Henry Mower Rice (1816 - 1894)

Born 29 Nov 1816 in Waitsfield, Washington, Vermont, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Matilda (Whitall) Rice — married 2 Apr 1849 in New York City, New York, United States

Died 15 Jan 1894 at age 77 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States

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Preceded by Office created at Statehood May 11, 1858

Henry Mower Rice US Senator (Class 1) from Minnesota 1858—1863

Succeeded by Alexander Ramsey

Biography

Henry Rice is Notable.

From Find A Grave: US Senator. He was Minnesota's first Senator after entering statehood.

After his father died when he was very young he lived with friends and attended local schools. He studied law for two years but there is no evidence he was admitted to the bar or that he ever practiced law. At the age of 18 he moved to Detroit, Michigan and participated in the survey of the canal between Lake Superior and Lake Huron.

As he moved farther west he obtained a position as sutler at Fort Snelling near what is now Minneapolis, Minnesota. He became a fur trader with the Winnebago and Chippewa Indians and through his influence with them was able to negotiate treaties between the Indians and the US Government.

He was responsible for the agreement that opened all of Minnesota to white settlers. He was instrumental in the passage of the bill that led to Minnesota becoming a territory and then served as its delegate to the 33rd and 34th US Congress. His work in Congress led to Minnesota's admission to statehood. He was elected senator and served as a Democrat from statehood admission through March 3, 1863 and was not a candidate for reelection. He was an unsuccessful candidate for governor in 1865. As a United States Commissioner in 1887 and 1888 he continued to negotiate treaties with the Indians. He was on a visit to San Antonio, Texas when he died.

Henry and Matilda had nine children:

Lizzie (Rice) Rodman - 1852–1888

Henry Mower Rice Jr. 1856–1864 Diphtheria

Margaret Holt (Rice) Thompson 1857–1920

Matilda (Rice) Auerbach 1860–1945

Robert Toombs Rice 1860–1863 Diphtheria

Mary Welsh Rice 1862–1864 Diphtheria

Rachel Newbold (Rice) Newport 1865–1930

Henry Mower Rice II 1868–1870 Diphtheria

Frederick Durkee Rice 1871–1944

Diphtheria hit the Rice family hard. They lost Robert Toombs Rice (3½), on 30 Dec 1863, Mary Welsh Rice (18 mos) six days later on 5 Jan 1864, and Henry Mower Rice, Jr. (7) ten days later on 15 Jan 1864. Their second namesake son, Henry Mower Rice II (16 mos), died six years later on 6 Jan 1870.

Sources

• Find a Grave, memorial page for Henry Mower Rice (29 Nov 1816–15 Jan 1894), Find A Grave: Memorial #7111103, citing Oakland Cemetery, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA.
• Henry Mower Rice on Wikipedia
• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress