History of the O.E. Rice Family

Oscar Elbridge Rice was born in Floyd County, Iowa on May 1, 1855. He came with his parents to Nebraska when he was five years old. They lived near New Castle, Nebraska.

Oscar and Ida were married on December 22, 1879. They lived near New Castle, Nebraska for a time. Their first child, Iva Lillian, was born August 30, 1880.

They came sometime in 1881 to Larimore, ND where some of their relatives had previously settled. In the year 1882 they came to what is now Odessa Township, Ramsey County, where they filed on a quarter section of land. Their nearest town at that time was Bartlett. On March 24, 1883, their second child, Alta May, was born. She was the first white child born in what is now Odessa Township and when the township was organized some wanted to call it Alta Township but were voted down in favor of Odessa.

On April 4, 1885 their third child, Dexter was born. He was given the name of Dexter after his Grandfather Rice. He had no second name but after he got older he gave himself the middle name Dan.
On March 27, 1887 their fouth child, Elbridge Graves, was born.
On December 15, 1888 identical twin boys were born. They were named Elmer Manley and Elsworth Stanley.

The year 1889 there wasn't much crop. At that time Seatttle was sort of a boom town and we had relatives there that urged Oscar to bring his family out there and he could find plenty of jobs. But by the time they got there it had sort of quit booming. Dad found it hard to get work. The children all had the measles and the little twins, who had never been strong, both died. They died March 15, 1890 and the seventh child, Edna, was born March 30, 1890.

They soon moved back to the farm in North Dakota. Iva and Edna were the only ones that were not born on the old place in North Dakota.

On October 25, 1891 Harvey Eugene was born.
Hugh Francis was born December 12, 1893.
On April 13, 1895 Vernon LeRoy was born.
Howard Merton was born September 19, 1897.
On September 8th, 1900 the 12th child, Mildred Estelle was born.
The last child,the 13th, Marion Gladys was born on February 16, 1903.
History written by Mildred Rice.

The family was all very artistic and well read. They drew many lovely pictures, wrote poetry and introduced their grandchildren to many good books.
Grandpa died in 1934 and Grandma died in 1950 at the age of ninety-two.
My three aunts, Alta, Mildred and Marion remained on the farm. They raised chickens, milked cows and and neighbors farmed their land for them. Marion died in 1948 and Alta in 1954 and Mildred lived there alone until she sold the farm to her neighbors, (Braaten Family) and moved to Rogue River, Oregon.
I have many fond memories of spending time at my grandparents farm in the summer. They were very Christian oriented and I remember my grandparents reading devotions everyday from the big family Bible.
Submitted by Bernice Rice Miller to the Ramsey County Centennial History Book.

Iva Lillian Rice Weintz is buried at Crary, ND
8/30/1880 - 3/31/1911

Alta May Rice is buried at Crary, ND
3/24/1883 - 6/11/1954

Dexter Daniel Rice is buried at Devils Lake, ND
04/04/1885 - 06/18/1948

Elbridge Graves Rice is buried at Crary, ND
03/27/1887 - 03/05/1935

Elmer Manley Rice and Elsworth Stanley Rice, Twin Boys are buried at Seattle,WA.
12/15/1888 - 03/07/1890

Edna Vivian Rice Sjolund is buried at Glendive,MT
03/30/1890 - 12/30/1974

Harvey Eugene Rice is buried at Doyon, ND
10/25/1891 - 10/11/1965

Hugh Francis Rice is buried at Missoula, MT
12/12/1893 - 04-25/1983

Vernon Leroy Rice is buried at St. Michaels, ND
04/13/1895 - 03/11/1954

Howard Merton Rice is buried at Crary, ND
9/19/1897 - 11/11/1954

Mildred Estelle Rice is buried at Crary, ND
9/8/1900 - 10/17/1990

Marion Gladys Rice is buried at Crary, ND
2/16/1903 - 5/13/1948

Interments added by Adele Rice Spidahl