No 7: Gilbert Jay Rice

In a small, leather bound journal falling somewhat apart at its bindings, can be found the handwritten autobiography of Francis Jay Rice.  All of the 143 pages in this prized possession are filled to completion. The exact date of these writings is unknown, although the last date given is 1904 in which Francis records the death of his father, Gilbert Jay Rice.  He does not, however, mention the death of his mother in October 1906.  Therefore, one can assume that the journal was completed in 1905 or early 1906.  Francis himself died in 1936.

The very first page in this journal begins with the following text:

 

1.      Ancestry

My father, Gilbert J. Rice, was born in Covington, Genesee Co. N.Y. on Feb. 22, 1816, the anniversary of Washington’s birthday.  He was the oldest of a family of six, three brothers and three sisters.  His mother, whose maiden name was Howe, was first married to a Mr Spencer and there were four sisters and one brother in that family, half sisters and brother to my father.  I am unable to learn anything about my grandfather Rice except that he was a very passionate man, given to frequent and violent outbreaks of temper.

Page two continues:

He was dead at the time of my mother’s acquaintance with the family and his widow was living in Logansport, Ind.

Gilbert Rice moved from his birth home to Logansport in 1837, to join his half-brother, Benjamin O. Spencer, who had established himself in the city two years previously. Upon his arrival, Gilbert and his brother established the firm of Spencer and Rice.

Gilbert’s younger brother, Elihu, writes of the establishment:

"On the north side of Market between…..there were two one-story buildings,saloons. From the alley east to fourth street there were three two-story frame store buildings. The first was occupied by S. P. Hopkins, dry goods dealer, the second by Spencer and Rice, groceries and provisions, and the third by Jeroloman & Lytle’s drug store."

 

 

The facsimile on the right is from the Logansport Telegraph, a local newspaper in which Gilbert advertises for his “grocery, produce, and commission”.   

This advertisement was placed in August 1846. In later editions of the newspaper appear separate advertisements for Gilbert and for Benjamin, indicating a business separation of the two brothers.

Both Gilbert and his brother continued in the business of wholesale groceries and provisions or commission, in competition with each other. Gilbert doesn’t in any of his letters explain why the two brothers split. One can assume, however, from Gilbert’s letters and from the court trials that Gilbert might not have been the easiest to cooperate with.

Logansport continued to grow, especially after the arrival of the railroad. Buildings popped up in the business district along Market Street. Built closely together, many of these facilities  shared common walls. Later this spelled common disaster with the outbreak of fires, and floods from the rivers which ravaged the downtown. Structures would collapse bringing down adjacent buildings.  Floods which destroyed the downtown area occurred in 1857, 1883, and into the 20^th century. 

The following picture was taken in the 1890s and shows the bustling streets and the buildings clinging on to each other.  This is the same street, and possibly on the right hand side, the same locations as Spencer and Rice groceries and provisions, although the original wooden frame buildings are by this time replaced with brick and stone. 

The following picture shows the same area in 2010. The parking lot on the right is the probable location of the Spencer and Rice building.  The effects of floods, fires, and declining economy are quite obvious in the picture.

 

At the time of the Rice residence in Logansport, most of the business district and the residential area were in the western end of what is now East Market Street. According to official histories, the population of Logansport when incorporated in 1838 was between 1000 and 2000 persons. By 1850 it was 2250. 

 

The above Google map is of Logansport in 2010.
A: Approximate location of the Spencer and Rice building
B: Approximate location of the residence of Julia and Gilbert Rice

I have not found the actual address or exact location of Julia’s and Gilbert’s home, however, in a letter Gilbert gives some indications as to the location. Gilbert writes: “One eve about 6 PM, Mrs Rice called me at my store, remarking, that with her Mother, ladies and girl she had been visiting the family of a friend down town and was then on their way home and asked if I was not ready to go up with her. O, yes I said and was pleased to accompany her, the walk was about 4 or 5 blocks, on the same street as my business store. When we reached home all the members of the family with myself and wife, went in to our family room, second floor, over the parlor and we were having a nice social chat there for 2 or 3 hours. “

This would indicate that the Rice home was probably in the 700 or 800 blocks of homes.

806 East Market Street

Homes in the 800 block

812 East Market Street

 

In these blocks as well as west towards the rivers most of the original buildings have been destroyed by the floods, but the above pictures are of homes still present on the 700 and 800 areas of East Market Street. These give an idea as to the size, as well as the probable wealth of the former owners.

Other indications of Gilbert’s wealth is a reference to a second home. In a letter to Francis in 1901, he describes an incident which occurred after Julia had left their residence to live with a cousin. Gilbert writes: “Your Mother was then with her cousin Mrs Wilson, in Logansport. Eddie had been with me at our cottage home on the hill nearly one year. After she returned from the east, she wanted to see Eddie. I sent him to her by the gentleman then occupying my house and soon after that time your Mother called on me at home to get Eddie’s clothes. “

In another letter Gilbert makes reference to their house keeper.
Gilbert was part-owner of a two story building in the prominent business district of the community. He owned two homes, one of which was located in a fairly wealthy part of town. All this would seem to indicate that Gilbert was in the 1850s a fairly prominent and wealthy man. 

Notes:
Logansport is the county seat of Cass County in Indiana. The population according to the census of 2010 is somewhat over 18 000.

Credits:
- Cass county historical society, 1004 E. Market St. Logansport, Ind
- Google maps
- Mills, Norman W. “Letters”. Privately printed. July 2008
- State of Indiana at www.in.gov   

- Wright, W. Swift. “Pastime Sketches”. 1907