JAMES RICE is a native of Kenton County, Ky., born March 9, 1832. His father was William Rice, a native of Virginia, who settled in Kenton County, Ky., about the beginning of the present century. He was a farmer and died late in 1831. Subject's mother, Martha Rice, was a daughter of one of the earliest settlers of northern Kentucky. She was born in Bracken County and died in Kenton County about 1857. James Rice is the last of a family of seven children, and is a posthumous child. At the age of nineteen he was called upon to part with his mother. He then commenced the battle of life as a common laborer, finding employment on different farms in his native county, until arriving at his twentieth year. December 26, 1850, he married Miss Lucy Rice, daughter of Stephen and Henny (Huffman) Rice, of Kenton County, After marriage Mr. Rice began farming on a part of the paternal homestead, on which he resided for a period of five years. He then went on a tour of inspection through the States of Indiana and Illinois for the purpose of securing a location, but not being pleased with the country, he came to Livingston County, Ky., in the spring of 1866, and purchased his present farm of 125 acres, in Carrsville precinct, on which he has since lived. He is a good farmer and a highly respected member of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are the parents of the following children: Lavinia wife of E. Pickett, Ulysses A., DeWitt C., Ida, William, Jefferson (deceased), George W. and Samuel.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 830.