California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


ROZELL W. RICE. � A resident of Fresno County since 1801, Rozell 
W. Rice was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., August 7, 1858. When he was ten 
years old the family moved to Irving, Kans., and after residing there for a 
period of seven years, went back to Michigan. Rozell W. receiving his edu- 
cation in both states. At the age of nineteen he went to work for the Hart 
and Ire Company in a shingle mill in the north woods of Michigan, north of 
Grand Rapids. After three years in this employment, he went to Van Buren 
County, Mich., and settled in the town of Lawton. 

Mr. Rice's marriage, in 1882, united him with Ida Norton, a native of 
Michigan, and for five years he worked on the farm of A. H. Norton, his 
father-in-law. 

In 1887 Mr. Rice removed to Schoolcraft, Mich., and there engaged in 
the grocery business for two years, later working as foreman of a ranch 
owned by Senator Brown of that state. Coming to Fresno, Cal., in 1891, he 
worked for the Lusk Canning Company for one year, then as a carpenter 
and builder was eight years with C. B. Hanner, during which time they erected 
some of the finest homes in Fresno. They made a specialty of a carefully 
planned house and one special design became so popular that they built 
twenty-eight homes from that one plan in the city. Later Mr. Rice was 
foreman for contractor Z. T. Maxwell, and superintended the construction 
of the Emerson school and two other school buildings on C Street. During 
his years of building here Mr. Rice was closely identified with the construc- 
tion of many homes and store buildings in Fresno and received recognition 
as a builder of ability. Since 1911 he has been superintendent of Mountain 
View Cemetery and fills that responsible position with his customary thor- 
oughness. 

Fraternally, Mr. Rice and his wife have been prominent in the 
count}'. Mr. Rice is a member of the Fraternal Aid Union and has been 
secretary of that order for twenty-one years ; he is a Past Noble Grand of 
the Fresno Lodge No. 186, I. O. O. F., and has been a delegate to many of 
the Grand Lodges ; he joined the Rebekah Lodge in 1903 and was financial 
secretary of the same twelve years ; was out of office one year, and became 
secretary again in January, 1918. Mrs. Rice is also a member of the Rebekahs ; 
they are both active members of the board of stewards of the First Methodist 
Church, and Mr. Rice is treasurer of the Sunday School. One daughter was 
born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rice, May Pearl, now deceased.