Biography - EUGENE RICE
Eugene
Rice, ex-member of the Legislature and a man of considerable prominence
throughout the county, was born in Madison county, Kentucky, March 22, 1848.
He is a son of Martin Rice, who was one of the most widely and favorably
known of the early settlers of Camargo, and whose sketch with ancestry of
the family is printed in full on another page. Mr. Rice came to the township
with his parents in 1854 and resides at present on the old homestead. He is
extensively engaged in farming and stock raising and is known as one of the
most successful farmers in Douglas county. In 1887 and 1889 he was elected
to the Legislature from the district composed of Coles, Cumberland and
Douglas counties, as a Republican. He served on several committees — federal
relations, agriculture, penitentiaries, fish and game, contingent expenses,
drainage, live stock and dairy, printing and others — and during the extra
session helped to pass the World's Fair bill.
Mr. Rice has never married, and resides on his beautiful farm within a half
hour's ride from the village of Camargo, where he entertains his friends and
enjoys life. As a member of the Legislature he was conscientious and a hard
worker in the interest especially of the farmer, who it has, it seems, been
sadly neglected as to legislation in both state and nation.
Extracted 09 Jun 2019 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, page 206.
