California Biographies 

Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. 
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917

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


THOMAS A. RICE. It was in 1883 that Thomas Rice Became identified with Ventura County, 
where he purchased several hundred acres of land and engaged in ranching. He has added to 
this until he now owns more than 9oo acres in one body, which under his direction has been 
converted into a magnificent ranch, grows more than its proportionate share of the beet and 
bean crops of Ventura County, and as a matter of fact constitutes almost a community in itself. 
It has numerous ranch buildings. Mr. Rice also owns 320 acres about two miles from the home 
ranch, and that constitutes a large bean farm and adjoins the City of Oxnard.
In a brief sketch it would be difficult to suggest all the important relationships of Mr. Rice with 
the business and civic life of Ventura County. He is a director in the First National Bank of 
Oxnard, president of the Oxnard Savings Bank, was a member of the hoard of supervisors from 
1885 to 1887, and wherever he has touched the public affairs of the community the measure of 
his personal popularity has been much greater than any party affiliations could give.
Especially noteworthy was his election on the democratic ticket in November, 1890, to the State 
Assembly. This was accomplished by a majority of 175, but even more important than that was 
the fact that he ran 300 votes ahead of his ticket in his home county of Ventura, a compliment 
such as never before had been paid to any candidate in that county. For many years Mr. Rice 
has also served as a district school trustee.
He is an old-time Californian, though he was born in Jackson County, Missouri, January 24, 
1849, about the time the great exodus from all parts of the world for this golden coast. His 
parents were William and Louisa Rice. When Thomas was ten years of age the family all 
started for California, coming over the plains and bringing with them a thousand head of cattle. 
William Rice was a quite prominent stock man in the early days of California, grazing his herds 
and flocks over countless acres in Merced and Contra Costa counties. The family owned about 
2,000 acres in Contra Costa County and lived there for many years. William Rice died in Contra 
Costa County in 1885. He was a democrat, a member of the Baptist Church, and a man of 
special 'distinction for his upright and honorable life.
Thomas A. Rice grew up in the early California days, and his early training was in the hands of a 
private tutor. In 1876 his father gave him a fine ranch of 470 acres, and on that he started out 
as an independent farmer, subsequently transferring his operations to Ventura County. Mr. Rice 
is a prominent York and Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, and has filled all the chairs in the 
various Masonic bodies except in the Blue Lodge. He is president of the Masonic Club of 
Oxnard. As a member of the Christian Science Church his generosity has been particularly 
marked, and recently he bought the old Christian Church Building at Oxnard and presented it 
outright as a home for the First Church of Christ, Scientist.
In March, 1877, he married in Danville, Contra Costa County, Lillian Flournoy. They were the 
parents of four children. Blanche is now Mrs. William McInnis of Chino, California ; Madge is 
Mrs. Harry Thacher of Los Angeles ; Alvin, who is actively engaged in ranching on his father's 
land. The youngest child is Merrill, now Mrs. F. W. Hunter of Ventura.
Mrs. Rice died in 0397, and in 1899 Mr. Rice married Virginia Moriarity of Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania.