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Sgt Joseph Rice
Birth 	5 Nov 1797
Cocke County, Tennessee, USA
Death 	12 Feb 1883 (aged 85)
Alabama, USA
Burial 	
Rice Cemetery
New Market, Madison County, Alabama, USA
Memorial ID 	9421441 · View Source

Obituary from
Independent:
Mr. Joseph Rice, venerable father of Hon. Francisco Rice, died at the
residence of his daughter, Mrms. William H. Jones, in this county, Monday,
February 12, 1883. The deceased had reached the ripe age of 86 years. He
was a notable kind and benevolent citizen, greatly beloved in his won family
and honored and respected by all.

Huntsville Democrat
21 February, 1883
"In Memory of Joseph Rice, deceased. Joseph Rice, Esq. died at the residence
of his brother-in-law, W R Jones near New Market, Ala of acute bronchitis
on Monday, February 12, 1883 at 12:15 p.m. in his 86th year. The deceased
was born November 5, 1797 in Cocke County, Tennessee, whither his parents
removed to Buncombe, N.C. in 1806 to the vicinity of what is now New Market on
Madison County, which was organized as a county by the Mississippi Territorial
Legislature in 1805. His father, Spencer Rice, dying in 1808, his mother
went back to North Carolina taking Joseph and his younger brothers Levi
and George with her. In a few months she died, leaving these little boys
to the care of her sister, Mrs. Sarah McCathy. The subject of this sketch
and his brother, Levi, young as they were, wishing to live in Alabama,
set out on foot and in less than two weeks were again at the present New
Market where Joseph Rice has since resided, except for six years when he
lived in Dallas County, Alabama.

In 1813, when about 16 years old, he served under General Jackson as a
volunteer in the Creek War and (a friend informs us) was one of a body
of volunteers sent from Fayetteville, Tenn. by General Jackson to defend
Huntsville from a threatened Indian raid, and they came at a double quick,
reaching Huntsville, 30 miles distant, in five hours.

On the 18th of February, 1818, he was married to Johanna Bayless, daughter of
Hezekiah Bayless, Esq. who in 1805 settled on the place where John A. Fanning
now lives. This union was blessed with nine children, four sons and five
daughters, of whom only one son, Dr. Francisco Rice and three daughters
survive him.

In the fall of 1841, he made a profession of faith in christ, but did not
attach himself to any Church for several years when he united with the
Baptist Church at new Market and ever after lived as a consistent Christian.

He was of a cheerful, lively disposition, very humorous, having a pleasant
smile and word for every one, polite and courteous to the most lowly as to
the most honored, liberal in the distribution of his means in the aid of
churches and schools, and never turning the poor and needy empty away.

In his pursuits as a private citizen and in his official capacity as a Justice
of the Peace a love of the right and justice was his ruling trait. Few men,
if any, were more respected that he for these eminent Christian virtues.

He died in peace with God and man with a blessed hope of a resurrection of
the just. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

obituaries provided by Deana Snow

Family Members
Spouse

    Johannah Bayles Rice
    1794–1873

Children

    Fernando Rice
    1818–1859

    Francisco Rice
    1822–1896

    Almeda Rice Yarbrough
    1825–1893

    Sophia Rice Walker
    1830–1883

    Joseph Mandrud Rice
    1832–1879

    Florence Gilliann Rice Jones
    1832–1893

    Johanna Rice McLeod
    1835–1873

    Montillius Rice
    1837–1859

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