringwood Post Office. 1870 census has him in Spring Grove, Green Co., WI. Described as 5' 10" blue eyes, brown hair. 1880 census has William, Susan & son George in Sumner Twp., Trempeleau Co., WI. The 1900 census lists him as living in Osseo, Trempleau Co., Wi. with his son, George, Leonora (DL), and Bethia (GD), age 3. Submitted by Sherrie Rice Smith - ggg-granddaughter of this couple |
| Back to Biographies Index |
Back to Main Index |
Copyright © 2009 to Wisconsin's Genealogy Trails' Trempealeau County host & all Contributors
All rights reserved
