In political and mercantile circles, probably no man in Lewis County is more widely known than Joseph Goodwin Rice, the present genial and efficient county clerk. His grandfather, Jerry Rice, was a pioneer farmer of southern Illinois, where his children were born, but before they grew to maturity he removed to Dunklin County, Missouri. Here he passed the closing years of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. James B. Rice, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Illinois in 1834, but went with his parents in childhood to Missouri, where he was educated in the common schools and became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was also engaged in farming and merchandising at Kennett, Dunklin County, Missouri. About the time he arrived at man’s estate, Samuel and Leona Wilburn removed from Tennessee to Dunklin County and settled at Kennett. Their daughter, Sarah, who was born in Perry County, Tennessee, in 1834, became the wife of Rev. J. B. Rice, and of the seven children born to them the subject of this review is the only one now living. J. B Rice died in 1869 and his widow subsequently married R. R. Johnson. With him and her children she removed to Tennessee, settling in Perry County, whither her mother had gone some years before, after the death of Samuel Wilburn.
Joseph Goodwin Rice was born at Kennett, Dunklin County, Missouri, September 24, 1862. He attended the public schools of his native county until the family removed to Tennessee, after which he finished his education in the public schools of that county and at Beach Grove Academy. His mother died in 1881, and about that time he began his business career as a clerk in a store at Pleasantville. Later he was similarly employed at Etna. In 1889 he was united in marriage with Miss Laura McClearen, daughter of A. C. McClearen, a prominent farmer of Pleasantville, Tennessee. After his marriage Mr. Rice removed to Hickman County, where for the next six years he followed farming, after which he was engaged in the mercantile business at Kimmins, Lewis County, for about ten years. He still retains an interest in this business, of which his son, Carl Rice, is manager. The establishment has been organized as a stock company, known as the Kimmins Mercantile Company, and has a large patronage among the people of the town and the farmers of the surrounding country.
Ever since he became a voter Mr. Rice has been a consistent supporter of the Democratic Party and its principles. His activity in behalf of his party led to his nomination and election to the office of county clerk in 1908, and under his administration the affairs of the office were conducted with such skill and ability that he was honored with a reelection in 1910. This endorsement by his fellow-citizens speaks volumes for his efficiency and integrity, and is one of which any man might feel justly proud.
Mr. Rice is a member and one of the board of stewards of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His fraternal relations are expressed by membership in George DeSmith Lodge, No 182, Knights of Pythias, of Hohenwald, and in both church and lodge he is an active and useful worker. Mr. and Mrs. Rice are the parents of eight children—Carl, Herman, Bernard, Irene, Aubrey, Fred, Edward and Willadene. As previously stated, Carl is manager of the Kimmins Mercantile Company. The other children are at home with the parents, with the exception of Edward, who died in 1905 at the age of fifteen months.
As a matter of family history it is worthy of note that Mr. Rice’s father was a lifelong Democrat and member of the Masonic Fraternity, and also that he served in the Confederate Army under Gen. Sterling Price. He was captured and held a prisoner for some time, being finally exchanged at Vicksburg.
Source: Hale, Will T, and Dixon L. Merritt. A History of Tennessee and Tennesseans: The Leaders and Representative Men in Commerce, Industry and Modern Activities. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Company, 1913. Volume 5.
