JAMES MONTGOMERY RICE was the oldest child of the family, spent his boyhood on his father's farm near Monmouth, Ill., and lived on a farm in Henderson County, Ill., acquiring a primary education in the district schools, until he was fifteen years old. The family then moved to Oquawka, Ill. He was in the freshman class at Monmouth College in 1860-1861. The Civil War having broken out during his freshman year, although still a minor, he enlisted on August 20, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company E. Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until September 14, 1864, a period of more than three years, without asking a furlough or losing a day from duty. His first service was as Military Storekeeper at General Grant's headquarters, but having been appointed Corporal, he returned to the ranks, and took part with his regiment in some of the most important battles of the war, including that at Pittsburg Landing, the advance on Corinth, the Nashville campaign of 1862, the battles of Mission Ridge and Chickamauga, Ringold, Buzzard Roost, Jonesborough, and others, including the march to the relief of Knoxville, Tennessee. Having been promoted to the rank of Sergeant, in December, 1863, he was examined and recommended for a commission in a regiment of colored troops, afterward participating in the battles of Buzzard's Roost and Resaca, in the capture of Rome, Georgia, in Sherman's march to Atlanta, and the battles of Peach Tree Creek and Ezra Church. As opportunity afforded while in the service, he continued his studies which had been interrupted by his enlistment, and was honorably mustered out of service September 18, 1864. On returning from the field, entered the Law Department of Michigan University, He graduated in 1866, and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Illinois, April 14, 1866, and to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1890. He was city attorney of Peoria in 1877, is a member of the state bar association, and was the principal organizer of the Peoria Law Library Association. He was a member of the State Legislature 1871 to 1873, and is the author of the third clause in the declaration of war with Spain. He was a member of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 1899 and 1900, and is the author of the new method of electing standing committees in that body. (See Appleton's American and English Encyclopedia, 1900.)
Immediately after graduation he began practice at Oquawka, also serving as Master in Chancery, but early in the next year removed to Peoria, where, a year later, he became a partner of Judge David McCulloch, continuing until his election as Representative to the General Assembly in November, 1870. In 1875 he joined in the reorganization of the National Blues, which took a prominent part in guarding railroad and other property during the great railroad strike at East St. Louis, in 1877; the same year was commissioned Captain and Special Aid on the Governor's Staff; two years later became Lieutenant-Colonel and Inspector of rifle practice; in 1887, as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of the Second Brigade, took part in suppressing the riots at East St. Louis, and, in 1890, was commissioned Colonel and Inspector-General of rifle practice, I. N. G., resigning this position on the accession of Governor Altgeld in 1896. Colonel Rice is the author of a volume on rifle firing, which has received the approval of officers of the regular army; has also written numerous articles for the periodical press (military and miscellaneous) in which he favored the incorporation of the National Guard into the organization for the National defense. While the principle has not been incorporated into the general law, it has received the approval of many leading military officers, and was partially recognized in the permission given to the National Guard, in several of the States, to enter the service with their regimental organizations at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
From the time of casting his vote for Mr. Lincoln for President in 1864, Col. Rice has been prominent in Republican circles, having served as Secretary of the Peoria County Republican Central Committee, and been a frequent contributor to the press on current political issues. He was a charter member of Bryner Post, G. A. R., organized in 1879, and its first Adjutant and, for three successive years (1894-96), Special Aid on the Staff of the Commander-in-chief, with a view to promoting military training in schools and colleges. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and a member of the Second Presbyterian Church.
On September 14, 1871, he was married to Miss Eliza F. Ballance. a native of Peoria —where her father, Col. Charles Ballance, settled in 1831—and a graduate of Monticello Female Seminary, and they have five children: Lillian R. (now Mrs. Daniel R. Brigham, of Denver, Colorado), Caroline Montgomery, Mary Virginia, Montgomery, Gordon and Willis Ballance.
Four years after his coming to Peoria Colonel Rice had married Miss Eliza Lillie Ballance of Colonel Charles and Julia M. Ballance. Mrs. Rice was of exceptional character and from this time until her death in 1895. Their lives were closely bound together and were mutually helpful and inspiring. Mrs. Rice is remembered for her personal charm, combining a witty and lovely disposition with deep earnestness of Christian character. She was a leader of many charitable movements carried on by the women in her church and Peoria. There survive this union five children Lillian Ballance the wife of Major Wilson Chase, United States army, and her two children, Daniel Morgan Brigham and Caroline Rice Brigham, Caroline Montgomery, Mary Virginia, Montgomery Gordon, city attorney and clerk at Libby, Montana, and Willis Ballance married to Ruth Little Mason, an electrical engineer and assistant United States patent examiner, at Washington, D.C.
Immediately after graduation he began practice at Oquawka, also serving as Master in Chancery, but early in the next year removed to Peoria, where, a year later, he became a partner of Judge David McCulloch, continuing until his election as Representative to the General Assembly in November, 1870. In 1875 he joined in the reorganization of the National Blues, which took a prominent part in guarding railroad and other property during the great railroad strike at East St. Louis, in 1877; the same year was commissioned Captain and Special Aid on the Governor's Staff; two years later became Lieutenant-Colonel and Inspector of rifle practice; in 1887, as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of the Second Brigade, took part in suppressing the riots at East St. Louis, and, in 1890, was commissioned Colonel and Inspector-General of rifle practice, I. N. G., resigning this position on the accession of Governor Altgeld in 1896. Colonel Rice is the author of a volume on rifle firing, which has received the approval of officers of the regular army; has also written numerous articles for the periodical press (military and miscellaneous) in which he favored the incorporation of the National Guard into the organization for the National defense. While the principle has not been incorporated into the general law, it has received the approval of many leading military officers, and was partially recognized in the permission given to the National Guard, in several of the States, to enter the service with their regimental organizations at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
From the time of casting his vote for Mr. Lincoln for President in 1864, Col. Rice has been prominent in Republican circles, having served as Secretary of the Peoria County Republican Central Committee, and been a frequent contributor to the press on current political issues. He was a charter member of Bryner Post, G. A. R., organized in 1879, and its first Adjutant and, for three successive years (1894-96), Special Aid on the Staff of the Commander-in-chief, with a view to promoting military training in schools and colleges. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and a member of the Second Presbyterian Church.
On September 14, 1871, he was married to Miss Eliza F. Ballance. a native of Peoria —where her father, Col. Charles Ballance, settled in 1831—and a graduate of Monticello Female Seminary, and they have five children: Lillian R. (now Mrs. Daniel R. Brigham, of Denver, Colorado), Caroline Montgomery, Mary Virginia, Montgomery, Gordon and Willis Ballance.
Four years after his coming to Peoria Colonel Rice had married Miss Eliza Lillie Ballance of Colonel Charles and Julia M. Ballance. Mrs. Rice was of exceptional character and from this time until her death in 1895. Their lives were closely bound together and were mutually helpful and inspiring. Mrs. Rice is remembered for her personal charm, combining a witty and lovely disposition with deep earnestness of Christian character. She was a leader of many charitable movements carried on by the women in her church and Peoria. There survive this union five children Lillian Ballance the wife of Major Wilson Chase, United States army, and her two children, Daniel Morgan Brigham and Caroline Rice Brigham, Caroline Montgomery, Mary Virginia, Montgomery Gordon, city attorney and clerk at Libby, Montana, and Willis Ballance married to Ruth Little Mason, an electrical engineer and assistant United States patent examiner, at Washington, D.C.
JAMES MONTGOMERY RICE was the oldest child of the family, spent his boyhood on his father's farm near Monmouth, Ill., and lived on a farm in Henderson County, Ill., acquiring a primary education in the district schools, until he was fifteen years old. The family then moved to Oquawka, Ill. He was in the freshman class at Monmouth College in 1860-1861. The Civil War having broken out during his freshman year, although still a minor, he enlisted on August 20, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company E. Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until September 14, 1864, a period of more than three years, without asking a furlough or losing a day from duty. His first service was as Military Storekeeper at General Grant's headquarters, but having been appointed Corporal, he returned to the ranks, and took part with his regiment in some of the most important battles of the war, including that at Pittsburg Landing, the advance on Corinth, the Nashville campaign of 1862, the battles of Mission Ridge and Chickamauga, Ringold, Buzzard Roost, Jonesborough, and others, including the march to the relief of Knoxville, Tennessee. Having been promoted to the rank of Sergeant, in December, 1863, he was examined and recommended for a commission in a regiment of colored troops, afterward participating in the battles of Buzzard's Roost and Resaca, in the capture of Rome, Georgia, in Sherman's march to Atlanta, and the battles of Peach Tree Creek and Ezra Church. As opportunity afforded while in the service, he continued his studies which had been interrupted by his enlistment, and was honorably mustered out of service September 18, 1864. On returning from the field, entered the Law Department of Michigan University, He graduated in 1866, and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Illinois, April 14, 1866, and to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1890. He was city attorney of Peoria in 1877, is a member of the state bar association, and was the principal organizer of the Peoria Law Library Association. He was a member of the State Legislature 1871 to 1873, and is the author of the third clause in the declaration of war with Spain. He was a member of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 1899 and 1900, and is the author of the new method of electing standing committees in that body. (See Appleton's American and English Encyclopedia, 1900.)
Immediately after graduation he began practice at Oquawka, also serving as Master in Chancery, but early in the next year removed to Peoria, where, a year later, he became a partner of Judge David McCulloch, continuing until his election as Representative to the General Assembly in November, 1870. In 1875 he joined in the reorganization of the National Blues, which took a prominent part in guarding railroad and other property during the great railroad strike at East St. Louis, in 1877; the same year was commissioned Captain and Special Aid on the Governor's Staff; two years later became Lieutenant-Colonel and Inspector of rifle practice; in 1887, as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of the Second Brigade, took part in suppressing the riots at East St. Louis, and, in 1890, was commissioned Colonel and Inspector-General of rifle practice, I. N. G., resigning this position on the accession of Governor Altgeld in 1896. Colonel Rice is the author of a volume on rifle firing, which has received the approval of officers of the regular army; has also written numerous articles for the periodical press (military and miscellaneous) in which he favored the incorporation of the National Guard into the organization for the National defense. While the principle has not been incorporated into the general law, it has received the approval of many leading military officers, and was partially recognized in the permission given to the National Guard, in several of the States, to enter the service with their regimental organizations at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
From the time of casting his vote for Mr. Lincoln for President in 1864, Col. Rice has been prominent in Republican circles, having served as Secretary of the Peoria County Republican Central Committee, and been a frequent contributor to the press on current political issues. He was a charter member of Bryner Post, G. A. R., organized in 1879, and its first Adjutant and, for three successive years (1894-96), Special Aid on the Staff of the Commander-in-chief, with a view to promoting military training in schools and colleges. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and a member of the Second Presbyterian Church.
On September 14, 1871, he was married to Miss Eliza F. Ballance. a native of Peoria —where her father, Col. Charles Ballance, settled in 1831—and a graduate of Monticello Female Seminary, and they have five children: Lillian R. (now Mrs. Daniel R. Brigham, of Denver, Colorado), Caroline Montgomery, Mary Virginia, Montgomery, Gordon and Willis Ballance.
Four years after his coming to Peoria Colonel Rice had married Miss Eliza Lillie Ballance of Colonel Charles and Julia M. Ballance. Mrs. Rice was of exceptional character and from this time until her death in 1895. Their lives were closely bound together and were mutually helpful and inspiring. Mrs. Rice is remembered for her personal charm, combining a witty and lovely disposition with deep earnestness of Christian character. She was a leader of many charitable movements carried on by the women in her church and Peoria. There survive this union five children Lillian Ballance the wife of Major Wilson Chase, United States army, and her two children, Daniel Morgan Brigham and Caroline Rice Brigham, Caroline Montgomery, Mary Virginia, Montgomery Gordon, city attorney and clerk at Libby, Montana, and Willis Ballance married to Ruth Little Mason, an electrical engineer and assistant United States patent examiner, at Washington, D.C.
Immediately after graduation he began practice at Oquawka, also serving as Master in Chancery, but early in the next year removed to Peoria, where, a year later, he became a partner of Judge David McCulloch, continuing until his election as Representative to the General Assembly in November, 1870. In 1875 he joined in the reorganization of the National Blues, which took a prominent part in guarding railroad and other property during the great railroad strike at East St. Louis, in 1877; the same year was commissioned Captain and Special Aid on the Governor's Staff; two years later became Lieutenant-Colonel and Inspector of rifle practice; in 1887, as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of the Second Brigade, took part in suppressing the riots at East St. Louis, and, in 1890, was commissioned Colonel and Inspector-General of rifle practice, I. N. G., resigning this position on the accession of Governor Altgeld in 1896. Colonel Rice is the author of a volume on rifle firing, which has received the approval of officers of the regular army; has also written numerous articles for the periodical press (military and miscellaneous) in which he favored the incorporation of the National Guard into the organization for the National defense. While the principle has not been incorporated into the general law, it has received the approval of many leading military officers, and was partially recognized in the permission given to the National Guard, in several of the States, to enter the service with their regimental organizations at the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
From the time of casting his vote for Mr. Lincoln for President in 1864, Col. Rice has been prominent in Republican circles, having served as Secretary of the Peoria County Republican Central Committee, and been a frequent contributor to the press on current political issues. He was a charter member of Bryner Post, G. A. R., organized in 1879, and its first Adjutant and, for three successive years (1894-96), Special Aid on the Staff of the Commander-in-chief, with a view to promoting military training in schools and colleges. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and a member of the Second Presbyterian Church.
On September 14, 1871, he was married to Miss Eliza F. Ballance. a native of Peoria —where her father, Col. Charles Ballance, settled in 1831—and a graduate of Monticello Female Seminary, and they have five children: Lillian R. (now Mrs. Daniel R. Brigham, of Denver, Colorado), Caroline Montgomery, Mary Virginia, Montgomery, Gordon and Willis Ballance.
Four years after his coming to Peoria Colonel Rice had married Miss Eliza Lillie Ballance of Colonel Charles and Julia M. Ballance. Mrs. Rice was of exceptional character and from this time until her death in 1895. Their lives were closely bound together and were mutually helpful and inspiring. Mrs. Rice is remembered for her personal charm, combining a witty and lovely disposition with deep earnestness of Christian character. She was a leader of many charitable movements carried on by the women in her church and Peoria. There survive this union five children Lillian Ballance the wife of Major Wilson Chase, United States army, and her two children, Daniel Morgan Brigham and Caroline Rice Brigham, Caroline Montgomery, Mary Virginia, Montgomery Gordon, city attorney and clerk at Libby, Montana, and Willis Ballance married to Ruth Little Mason, an electrical engineer and assistant United States patent examiner, at Washington, D.C.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
