WILLIAM H. RICE
DOCTOR WILLIAM H. RICE represents the Second District of Oswego
County. He was born in Elbridge, Onondaga County, New York, in 1821; but,
when he was quite young, his parents removed to Clay, in the same County,
where the most of his youth was spent. His early education was acquired in
the common schools of the town, and in some of the academies of the State.
His medical studies were commenced in his own county, and subsequently
pursued, for two years, in New York city; he graduated from the College
of Physicians and Surgeons, after a thorough course of study, in 1846.
After graduating, Doctor RICE spent nearly two years, 'traveling in New
England, and in the Southern and Western States. He subsequently resided
one year in Brooklyn, New York. In 1850, he located in Caughdenoy,
Oswego County, his present residence. A thorough knowledge of his
profession soon gave him a large field of practice. In sentiment, he has
always been opposed to slavery, and, therefore, entered, at the first, into the
Republican organization, of which he is a leading member in his own locality.
In the practice of his profession, Doctor RICE had little time to devote to office.
He was, however, elected Town Superintendent of Common Schools, and, for some time,
held the office of Postmaster in his village, and was Supervisor of his town in 1859, and
again in 1860.
In the fall of 1861, the Second Oswego County Regiment, the
81st New York Volunteers, was placed in the field, and, in
December of that year, Doctor Rice was commissioned as its Surgeon.
Thoroughly educated in his profession, he fulfilled all of his arduous
duties with fidelity. He was with the 81st Regiment, during all of the
Peninsular campaign, participating in the battle of Fair Oaks, in
which the 81st, being in the advance, suffered severely.
He was with his regiment, also, in all the famous "seven days' fight" before
Richmond. After this, the 8lst was detailed for garrison duty at Yorktown;
but, in December, 1862, it was ordered south, where it participated in the
first attempt upon Charleston, in April, 1863. In July following, the
regiment was ordered to North Carolina, where it shared in the dangers of
the campaign at that point. In the Spring of 1864, it was attached to the
"Army of the James," under General Butler, and was among the
first regiments landed at Bermuda Hundred. Forming a part of the
Corps of "BALDY SMITH," it was uniformly in the fights, until the affair
at Drury' Bluff, in which it was engaged under General Smith, after which it
joined General GRANT at Coal Harbor, prominently participating in the
severe affairs at that point, on the 2d and 3d of June, 1864.
Doctor Rice was here placed in the responsible charge of the Field Hospital
of the 18th Army Corps. He continued on duty at that hospital, until the 12th
of June, when the corps returned to Bermuda Hundred, and participated in
the second attempt on that stronghold of Petersburgh. After this, he was
put in charge of the medical department of General CARR's Brigade, then
commanding the defenses of the James. He discharged the duties of this
position, until he was mustered out, near the close of the war. He had the
reputation of being a faithful, popular and efficient surgeon.
Doctor Rice was elected by the Republicans of his District, to the Legislature
of 1866, in which body he served on the Committees on Public Health,
Medical Colleges and Societies, and Federal Relations. He was reelected to
the Assembly of 1867. He is Chairman of the Committee on Charitable and
Religious Institutions, and a member of the Committees on Public Health,
Medical Colleges, &c.
As a legislator, Doctor RICE is industrious and careful, and is vigilant and
faithful to all the interests of his constituents, with whom he has earned the
reputation of being a sagacious representative.