Edward N. Rice, deputy superintendent at Racine for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, has been connected with the insurance business for a number of years. He was born in Kenosha June 11, 1876, a son of Nicholas and Nellie (Keenen) Rice, the latter also a native of Kenosha. The father was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1855, the year before James Buchanan was elected president. He settled in Kenosha, where he still makes his home, and he is now eighty-six years of age, his birth having occurred in August, 1830. His wife passed away in March, 1912.
Edward N. Rice attended the schools of Kenosha but is largely self-educated, as he early started out to earn his living, but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons. He was at first employed at the Allen tannery of Kenosha, with which he was connected for three years, and subsequently he spent six months with the Ringling Brothers circus as candy butcher. He afterward went to work for a portrait house to enlarge family portraits and continued in that connection for three months. He next began handling a crew for a portrait house and spent four years in that work in the central states. On the expiration of that period he entered the employ of the Simmons Manufacturing Company and learned the trade of polisher and buffer. Becoming interested in the labor movement, he devoted twelve years to furthering the organization and at length he drifted into the insurance business, spending six months as agent, after which he was made assistant district manager at Milwaukee, where he continued for two years. Later he returned to Kenosha and for two years was manager of the local branch of the business at that place. He then again went to Milwaukee, where he remained for a year, and three years ago he came to Racine as deputy superintendent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. He has made steady advance since becoming connected with insurance interests. He is well qualified to manage the interests under his control and he has supervision over a number of agents.
On the 29th of April, 1903, Mr. Rice was married to Miss Rose Duffy, who was born in Friend, Nebraska. They belong to St. Rose Catholic church and Mr. Rice is also a member of the Commercial Club of Racine, of the Elks lodge and of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He is a well read man and his varied experiences have been interesting, bringing hint into touch with the wider realm of public thought.