Clinton M. Rice

As printed in 1912

CLINTON M. RICE.

An enumeration of the enterprising men of Knox county, Ohio, who have won recognition and success for themselves and at the same time have conferred honor upon the community, would be incomplete were there failure to make mention of the popular gentleman whose name initiated this review. Clinton M. Rice, of Danville, holds worthy prestige in business circles and has always been distinctively a man of affairs and fields a wide influence among those with whom his lot has been cast, having won definite success and shown what a man of lofty principles, honesty of purpose and determination can win if properly controlled, as his have evidently been, and because of his industry, integrity and courtesy he has always stood high in the estimation of the people and merits in every way their esteem.

Mr. Rice was born on November 6, 1857, on a farm in Brown township, this county. He is the son of Ephraim and Mary M. (Porter) Rice. The father was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and the mother in Knox county, Ohio. The father came to Knox county with his parents, Isaac and Cordelia (Longsworth) Rice, in 1826 and settled on a farm in Union township where they remained two years, and in 1828 they moved to Jefferson township in which they spent the remainder of their lives engaged in agricultural pursuits. The father was a progressive, public-spirited man of affairs and he became a large land owner in Brown township. In connection with general farming he raised horses of excellent breeds. Politically, he was a Democrat and active in public affairs, and he filled various offices in his township. He was a member of the Methodist church. His death occurred in April, 1888; his widow, a woman of many estimable attributes, still survives, being now advanced in years.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ephraim Rice, namely: Clinton M., of this sketch; Tamzen J. married Solomon Ross, of Jelloway, this county; Emma F. married Peter Wise, of Brown township; Harriet E. married Eugene Loney, of Brown township; Sol B. lives in Danville; William B. lives on the home farm in Brown township; Jay J. C. died in May, 1908.

Clinton M. Rice was reared on the home farm and he was educated in the country district schools, and the Central Normal School at Danville, also spent part of one year at Kenyon College. Thus well equipped for. life's work, he began teaching, which he followed with marked success for a period of ten years in the district schools of Knox county. In 1886 he engaged in the banking business with Albert I. Wolfe as the Danville Bank for ten years, Mr. Rice being cashier, from which position he retired in 1895, but still retained a financial interest. While teaching, Mr. Rice read law with Judge J. B. Waight, of Mt. Vernon, and after giving up teaching he went to Fayettsville, Arkansas, for the practice of law, but his health failing there, he remained less than a year. He was admitted to the bar in that state. Upon his return to Danville, Ohio, he opened a law and real estate office in 1898, which he still maintains in Danville, and he has built up a large business in each. In recent years he has been actively engaged in the gas development of this section of Ohio, being identified with the Mohegan Oil & Gas Company. He has settled a large number of states, having a large business in the probate court, and is a very active and busy man. He has various business interests, owning several farms in this county, also owns land elsewhere. He is a man of sound judgment, keen discernment and wise foresight, and his integrity is unquestioned so that he has ever enjoyed the good will and confidence of the people with whom he has dealings.

Mr. Rice was married on November 4, 1886, to Ocena M. Gilmore, a lady of culture and refinement, the daughter of Francis and Mary (Loney) Gilmore, a prominent family of Pike township, this county. This union has been graced by the birth of one daughter, Mary C., who lives at home.

Politically, Mr. Rice is a Democrat and he has been active and influential

6of> in public affairs. He was a member of the Danville board of education for seventeen years consecutively. He was a member of the board when the high school, one of the best in the county, was established. He is a member of the Democratic county central committee, and has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions, and he has made his influence felt for the good of his community and the party. As a public servant be has been most diligent and conscientious and won the approval of all. irrespective of party alignment. He is a member of the Methodist church and has been active in church and Sunday school work and is a class leader and liberal supporter of the church. He is a man of liberal ideas, broad-minded, progressive in all that the term implies, obliging, genial and ever vigilant of the best interests of his town and county.

As printed in Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.