Rice Family Reunion

Newspaper article: The Rice Family Reunion.

On Sunday, June 4, the Rice family met at the beautiful woods lot of Mrs. J. F. Peal for their reunion. There were 70 present. Each family brought well filled baskets of delicious food. Those present were:

Mr. and Mrs. Edd Collins, Mr. and Mrs. James R. Smith, Mrs. Mary Hilliard and son, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Pike and Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hilliard and family, Dyersburg.

Mrs. Mary Rice, Messrs. George and Harrison Rice, Mrs. Ivie Lou Rice and baby, Miss Maurine Warren, Mr. and Mrs. Remus Rice and family, Mr. and Mrs. Grover Rice and gamily and Mr. Dodson Hart, Alamo.

Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Jones and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Vandyke and family of Cairo.

Mr. and Mrs. I. T. Rice and Mr. and Mrs. Aylmer Terry of Crockett Mills.

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Shivers of Jackson.

Mr. and Mrs. Isiah Rice, Mr. Jim Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson Rice and family, and Mrs. W. T. Rice of Ripley.

Mr. Hubert Shivers and son, and Mr. Earl Brumley of Trenton.

Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Nance and family and Mrs. J. F. Peal of Maury City.

Mr. Emerson Shivers and son of ?????.

The Shivers, Rice and Brumley quartet was enjoyed by all. They will meet at the same place the 1st Sunday in August, 1934. All who were present and members of the family who were not able to attend this year are cordially invited to attend next year.

Here’s the 1934 newspaper article: SPECIAL FROM ALAMO


The reunion of the Rice family was held at Mrs. J. F. Peal’s woods near Maury City, Sunday, August 5th, with 137 present.

At the noon hour a bountiful dinner was spread. Singing by the Rice and Shivers quartet was enjoyed by all present.

Those who enjoyed the occasion were:

Mr. and Mrs. Erby Ledbetter and Mrs. Frank Ledbetter and J. G. Nance, of Blytheville, Arkansas.

Mr. and Mrs. I. T. Rice, Mrs. Mary Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Rice, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Rice and family, Miss Nell Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Rice and baby, Mr. and Mrs. Grover Rice, Messrs. Ellis Rice, Bryant Rice and George Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Branch, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Vandyke, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Vandyke, Mrs. John Phillips, and Mrs. Hester Hughes, all of Alamo.

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Robertson, of Friendship.

Mr. and Mrs. Murphy Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Rice and family, Mr. Archie Rice and family and Mr. Albert Rice, of Newbern.

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Shivers and family, Messrs. Paul and Jesse Shivers and Mr. Granville Ragsdale, of Trenton.

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Dyer of Yorkville.

Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Jones of Cairo.

Mr.and Mrs. Harry Pike, Mr. and Mrs. James Hilliard and family, Mrs. Gene Hillard and son, of Dyersburg.

Mr. and Mrs. Buford Rice and son, Mrs. W. T. Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson Rice and family and Mrs. Frank Murley and Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Rice of Ripley.

Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Rice of Humboldt.

Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Shivers and family, Mr. Emerson Shivers and son Lyle and Miss Rebecca Hall of Brazil.

Mrs. Sallie Seaton of Lenox.

Mr. Alma Terry, Crockett Mills.

Mr. and Mrs. Vesta Cleek, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Nance and family, Misses Lavergne Giffin and Emily Williams, Mrs. J. F. Peal, Maury City.

Newspaper article for 1935: The Rice Family Reunion.

The reunion of the Rice family was held at Mrs. J. F. Peal’s woods near Maury City, Sunday, August 18, with 148 present. At the noon hour a bountiful dinner was spread. Singing and music by the Shivers, Rice and Bates quartets; also Estel, Ernest and Tommie Miller and Rosa Bell Bryan. A trio by Otis Bates and two children and a duet by Katherine and Peggy Nance of Lincoln, Nebraska.

This year the reunion was a sad one on account of brother, father and uncle, eldest member of the family, having passed away. Brother J. D. Rice (James D. Lafayeth) age 84, passed away, June 1, 1935.

The third Sunday in August was chose for the next reunion with an invitation extended to all relatives. The next meeting will be held at Old Providence. At this meeting a place will be selected for regular meetings, if it is not satisfactory with everyone to meet at Providence.

I. N. Nance and children, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Jones, Mr. and Mrs. I. T. Rice, Mrs. Mary Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Remus Rice, Cairo.

Mrs. Frank Ledbetter, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Ledbetter, Blytheville, Arkansas.

Mr. and Mrs. Auzie Rice, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Rice and children, Mrs. W. T. Rice, Ripley.

Miss Rosa Bell Bryan, Halls.

Mrs. L. F. Nippers, Mr. and Mrs. M. Rice and baby, Humboldt.

Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Shivers, Paul and Jessie Shivers, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Shivers and children, Trenton.

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Daniels of Ripley.

Mr. and Mrs. Horace Shivers and children, Trenton.

Mr. and Mrs. John Nance and family, Mr. and Mrs. Vesta Cleek and baby, Mrs. Emily Williams, Mrs. J. F. Peal, Maury City.

Estell Avery, Tommie Miller, Ernest Avery, Miss Beatrice Terry, Mr. Michael Pendergrass and children, Alamo.

Bill Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Rice and children, Newbern.

Mrs. Mary Hillard, Jasper Hillard, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Pike, Mr. and Mrs. James Hillard and children, Albert Rice, John Rice and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. George Rice, Dyersburg.

Mrs. Herman Dyer and children, Yorkville.

Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Vandyke, Mrs. John Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Vandyke, Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Terry and family, Jeff Privett, Mr. and Mrs. Grover Rice and family, Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Rice and baby, Miss Francis Lou Hart, Miss Frances May Weaver, Miss Annie Sue Wynns, Alamo.

2001 – Tammy Nance Hamilton

Rice and Swindle Family

Jasper Newton Rice was born in Wilson Co TN in 1827 to Thomas Rice and Mary ” Polly ” Bradshaw.

His Siblings were: Brunette P Carver, Didamy L Rice, James Rice, William D Rice, Martha Rice, Ellen Rice, Morris Rice & Bedford Rice.
Jasper married Kesiah C Swindle December 10, 1844 in Wilson Co TN.

His Brother , William D Rice married Kesiah’s Sister , Jane Swindle in 1845.
Kesiah & Jane are the daughters of Isiah Swindle & Julianna Hickman.
In 1850, The Isiah Swindle Family moved to Gibson Co TN, by 1860 Jasper & Kesiah had followed them.
They resided in the area of Gibson Co TN that eventually became Crockett Co TN.
Jasper & Kesiah Rice are buried in Providence Cemetery in Crockett Mills.
William & Jane Rice moved on to Clay Co Arkansas by 1880 along with Jane’s younger brothers, Achor D.R. Swindle and John M Swindle with their families.

The known Children of Jasper & Kesiah are:
Mary Rice married John W Wright 28 Dec 1875
Brunetta Rice married Elijah Smith 1 June 1887
Nancy Rice married William Privett 14 Jan 1879
Sarah Rice married John Dye 23 Dec 1879 buried in Loyd Cemetery Dunklin CO MO
Jasper Newton Rice Jr married Nancy J Harber 22 Nov 1883 buried in Providence Cemetery & Katie Anderson Grimmett 16 Nov 1915
Isiah Thomas Rice married Mary Rice & Hattie Berl Forbes 14 Jan 1923 buried in Providence Cemetery.
Peter Rice
Elizabeth ” Lila” Rice

2003 – Sherri Sontag

Calvin Quinley & Valeria Rice Family

Calvin H Quinley was born about 1820 in Wilson Co, TN., his Father is likely Owen Quinley. He married Valeria R Rice, the daughter of Thomas Rice & Mary Bradshaw on March 12, 1843, in Wilson Co, TN. Calvin appears in court records in matters of his mother in law’s estate.
The Family moved to Gibson Co, TN by 1850 along with Valeria’s brother, Jasper Newton Rice and his wife Kesiah Swindle. They resided in an area that was known originally as Robinsonville, Gibson Co, TN and after 1870 became Crockett Mills, Crockett Co, TN. Valeria appears to have died about 1870 around the time of the birth of youngest child, Mary b. 1870.

Mary “Mollie” Jane Quinley b. August 1845 in Wilson Co, TN d. 1877 Crockett Co, TN. She married John Wesley Wright on Dec 28, 1875 in Crockett Co, TN. John was the son of James & Mary Wright. John was born January 1856 and died June 10, 1918 in Crockett Co, TN He is buried with his last wife at Old Providence Cemetery in Crockett Mills, TN.
It is believed that she died giving birth to or near the time of the birth of her only child, Bedford Greene Wright. Bedford was named for his Uncle Bedford, brother to Valeria Rice Quinley. Bedford Green Wright married Beulah G Avery, on Nov 23, 1898, in Crockett Co, TN. Beulah Grace Avery Wright was the daughter of Drury Vinson Avery and Lucy Catherine Boswell. When Mollie died, John Wesley Wright married her sister Didama “Annie” Quinley.

Didama “Annie” Quinley b. March 1847 in Wilson Co, TN d. 1904 in Crockett Mills, Crockett Co, TN. She married her brother in law after the death of her sister. They married Oct 24, 1877 in Gibson Co, TN. They had the following children: Lillie B 1878, James Atlas May 27, 1882 D. Nov 10, 1873, Alma (Almer) C Jan 1886 married Mary Warren and Elmer John Wright Jan 1886 (male twins) Elmer married Mollie Ozell Griffin, Rosa F Wright b. Nov 13, 1888 d. April 22, 1963, she married William Chester Hefley. On December 25, 1910. Didama was named after her Aunt Didama Lodusky Rice. John is buried next to her at Old Providence Cemetery.

Elizabeth “Bettie” Quinley b. 1850 Wilson Co TN She married a cousin in law, Andrew Robertson Swindle, the son of William Daniel Swindle & Sarah Margaret Halsey, William’s sister Kesiah Swindle Rice was married to Valeria R Rice Quinley’s Brother, Jasper N Rice. Andrew was born about 1849 and died in 1877. They had a , Margaret ” Maggie” Lee Swindle. After Andrew died, Bettie remained living with her in laws William & Margaret Swindle. She remarried Mr. James Byons/Byous and had two known children: Minnie Belle Byons b. 1877 (some believe she to be Andrews Daughter although on the census it appears she is a Byons/Byous) and William Byons b. 1880. J M Byous remains in Lake Co, TN. In 1900 his wife is Nancy b. July 1844. It appears he is no longer married to Bettie, but to a Nancy born in Mississippi, but later she reappears as Bettie Byous in 1910 Living with the Coopers, so it is unclear as to whether these are the same woman.

Thomas Olander Quinley b. 1853 d. 1928 He married Sarah F Pate on Feb 26, 1874. They are buried in Bowen Chapel Cemetery in Dyer Co, TN where they made their home. Their children are: James Calvin Quinley b. July 27, 1874 d. Sep 9, 1961 buried at Bowen Cemetery in Dyer Co, TN. married Ann Catherine Hemby b. Dec 8, 1880 d. Aug 27, 1930 on April 7, 1907 She is buried at Grace Cemetery in Lauderdale Co, TN , Margaret “Maggie” L. Quinley married Thomas E Ferguson , Martha J Quinley, Robert E ” Bob” Quinley wife named Lula, John M Quinley married Bertha Mai Reece on Dec 25, 1913 they had Roy, Doritha & Robert Quinley, Eva May Quinley married William Homer Sewell on July 27, 1918 in Gibson Co, TN. They had a daughter named Mildred Sewell & David O Quinley married Mary Terrell, they had James & Katherine Quinley. William T Quinley b. Nov 1856 in Gibson Co, TN married Elizabeth E Peal on July 12, 1874 in Gibson Co, TN. Children were: Pearl, William “Willie” Nancy “Ninnie”, Calvin and Jessie Quinley.

Martha Quinley b. 1859 Gibson Co, TN

James Calvin Quinley b. Nov 8, 1867 d. June 28, 1938 married Tennessee Carolina Wright, the sister of John Wesley Wright (his brother in law) Tennessee was born Sept 5, 1867 and died 1948. They were married on March 14, 1888 in Crockett Co, TN. They had two known children, Esther and William Estel Quinley, b Sep 16, 1902 d. April 22, 1980

Mary Jane Quinley b. 1870 (Referred to as Aunt Jane or Aunt Mollie).
She was named for the eldest Sister, after Mary ” Mollie” Quinley Wright died. She never married.

Primary contributors : Alice Peterie & Sherri Sontag