William H. Rice, a prominent farmer of Houston County, was born February 29, 1844, at Gallatin, Sumner Co., Tenn. His father and mother were natives of Memphis and Clarksville, Tenn., respectively. They moved to Gallatin in about 1838. While in Montgomery County the father vended merchandise and was sheriff of the county. He died in 1848; the mother
died in 1849. William H. followed farming till 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, Second Tennessee Cavalry, and was in the service till May 25, 1865. Returning from the army he again resumed farming, which he has ever since continued. He was married, December 12, 1867, to Anna Parrish, the result of this union being five children, two of whom are dead. Their names are Walter J., James (deceased), Callie, Grace (deceased) and George E. Mr. Rice is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife being a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Rice is a firm Democrat, and takes active interest in public affairs. Ever since the organization of the county he has been a justice of the peace, and has twice been chairman of the county court. He bears the reputationof an honorable, upright and enterprising citizen.

Transcribed by Susan Knight Gore

Source: Goodspeed, Weston A, and John Wooldridge. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Montgomery, Robertson, Humphreys, Stewart, Dickson, Cheatham and Houston Counties. Nashville: Goodspeed Pub. Co, 1886.