From the History of Defiance County, Ohio, 1883:
"Along with his parents, Oney Rice came with his wife to Defiance County in 1836. Dr. Oney Rice and family settled on Section 21, Farmer Township. The doctor built a log cabin, in which he and his family lived.
The settlers Edward Lacost, John Rice, Spencer Hopkins, Harrison Conkey, all came and helped raise the cabin. It was of split logs for the upper and lower floor, made of basswood logs and window frames and sashes bought in Defiance, the door was made of pine boxes.
The doctor had a large practice which he continued until July 1848 when he died at the age of 51. Mr. Oney Rice served as Justice of the Peace and was appointed the first Postmaster at Farmer Center August 31, 1843; was also a Commissioner of the county and one of the founders of the Universalist Church in this township. Was a man greatly respected and esteemed by all who knew him."
"Who remembers that the Rice house at Farmer, that burned down about March 11, 1920, was the oldest house in the township at the time?'It was built from 1842 to 1845 by Oney Rice, who died in 1848, and after his passing, it was occupied by his son, Hiram Rice, who passed in 1905 and since that it was used by his son, Clark Rice, three generations of Rices in one house.
Of the antique furniture lost in the fire was a corded walnut bedstead worth over $100, a bed more than 80 years old, used in the house for 75 years.
Of the 80-year-old things saved were a bureau, rocking chair stand and the sole survivor of a set of dining chairs. Another rare article burned was an old-style spinning wheel.
Wonder if the Rice family yet have these things mentioned and possibly some overlooked in our note-booking?"
Bryan Press, November 18, 1926
I wonder if the people who own the land now know of its history?
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