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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Drew County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William C. Rice, farmer and stock-raiser, Monticello, Ark. Mr. Rice is a typical Arkansas farmer, substantial, enterprising and progressive, and such a man as wields no small influence in the community where he makes his home. He came originally from Bedford County, Tenn., where his birth occurred December 22, 1831, and his parents, Zachariah Allen and Nancy Elizabeth (Crawley) Rice, were natives of the Old Dominion. The father moved to Tennessee after his marriage, was a farmer by pursuit, and died about 1833. His wife was the daughter of John and Sarah (Dupey) Crawley, natives of Virginia, and of Scotch descent. Mrs. Rice died in 1852, and both she and her husband were members of the Baptist Church. They were the parents of four children: Sarah Ann (wife of Manuel Ray, of Bedford County. Tenn.), John H. (a farmer, of Bedford County), Zachariah (deceased), and William C. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Rice married Charles Ray, who died in 1852. William C. Rice received a thorough education in the common schools, and finished by attending Erwin College, where he took a four years’ course, and from which he graduated in 1854. He made the money to carry him through college by teaching school and by working on a farm, and after graduating he still continued the former pursuit. He went to Alabama, and there taught school and clerked for some time, after which he went to the Lone Star State, where he was engaged in the mercantile business. In 1859 he came to Arkansas, where he taught school in Ashley County for a year, and in 1860 came to Drew County, where he continued his former pursuit for six months. He was married June 25, of that year, to Miss Sarah Ann Stanley, a native of Marshall County, Miss., born December 29, 1836, and the daughter of W. F. and Jane Haris (Baxter) Stanley, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively. W. F. Stanley was born in Logan County, December 10, 1813, and is the son of Reuben and Susan (Hunter) Stanley, natives of Virginia. Reuben Stanley was of English descent, and a farmer by occupation. He died about 1862, at the age of seventy-two years. Susan Stanley died the same week as her husband, and was about five years younger. Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Stanley are now living, and make their home with our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Rice were born six children, four of whom are living: Mittie Anna (at home), William N. (deceased), Thomas A., John (deceased), Fountain S. and Benjamin Z. Mr. Rice commenced farming in the spring of 1861, in Marion Township, and the following year enlisted in the First Arkansas Infantry, commanded by Col. Fagan. After his term of enlistment had expired, he joined Thompson’s Cavalry, in which he held the position of first lieutenant, and served as captain the greater part of the time. He was promoted to that position shortly before the close of the service, but did not receive his commission. He served until cessation of hostilities, and participated in the battle of Shiloh; was with Gen. Bragg on his raid through Kentucky, where he was engaged in continuous fighting, and in 1863 or 1864 was captured, and taken to Chattanooga. Later he was paroled. At the battle of Murfreesboro he was detailed to help care for Confederate soldiers in the hospital, and was afterward detailed as commissary for the hospital. After the battle of Missionary Ridge he came home, and helped raise a company for Thompson’s cavalry. He returned home in the spring of 1865, again engaged in farming, and in 1868 he settled on his present farm, which consisted of 160 acres of wild land. He is now the owner of 400 acres of land, with 150 acres under cultivation, and his principal crops are corn, small grain and cotton. He is also interested in stock-raising, and has some fine cattle and horses. He is a member of the Masonic order and the K. of H. He is a Democrat in politics, and one of the prominent men of Drew County. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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This family biography is one of 83 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Drew County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Drew County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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