CHAUNCEY RICE, a well known and reliable druggist, and dealer in all kinds of goods generally carried by those in this business, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, February 21, 1830. He was yet young when his parents moved to Ohio in 1842, and to Illinois in 1846. They were natives of New York. His father was born in Herkimer county, and came of New England stock, his parents being natives of Connecticut, and the family came of Welsh ancestry. Andrus Rice, father of our subject, married a Miss Mary Parks, of Vermont.

Chauncey is the eldest of the four surviving children. Mr. Rice has been in the drug business, and in the building he now occupies ever since 1859. He was in the same business in Rushville, Illinois, from 1850 to 1856, and hence is one of the oldest druggists in the State. He has seen the State struggle through many changes in the last fifty years. Nearly all the railroads have been built since then. He has taken an active part in the building up of the city himself, and has lent a helping hand to all enterprises, and has attended closely to business, and has made money. He was a director and stockholder in the old Cass County Bank, and a stockholder in the first State bank since it started. He is also a member and stockholder of the Beardstown Building and Loan Association.

He was first married in Hancock county, Illinois, to Miss Emily J. Denney, of Bond county, Illinois, but reared and married in Hancock county. She died in Nebraska when in the prime of life, leaving three children: James, a commercial traveler in Iowa; Mary J., wife of Henry J. Nead; Chauncey A., now with a theatrical troupe in the West. Mr. Rice was married for the second time, to Elizabeth J. Knight, of Beardstown, but born in England. She died here April 4, 1892, aged about fifty years. Mr. Rice and wife have always been identified as members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the order of I.O.O.F., and Knights of Honor.