William B. Rice was a revolutionary soldier. Previous to his enlistment in the army he accompanied Daniel Boone on one of his expeditions to Kentucky. He married Rebecca Arlington, by whom he had David, William G., Benjamin, Samuel, Callier, and Sophia. Mr. Rice settled in Montgomery County in 1825, and died in his 95th year. His eldest son, David, married Elizabeth Henderson, by whom he had a daughter named Louisa, who married Judge William G. Shackelford, son of John Shackelford, of Virginia. The Judge was left an orphan at four years of age, and was raised by his uncle, Samuel Lawrence, who educated him for a lawyer. He came to Montgomery County in 1835, where he lost his wife, by whom he had six children. He afterward married Anna Rice, daughter of William G. Rice, by whom he had six other children. Judge Shackelford was Judge of the County Court of Montgomery County for twenty-one years. He was a successful farmer, also, but never had a cart or wagon on his place. His corn and other produce were gathered in baskets and carried to the barn.William G. Rice was married first to Mary Vandiver, by whom he had three children. His second wife was Sally Vandiver, by whom he had nine children. Mr. Rice was elected Assessor at a time when the County was in debt, and he made such a thorough and accurate assessment that he paid the debt and left some money in the treasury. It is said that he rode an ox most of the time as he traveled over the County, and although the assertion cannot be substantiated, it is universally believed, and is doubtless true. But no matter what sort of an animal he rode, he made one of the best assessors Montgomery County ever had, and his horned steed no doubt greatly assisted him in climbing over the mountainous region that borders upon the head waters of Loutre. Mr. Rice also kept tavern on the Booneslick road, where Mrs. Davault now lives, and when a traveler asked the price of dinner he would be told that he could get corn bread and “common fixins” for 25 cents, but if he wanted wheat bread and “chicken fixins” it would he 37 cents. If the traveler decided to take both kinds of fixins,” he paid 62 cents, ate his dinner, and departed, much amused at the singular terms of his eccentric host.
