Dates: 1892-1903.
Box 4 is restricted; reference photocopy in box 3 must be used instead.

Biography:

Joel David Rice

Roman Knott, Greek Polan, and Joel David Rice were engaged in farming prior to the Civil War. Joel David Rice enlisted in the Tallahatchie Rifles, Company F, Twenty-first Regiment, Mississippi Infantry, in 1861. He was discharged early in 1862 and returned to Tallahatchie County where he taught school. Rice re-enlisted in the Confederate army on June 2, 1862, this time serving in Company D, Twenty-seventh Regiment, Mississippi Infantry. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, on November 24, 1863. Rice was sent to Rock Island Prison, Illinois, where he remained until being paroled on March 20, 1865.

Joel David Rice returned to Tallahatchie County where he married Temperance Alwilda (Wilda) Mullen in July of 1866. The couple had ten children, seven of whom survived to adulthood: Roman B. (b. ca. 1867), Joel Alex (b. August 13, 1869), Sadie Lou (b. October 11, 1877), Thomas Autry (b. September 5, 1882), Farmer Knott (b. January 8, 1886), Jim Dave, and Thurman D. Joel David Rice was employed as a bookkeeper, salesman, and teacher between 1866 and 1881. He also received a ministerial license in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, during this time. Rice was baptized in the Ashland Missionary Baptist Church of Tallahatchie County in 1881 and ordained as a minister later that year. He was active as a minister and teacher during the next forty-one years. Rice served as pastor of nearby Baptist and Missionary Baptist churches, including those at Ashland, Charleston Corinth, Enon, Mt. Pisgah, and Spring Hill. He also taught in local schools, including Cascilla Male and Female High School (ca. 1902). Rice published a booklet entitled Sermon in Rhyme in January of 1922 and dedicated it to his late wife, Temperance Alwilda (Wilda), who died on December 18, 1917. Joel David Rice died on December 15, 1922, and was interred beside his wife at Ashland Cemetery in Tallahatchie County.

 

Scope and Content Note:

The 1892-1893 journal contains a brief recollection of Rice's arrival at Rock Island Prison, Illinois, describing the barracks he lived in and the reading of prison regulations. The 1893-1894 journal contains a copy of Rice's sermon entitled "Things to be Thankful For," which he gave at an 1893 Thanksgiving Day service. The 1894-1895 journal contains Rice's autobiography discussing the loss of his parents; his life with elder brothers Roman Knott and Greek Polan Rice; his enlistment in the Confederate army and some of the battles he fought in; his marriage; his ministerial career; and his children. Rice also kept accounts for each church of his ministry.

 

Series Identification:

Series 1: Joel David Rice Journals. 1892-1903. 12 folders

Box 1, folder 1 (1899-1900) 
Box 1, folder 2 (1893-1894) 
Box 1, folder 3 (1895-1897)

Box 2, folders 1-2 (1894-1903); accompanying materials 
Box 2, folder 3 (1894-1895) 
Box 2, folder 4 (1901-1903)

Box 3, folders 1-3 (1892-1893); reference photocopy

Box 4, folders 1-2 (1892-1893); restricted originals