Alice Melvina Rice was born Feb. 3, 1860, at Farmington, Davis County, Utah. She was the daughter of Oscar North Rice and Jane "Clarissa" Miller, both with Utah pioneer heritage and among the first settlers of that community. When she was 3 months old, the family moved to Smithfield, Utah. They lived in a wagon box which was put on the ground for convenience. Their camp was on the bank of a creek. Her father began to build a log cabin on the other side of the creek.

As pioneers, they experience many hardships common to the early settlers. They had a great deal of trouble with the Indians. In 1864, the settlers in Smithfield were advised to move to Providence, where her grandfather, Ira Rice, was the first bishop. There was a fort there, and this provided more protection from the savage Indians.

Later, the family obtained land just south of the Logan River and built a beautiful home there.

Over the years, more children joined the family: Clarissa (Clara), Henrietta (Net), Evaline (Eva), Oscar, the only son, Abigail (Abbie), and Sarah Ann (Nana). Her father passed away when she was 20 years old.

Alice attended school in Logan and was an "A" student. She went to high school and graduated under Miss Ida Cook. In 1887, she taught the first school in Hyrum, in a one-room rock house. She rode a horse from her home in Logan to Hyrum to her work.

She also worked as a clerk in C.B. Robins' store, located where the Logan City offices were later built. It was while she was employed at the store that she met Nicholas W. Crookston. He was the sheriff of Cache County and the Logan City Marshall at the time.

Alice was considered one of the most beautiful and popular young ladies of that time. She and Nicholas were married on Nov. 8, 1883, in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. Daniel H. Wells performed the ceremony.

They had 9 children, many of whom were born prematurely and needed the tender, loving care that Alice provided. That these children survived at all in those early days was a testament to the care they received from their mother.
Nicholas "Oscar" Crookston - born May 1, 1885 - weighed 5 lbs
Alice Crookston - born Oct. 9, 1886 - weighed 7 lbs.
Jean Crookston - born Nov. 27, 1887 - weighed 2.5 lbs
Lucille Crookston - born Apr. 22, 1889 - weighed 7 lbs.
Newell James Crookston - born Aug. 8, 1890 - weighed 3 lbs.
Robert "Burns" Crookston - born Feb. 4, 1892 - weighed 3 lbs.
Spencer Cleveland Crookston - born Apr. 22, 1893 - weighed 5 lbs.
Laurn Edgar Crookston - born Nov. 9, 1895 - weighed 4 lbs.
Edna Hilda Crookston - born June 3, 1899 - weighed 5 lbs.

In 1891, her husband was called to be bishop at Greenville (now North Logan), so they moved there, being among the first settlers. They built a beautiful log home, which is still standing and is listed on the historic homes registry.

Two sons, Oscar and Laurn, served in the US Army during World War I.

On February 15, 1925, she and Nick were sitting by the fire in the living room, enjoying the evening. She was suddenly stricken with a stroke. Her children all came home, and she passed away on March 7, 1925, at the age of 65.

A beautiful funeral service was held on March 13, at the Fourth Ward chapel.
Many fine tributes were paid to this exceptional woman. "She was ever working to advance some necessary and worthy line of endeavor." She and her husband loved each other deeply, and she loved her family.

Burial was in the Logan City Cemetery on the Crookston lot on the west side of the cemetery.