Americus V. Rice
Encyclopedia
Americus Vespucius Rice was a nineteenth century politician, banker, and businessman from Ohio
. He served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
and was promoted to brigadier general
at the end of the war.
on November 18, 1835 to Clark Hammond Rice and Catherine (Mowers) Rice. He pursued in classical studies, attended Antioch College
, graduated from Union College and studied law.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Rice was commissioned as a captain in the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment
on April 27, 1861, eventually rising to brigadier general
in 1865. As colonel
of the 57th Ohio Infantry
at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
in the Atlanta Campaign
, he was wounded and his right leg was amputated.
, was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1872 and was elected a Democrat
to the United States House of Representatives
in 1874, serving from 1875 to 1879, not being a candidate for renomination in 1878. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions
from 1877 to 1879. Afterward, he was president of A.V. Rice & Company, a banking concern in Ottawa, Ohio
, was a director in various business enterprises and was appointed a pension agent for Ohio
in 1893, serving from 1894 to 1898. Rice moved to Washington, D.C.
, in 1899 and engaged in banking and other various enterprises and was appointed a purchasing agent for the United States Census Bureau
which he served as until his death in Washington, D.C. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery
in Arlington, Virginia.
, an English immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony
, as follows:
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
at the end of the war.
Early life
Rice was born in Perrysville, OhioPerrysville, Ohio
Perrysville is a village in Ashland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 816 at the 2000 census. The area was first permanently settled around 1811. One of the settlers, Judge Coulter, picked the most beautiful spot for a village with the intentions of naming it Coulterville...
on November 18, 1835 to Clark Hammond Rice and Catherine (Mowers) Rice. He pursued in classical studies, attended Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
, graduated from Union College and studied law.
Civil War
21st Ohio Infantry
The 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Mostly an all-volunteer unit, with the exception of a few draftees, the 21st Ohio served for both ninety-day and three-year enlistments and fought exclusively in the Western Theater...
on April 27, 1861, eventually rising to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in 1865. As colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 57th Ohio Infantry
57th Ohio Infantry
The 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 57th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Vance in Findlay, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on December 12, 1861 under the command of Colonel William Mungen.The...
at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought on June 27, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the most significant frontal assault launched by Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman against the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joseph E...
in the Atlanta Campaign
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
, he was wounded and his right leg was amputated.
Postbellum career
After the close of the war, Rice was manager of a private banking house in Ottawa, OhioOttawa, Ohio
Ottawa is a village in and the county seat of Putnam County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,460 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1792 Major Alexander Truman, his servant William Lynch and guide/interpreter William Smalley were sent by George Washington on a peace mission...
, was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1872 and was elected a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1874, serving from 1875 to 1879, not being a candidate for renomination in 1878. There, he served as chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions
United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions
The United States House Committee on Invalid Pensions is a former committee of the United States House of Representatives from 1831 to 1946.The committee was created on January 10, 1831 with jurisdiction over matters relating to pensions for disabled veterans. Originally, the jurisdiction of the...
from 1877 to 1879. Afterward, he was president of A.V. Rice & Company, a banking concern in Ottawa, Ohio
Ottawa, Ohio
Ottawa is a village in and the county seat of Putnam County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,460 at the 2010 census.-History:In 1792 Major Alexander Truman, his servant William Lynch and guide/interpreter William Smalley were sent by George Washington on a peace mission...
, was a director in various business enterprises and was appointed a pension agent for Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 1893, serving from 1894 to 1898. Rice moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in 1899 and engaged in banking and other various enterprises and was appointed a purchasing agent for the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
which he served as until his death in Washington, D.C. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
in Arlington, Virginia.
Genealogy
Americus Vespucius Rice was a direct descendant of Edmund RiceEdmund Rice (1638)
Edmund Rice , was an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony who was born in Suffolk, England, and lived in Stanstead, Suffolk and Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire prior to sailing with his family to America. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in summer or fall of 1638, presumed to be first...
, an English immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
, as follows:
- Americus Vespucius Rice, son of
- Clark Hammond Rice (1804 – 1870), son of
-
-
- Ebenezer Rice (1773 – 1821), son of
- Samuel Rice (1752 – 1828), son of
- Gershom Rice (1703 – ?), son of
-
- Ephriam Rice (1665 – 1732), son of
- Thomas Rice (1626 – 1681), son of
-
- Edmund RiceEdmund Rice (1638)Edmund Rice , was an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony who was born in Suffolk, England, and lived in Stanstead, Suffolk and Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire prior to sailing with his family to America. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in summer or fall of 1638, presumed to be first...
(1594 – 1663)
- Edmund Rice
-
See also
- List of American Civil War generals