Ira RICE

Research Citations:

Sources:

Universal Genealogy, ALIAS: 5397-37, GENDB
Ancestral File - Version 4.19
Ancestry World Tree
Pedigree Resource File
Internet IGI, October 2008
Washington City Cemetery, Copy of document in possession of KMBC

Notes:

                   This individual has the following other parents in the Ancestral File:

moved in with relatives after the death of his parents. 5 ft. 8 in tall, light hair, blue eyes. lived in Michigan. Settled in Northville. Special. was taxed for 3 lots and 160 acres. moved. by Patriarch William Smith. departed Nauvoo. Ira and William returned to Nauvoo for supplies. He returned to Nauvoo AGAIN for supplies. Ira's wife never arrived in Salt Lake. Patriarchal Blessing by Charles W. Hyde. Built a log cabin on Rice Creek. Utah 1856 Statehood Census. Bishops Counselor. First Bishop of North Ogden Ward. Moved to Providence, Cache, Utah, USA. He was active in Church affairs. Utah 1860 Federal Census. Ira struggled with a Bear. Ira's eyesight had been impaired by an infection. Emigration to Saint George, Utah. Washington City Cemetery. He had his temple work done many times
--
'Ira's granddaughter, Rhoda Rice Barnes, said Ira was left an orphan when he was about 5 years old  and was sent to northwestern New York to live with relatives.'
'Recent research has found some dim footprints of this boy.  He is listed as a member of his brother, Jacob Rice's family in the 1810 census of Farmington, Ontario, New York.  This is in northwestern New York as his granddaughter said.'

'Ira is next found enlisted in the army in the war of 1812 when he was about 19 years old.'
'He enlisted from Ontario County, New York.  His war record states "Ira Rice was a private.....served from May 13, 1812 to Sept 13, 1812 in service at Lewiston and Black Rock, New York.'- Footprints

'Ira is described at the time of enlistment :  Farmer, Ashford Township, Berkshire, Massachusettes, 5 ft. 8 in tall, light hair, blue eyes.'

'Ira, his wife and three young children are found on the 1820 census records of Farmington, Ontario, New York.'
'Ira and his family were living in Ontario County, New York which is not far from the place where the Prophet Joseph Smith received his first vision.  Surely the Rices must have heard of this strange event.'

'We next find Ira in Michigan .  Why?  In reading a history of the settling of that state we learn that the United States Government offered land as grants or homesteads to Veterans of the War of 1812.'

'Ira had settled in Northville, Wayne, Michigan by 1825'

'Ira's footprints come to light again in the 1827 special census of Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan.

'That his move to Michigan  was successful is proved by land records.  He was taxed at one time on 3 lots and 160 acres of land as well as personal property and livestock.

Ira moved in 1831 to Ypsilante, Wastenaw, Michigan, USA

About 1840, 'Missionaries of the newly organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were sent into Michigan and the Rices heard and accepted their message.  Ira's son William K. said they joined the Church about 1840'

'By 1842 two of Ira's children, Henriette and Sarah Ann called Sarie, are found listed in a private school in Nauvoo.'
'Recently through Nauvoo Restoration Inc., our Researcher, Dora R. Duncan, has found interesting information regarding the property owned by Ira and his two sons, Asaph and William K. in Nauvoo as well as farm land in Pontoosuc Township, the closest tract being ten miles northwest from the city limits of Nauvoo.'
'Deeds to the farm land as well as sales were recorded, but no record has been found of the recording of their house in Nauvoo which we are told, was burned by the mob.  These records prove to us that the Rices had again acquired much property.' - Footprints

Ira was ordained a High Priest by about 1845 in Nauvoo.

Ira received this patriarchal blessing on August 4, 1845 in Nauvoo by Patriarch William Smith. -Volume 3 Page 377

'he and his large family fled from their comfortable homes  in the dead of winter in Feb 1846'

About 1846, 'While at this camp, Ira and his son, William, were requested by President Brigham Young to drive back to Nauvoo to obtain badly neede grain and other supplies from their farms.  They were successful in obtaining as much as could be loaded in their wagons.

Ira Rice was part of the Edward Hunter Company <1846-1847>

'Because Ira had good teams they also helped other families to Council Bluffs, among them the families of Orson Pratt and Lorenzo Snow.

'They were in Captain Hunter's 100, C. C. Rich's 50, and Shurtliff's 10.

Company organized:
John Young (brother of Brigham Young) - immediate command
John Van Gott - marshal
Edward Hunter - Captain of one of the hundreds
other captains of 100s:  Daniel Spencer, Jedediah M. Grant, and Abraham O. Smoot
Joseph Horne, Captain

'As usual the divisions of fifty were divided into tens..... John Taylor [traveled] with Edward Hunter's.'

'Sept 4, 1847.  Brigham Young met companies at Sandy.  Three days later they met Edward Hunter's wagons on the Sweetwater.  It was snowing, but the weather continued mild.  A feast was prepared by Apostle Taylor and Edward Hunter for Brigham Young.  The tables were richly laden with nature's bounties and tastefully prepared.  They were set in a grove under a bowery on the banks of the river.  "A rare sight" says Wilford Woodruff, "in the heart of the wilderness, to see tables well spread with the good things of life.  Roast beef, broiled beef, pies, cakes, biscuit, butter and peach sauce.  100 people sat down to a table.  The ceremonies were concluded with a dance.  An Indian attack followed.  It was the latter part of September that the companies began arriving in Salt Lake Valley.  Early in October the last of the trains had reached the valley in safety." - 10 Journal History pg 93

'Early in the Spring of 1847 Ira was preparing to leave with the first company of emigrants .  But once more President Young asked him and his sons to return to their farms at Nauvoo for more grain.  Because of this delay they had to leave with a later company.'

On September 28, 1847, 'William Kelsey Rice, his wife Lucy and his baby daughter Ellen arrived in Salt Lake Valley and spent the winter at the "Old Fort".'

'Ira, Asaph, William, his wife and daughter, Ellen arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 28-29 September 1847.'
'Just why Ira came without the rest of his family is not known, but that first year many men came ahead of their families to prepare for them.  Only three women were in that first company which arrived 24 July 1847.  Ira sent word to his family to come to the valley in the spring of 1848.'

'In the spring of 1848 Ira and Asaph built a log cabin in what is now known as Farmington, Davis, Utah.  Here Ira anxiously awaited the arrival of the rest of his family but a heartbreaking disappointment was in store for him.  When the Company of Saints arrived, there were six of Ira's children but the beloved wife and mother was not there.  Leonard Gurley, but 18 years of age, had brought his 3 brothers, Oscar North, 13; Adelbert, 9; little Hyrum Smith, 4; and two sisters Adeline, 11 and Caroline about 7.
'Why Sarah did not come was never established.  We do not have a record of her death or where she died.  One handed down source says she died before Ira left.  Another, unproven, says she died in Polk County, Iowa about 1850.

Ira received this patriarchal blessing on th 28th of August on 1854 in Salt Lake City by Patriarch Charles W. Hyde

About 1853, 'Restless Ira did not remain long in Farmington.  When a settlement was opened up in North Ogden, Ira was one of the first to build a log cabin there.  It was located on a creek still called 'Rice Creek'.  The first grist mill in North Ogden was powered by Rice and Cold water Creeks' swift flowing streams.'

Ira is found living in Weber County, Utah in the Utah 1856 Statehood Census

Ira was a counselor in the 4th Ward of Weber County in the Fall of 1856.  Bishop was Thomas. Dunn and William Austin was the other counselor.

'He was the first bishop of North Ogden ward after 1856.

'When he heard a glowing report of the rich soil in beautiful Cache Valley, he pulled up stakes and we now trace his footprints heading northward in 1859.'
'The first camp was made near Spring Creek and plans were begun at once for building homes.  During the first few eeks, or until logs had been hauled from the canyons for log cabins, home to each pioneer family was their wagon box.  It was living room, bedroom and clothes closet, while the kitchen consisted mainly of a crude firplace on the ground.'
'Soon log houses and "dug-outs" were built close together on both sides of a road that ran from the spring.'
'The houses were built of logs with dirt roofs, floors were of rough boards and windows were covered with a piece of cloth.'
'Each house had a fireplace in one end of the room where meals were cooked and warmth furnished during cold weather.  Fires had to be started with flint and tinder, a difficult task.  The women watched the chimney along the street and the first from which smoke poured was certain to have early callers for a "start."'
'Most of the bread was soda bread or "salt rising."  The pioneers preferred salt rising bread to yeast bread when it was first introduced.  Potatoes, carrots, cabbage and turnips were the main vegetables.'
'School teachers were paid directly by the parents.  Generally the contract was for a three month period, usually paid in wheat amounting to about 1 1/2 busine per child.  A log school house was soon built which was used for church and civic activities.'
'Winters in Cache Valley were extremely cold and those pioneers suffered many hardships from the cold as well as being so far from the outside world.'

'That Ira was active in Church affairs  is shown by an except from "History of a Valley" by Joel E. Ricks and Everett L. Cooley: "At a meeting of the High Priests held at the home of Joel Ricks 29 Nov 1859, High Priests came together from other settlements and joined with the Logan High Priests.  Among those from Providence was Ira Rice."

Ira is found in the Utah 1860 Federal Census living in Cache County, Utah

In August 1863, 'An encounter with a bear in Providence was not a new experience for Ira.  He had had many encounters with bears and other wild beasts while pioneering in Michigan.  His children and grandchildren never tired of hearing Ira's hair-raising bear stories.  However, this Providence grizzly bear story had a tragic ending.  It is taken from "Providence and Her People."'
'An earlier excitement with a marauding grizzly bear had not ended quite so satisfactorily.  The incident caused a lot of excitement in the community in August 1863, four years after the settlement of the town.  Tired of having his corn patch robbed each night by a grizzly, Ira Rice set a strong trap to catch the nightly visitor.  One morning he found evidence that the bear had been caught in the trap.  The bear, dragging the trap with him, had crossed the Logan river and gone into the canyon.  Armed with pistols and rifles, Mr. Rice and three or four of his adventurous neighbors trailed the grizzly.  They found him near the river trying to rid himself of the trap.'
'Mr. Rice wounded the grizzly with a well-aimed bullet.  With a fearful growl, the huge bear plunged toward his pursuers.  He caught up with William Dees and with a mighty swing of his paw knocked him to the ground.  Bleeding profusely from a head wound, Mr. Dees was rushed back to his home, after three or four shots from the guns of his comrades had frightened the bear into the hills.'
'Determined to get the bear, Mr. Rice returned to the canyon the next morning.  With him went 14 men and boys armed with knives, pistols, shotguns and rifles.'
'Arriving at the scene of the previous day's encounter, they found the bear sitting on the trail nursing his wounds.  This time he didn't wait for the attack.  Sighting the group, the bear arose in his fury.  There was an immediate scamper for safety behind bushes and into larger trees.  Braver than the rest, Alpheus Harmon, aiming his weapon at the bear, pulled the trigger when they were only a short distance apart.  The gun failed to fire.  It was too late for Harmon to get away, and the bear wrapped him in its arms.  Time and again Harmon struck at the bear with a knife, but was seriouly clawed in the encounter.  Afraid to shoot for fear of injuring Harmon, one man struck the bear of the head with his rifle barrel.'
'At the same time, Henry Gates pushed his shotgun into the mouth of the bear.  The volley knocked out several of the bear's teeth.  The infuriated animal let go his hold on Harmon and plunged towards Gates, clawing his face, arms and legs and inflicting serious wounds.'
'The fearful cries of the two wounded men brought quick action from their comrades.  Three or four shots were fired into the body of the bear without any apparent result only to still more infuriate the beast.  It was then that William Dees, who had been badly wounded by the bear the day before, sneaked up behind it and shot it in the head.  The bear fell to the ground dead.'
'The two badly wounded men were carried home on improvised stretchers made from willows.  Six days later Henry Gates died as a result of his wounds.'
'Henry Gates, the man who was killed, was the son-in-law of Ann Rice....'
'It is claimed that Ira had previously killed 20 bears, thus helping to reduce the number of marauders that devoured young cattle and even took pigs out of their pens.'

'By 1866 Providence was a thriving settlement; Ira and Ann were living in comparative comfort.  Ira's eyesight had been impaired by an infection, and reading, of which he was very fond, was impossible.  This would have been a trial but fortunately he had taught his step-sons, Hyrum and William Butler to read, now they in turn could read to him, which they gladly did.'

'Ira's feet could now have been anchored and an easier way of living was in view.  But when the call came from President Young for volunteers to go on a colonizing mission in the South, Ira, now in his seventy-third year, accepted the call.'
'The mission was known as the Cotton, or "Muddy" mission and was under the direction of President Erastus Snow whose headquarters were in St. George'
'Ira and Asaph sold their holdings in Providence, loaded up their outfits and proceeded to join the caravan in Salt Lake City.'
'It has been said, reference unavailable, that when President Young met Ira and Asaph in Salt Lake City he advised them to return to Cache Valley, Ira was too old to attempt such a hazardous mission.  But the Rices had sold everything and the lure of the adventurous trail won out.'

'From the history of Sarah Ann Gates Shirts, daughter of Elizabeth Butler Gates Campbell, we quote in part -- ".....Ira and Ann Rice ...... were called to go South and help settle Beaver Dam, Washington County..... A cloudburst and the ensuing flood washed away their belongings.  They lived in a wagon box.....Food was so scarce that they boiled greasewood for greens.  The whole company came down with chills and fever... President Erastus Snow released them to go back to Cache Valley but when they got as far as Washington, just north of St. George, Ira died.'
'Eldon Rice reported that Ira worked so hard helping Asaph and others to move to higher ground; not just once but two and three times that he became ill as a result of over exertion.' - Footprints

Ira is buried in the Washington City Cemetery.  This has been confirmed by Melissa Davis.

Row 33
Map in possession of KMBC

'Not many men have had their temple work duplicated as many times as Ira Rice.  His name has been found on the records of the Nauvoo Temple, Endowment House, St. George, Logan, Salt Lake and Los Angeles Temples.'

This individual has the following other parents in the Ancestral File:
      Titus /RICE/ (AFN:2867-HR) and Lois // (AFN:8WFK-M3)
      Titus /RICE/ (AFN:2867-HR) and Lois // (AFN:9265-BG)
      Titus /RICE/ (AFN:2867-HR) and Lois // (AFN:9268-1B)