Americus V. Rice
Americus Vespucius Rice | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Perrysville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | April 4, 1904 (aged 68) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, banker, military officer |
| Years active | 1861–1904 |
| Known for | Union Army brigadier general; U.S. Representative from Ohio |
Americus Vespucius Rice (November 18, 1835 – April 4, 1904) was a prominent 19th-century figure in politics, banking, and business originating from Ohio. He served in the Union Army throughout the American Civil War and received a commission as brigadier general on May 31, 1865. Rice represented his constituency in the United States House of Representatives for two terms between 1875 and 1879.
Early life
Born on November 18, 1835, in Perrysville, Ohio, Americus Rice was the son of Clark Hammond Rice and Catherine (Mowers) Rice. He engaged in classical education, attended Antioch College, earned his degree from Union College, and pursued legal studies.
Civil War
At the start of the Civil War, Rice was commissioned as captain in the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment on April 27, 1861, serving until August 12 that year.
On September 2, 1861, he took the role of captain in the 57th Ohio Infantry, advancing to lieutenant colonel by February 8, 1862, and subsequently to colonel on May 24, 1863.
During the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain within the Atlanta Campaign, Colonel Rice sustained a severe injury resulting in the loss of his right leg while leading the 57th Ohio Infantry.
President Andrew Johnson put forward Rice’s nomination as brigadier general of volunteers with seniority from May 31, 1865; this was ratified by the Senate on February 23, 1866. He was officially discharged from service on January 15, 1866.
Following the war, Rice became a member of the Ohio Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, an organization comprised of Union officers and their descendants.
Postbellum career
In the postwar period, Rice operated a private banking firm based in Ottawa, Ohio. He participated as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in 1872 and was elected to Congress as a member of the Democratic Party in 1874. Serving from 1875 until 1879, he chaired the Committee on Invalid Pensions between 1877 and 1879. Choosing not to run again in 1878, he later assumed presidency of A.V. Rice & Company, a banking institution in Ottawa. Additionally, he held various directorships and was appointed pension agent for Ohio from 1894 through 1898. In 1899, Rice moved to Washington, D.C., where he engaged in banking activities and other business pursuits while also serving as purchasing agent for the United States Census Bureau.
Death and burial
Rice maintained his position as purchasing agent until his passing in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 1904. He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery located in Arlington, Virginia.
Genealogy
Americus Vespucius Rice traced his ancestry directly back to Edmund Rice, an English settler who immigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His lineage is 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
- Ephraim Rice (1665–1732), son of
- Thomas Rice (1626–1681), son of
- Edmund Rice (1594–1663)