History of Bucks
County, Pa Volume 3 by William H. Davis
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HON. HAMPTON W. RICE |
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Kindly submitted by Joan Lollis Hon. Hampton W. RICE was born in Solebury township, Bucks county, on the old RICE homestead, March 24, 1844, the son of Samuel H. and Ann (LIVEZEY) RICE, both natives of that township. Edward RICE, ancestor of the RICE family of Bucks county, was a native of the parish of Killaman, county, Tyrone, Ireland, from whence he emigrated to America, bringing with him a certificate from the rector and church wardens of the parish, dated June 12, 1736. He settled in Buckingham, and on December 19, 1753, obtained a deed for 153 acres of land on the old York road and the Warwick line, comprising the present Edward SWARTZ and PERCY farms. He had probably resided on this land some years previously. It was part of a tract of 1,622 acres patented to Thomas MAYLEIGH, and had been devised to his son and heirs male in feetail, and proceedings had been instituted to bar he entail so as to make conveyances thereof in fee, some years previously. Edward RICE resided on this farm until his death in 1761. His wife was Elizabeth -------. She married Mathew BEANS, 5 mo. 18, 1763, and had two children –Aaron and Moses BEANS by this second marriage. She died in Buckingham in 1814. The children of Edward and Elizabeth RICE, were eight, viz: 1. James, born about 1742, died in Warwick township, November 5, 1822, leaving seven children: Jane, wife of Henry WIGGINs; Rebecca, wife of Henry BLACK; John; James; Phebe, wife of James LUKENS; William and Mary. James had removed to Baltimore, Maryland, but returned to Bucks county and settled in Warwick ten years later. 2. John, born 1744, died on the homestead in Buckingham, October 1, 1801, married Rachel WORTHINGTON, August 24, 1765, and had children: Mary, who married Thomas KIRK; Edward, Elizabeth, Hannah, Ann, John and James. 3. Edward, born 1747, married Martha FELL, and lived in Plumstead. Children: Jonathan and Mary. 4. George RICE, born 1749, married Eleanor daughter of Robert and Jane SKELTON, of Buckingham, and had children: Robert, Ann, Susanna, George, Sarah, Mary, Moses, and Elias. George RICE and his son Robert were wheelwrights and lived in Plumstead. 5. Mary, born 1752, married John KINSEY, 3 mo. 23, 1774. 6. Joseph, born 1754. 7. Thomas, born 1756. 8. William, born 1758. Joseph, sixth child of Edward and Elizabeth RICE, was born in Buckingham in the year 1754. He was very young when his mother was married to Mathew BEANS, and his boyhood days were probably spent on the old BEANS farm, near the Solebury line, where Henry H. BEANS, now lives. He married, 4 mo. 14, 1779, Letitia, daughter of William and Catharine (FISHER) HARTLEY, of Solebury. He purchased of his wife’s uncle the farm on the state road in Solebury, part of which is still owned and occupied by his descendants, and spent his long life thereon, dying in November, 1848, in his ninety-fourth year. His children were: Catharine, born 1780, married Elias PAXSON; James, born 1785, died in infancy; William, born 4 mo. 30, 1782, died 1827; Letitia, born 1788, married John BODDER; James, born 2 mo. 7, 1791, died young; and Joseph, born 3 mo. 2, 1792. Letitia (HARTLEY) RICE died 11 mo. 30, 1815. William RICE, eldest son of Joseph and Letitia, born in Solebury, 4 mo. 30, 1782, was devised by the will of his grandfather, William HARTLEY, a farm of 180 acres adjoining the one purchased by his father, the greater part of which is still owned by the subject of this sketch, and, marrying Sidney HARTLEY settled thereon. He died when but forty-five years of age, in 1827. His children were: Samuel H., father of the subject of this sketch; Hiram, for many years a prominent citizen of Buckingham, died at Newtown; Charles and Eliza, Samuel H. RICE, eldest son of William and Sidney, was born on the old homestead in Solebury in 1808. At his father’s death, he assumed the management of the farm, and two years later, he having arrived at his majority, the farm was partitioned through the orphan’s court and he accepted the homestead and 127 acres and spent the remainder of his life thereon. He was an auctioneer, and followed that vocation in connection with farming. He was twice married, his first wife being Euphemia, daughter of John and Euphemia (INGHAM) WATSON to which marriage two children were born; Mary Ellen, now deceased, married William M. WHARTON; and one who died in childhood. He married (second) Ann LIVEZEY, daughter of Robert and Sarah (PAXSON) LIVEZEY of Solebury, by whom he had three children; Euphemia Ann and Sarah L., both single, residing at Lahaska; and Hampton W., the subject of this sketch. Samuel H. RICE died in June, 1879. Hampton W. RICE was born on the old homestead, March 24, 1844, and was reared to the life of a farmer, acquiring his education at the public schools and at the Excelsor Normal School at Carversville. On attaining manhood he took charge of the home farm, which he acquired at the death of his father, and resided thereon until 1886, when he removed to Lumberton, and engaged in the manufacture of fertilizers. In 1901 he sold out at Lumberton and removed to his present residence at Centre Hill, built by his uncle, Dr. Abraham LIVEZEY, in 1850. In politics Mr. RICE was a Republican and has always taken an active interest in politics. In 1895 he was elected a member of the legislature, and was re-elected in 1897. In 1899 he was elected to the state senate. During his eight years of continuous service in the two houses of the legislature he took an active part in legislation, particularly in that relating to the interests of the farming community. He belonged to the anti-Quay wing of the party, and helped to defeat the re-election of Mr. QUAY to the United States senate in 1900. He was nominated for the assembly in 1903 by a fusion with the Democrats, but was defeated at the polls by a small majority. Mr. RICE has always taken an active interest in all that pertains to the best interests of the local community, has served as school director, and filled other local offices. He is one of the most active members of the Solebury Farmers’ club. He is a member of Doylestown Lodge, No. 245, F. and A. M. and of Paunaucussing Lodge, K. of P., at Carversville. He and his family are members of the Society of Friends. He was married January 11, 1881, to Emma L., daughter of Watson and Hannah (PRESTON) KENDERDINE, of Solebury, both of whom are descendants of Welsh ancestors who came to this country in the seventeenth century. Mr. and Mrs. RICE have been the parents of three children, only one of whom survives-Marion, wife of George H. ELY, who has two children, Wilton G. and Helen M. ELY.
Test taken from page 506-507 of: Davis, William W. H., A.M., History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905] Volume III Transcribed December 2004 by Joan Lollis of, IN. as part of the Bucks Co., Pa., Early Family Project, www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/bucksindex.html Published January 2005 on the Bucks County, Pa., USGenWeb pages at www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/
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| Page last updated:Saturday November 15, 2008 | ||
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Page was last edited:
11/15/2008