Santa
Clara County
Biographies
RICE BROTHERS
(Marshall & Frank)
The Mascot stables, located in the heart of the town, constitute one of the oldest business landmarks of Gilroy. Could its walls speak, they might give accurate description of the events which have led up to the present, and which have transformed its erstwhile infant dimensions into a size commensurate with the growth and progress of the city. For many years known as the old Johnny Paine stables, the enterprise sent out the rigs characteristic of an earlier day, catering to the rough and tumble element which made up the bulk of the patronage. With the passing of Johnny Paine, younger heads assumed control of its management, infusing later methods and placing it on a par with the best livery concerns in the west. Its present ability to meet the demands of the most fastidious, as well as to contribute to the requirements of a solid commercial trade, is due to the business sagacity and wise management of its owners and managers, Marshall and Frank Rice. These popular gentlemen, inheritors of an old western name and sterling personal worth, and the former of whom is a present councilman of Gilroy, deserve mention among the town's most progressive and enlightened citizens.
Marshall Rice, the senior partner in the livery business, was born on a farm near Old Gilroy, in 1864, and was educated in the country schools, at the Gilroy high school, and at Heald's Business College. For many years he pursued farming and stock-raising as an occupation, but finally became interested in railroading, finding employment on the Southern Pacific Railroad for a couple of years. Possessing shrewd business ability, and preferring the city to the country, he bought out Grant's stables, which he improved and enlarged, and the success of which encouraged him in the purchase of the old John Paine stable, thus increasing his capacity, and permitting of the laying of extensive plans for the future. Mr. Rice has a commendable predilection for public affairs, and has proved a valuable acquisition to the political life of the town, serving acceptably as councilman, and being re-elected to this, his second term. He is an honored member of the Masonic and Druid fraternities, and of the Fraternal Aid. Through his marriage in San Francisco with Frances Sullivan, two children have been born into his family, Beulah and Marshall Burrell. Mr. Rice is a public spirited, exceedingly capable and practical man, generous in his contributions to charitable and religious organizations and foremost in his support of educational and diversional enterprises.
Frank Rice, whose career reflects credit upon a fine old pioneer name, identified with Old Gilroy as early as 1852, was born in this locality September 21, 1877, and is the third of four children, the others being Marshall, present councilman and liveryman of Gilroy, Mrs. Nellie Mason and Edna R. Rice, a trained nurse by occupation also of Gilroy. The establishment of the family name and energy on the coast is due to the enterprise of his father, Joseph Rice, a native of far-off Ontario, who brought with him around Cape Horn the zeal and courage of a hardy race, willing to do and dare, and suffer the deprivation incident to frontier days. With him came his wife, formerly Charlotte Grant, also born in Ontario, and with whom he settled on the site of Old Gilroy, then a stranger to the ways of white man, and a place of isolation and latent fertility. Nothing daunted, he applied his northern pluck and perseverance, and in time had a pleasant home and abundant harvests, to all of which he was indebted solely to his assets of cheerfulness, industry, and good management. Up to the time of his retirement he engaged in farming and stock-raising, but some years previous his wife died, leaving him in his quiet old age, with honors heaped upon his head, and the friendship of many gladdening his heart. Having completed his education in the public schools, his son Frank engaged in the stock-handling business, spending much of his time at the Oakland stock-yards. In the meantime Marshall had become interested in the livery business in Gilroy, the rapid increase of which necessitated assistance in its management, and Frank Rice there bought an interest with his brother in June, 1903, and has since helped to conduct the same under the firm name of Rice Brothers. The livery stable is by far the largest and finest in Gilroy, and one of the finest in the county. In addition, the brothers own one hundred acres of land and are interested in general farming, but raise principally hay and grain for their livery stock. Mr. Rice married, in San Jose, Ruth Evans, a native of Santa Cruz, Cal. He also is prominent fraternally, being identified with the Red Men, the Fraternal Brotherhood and the Order of Pocahontas. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Rice is regarded as one of the most substantial and popular men in Gilroy, and has hosts of friends to attest to his geniality, generosity and good fellowship. He looks out upon life with the determination of seeing its brightest, happiest side, and this decision is reflected in his voice, his manner, his smile, and his innumerable kindly acts. He has a strong and determined nature, possess sound business judgment, and is creditably pursuing an occupation necessary to the well-being of the city, and in touch with his present and future prosperity.
Transcribed
10-22-15 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource:
History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Pages 848-849. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marilyn R.
Pankey.