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Note: Joseph was a big landowner in Ohio. At one time he had about 1200 acres. During his lifetime he parceled out most of it to his 12 children and at the time of his death he had 233 acres which he left to two of his sons, Rufus and Nelson. He left his wife $100, and to the several other children he left $10 each. The following was taken from the "HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON TOWNSHIP" bicentennial issue, dated 1776-1996, found in the Warren Public Library, Warren, Ohio. The first settlers arrived in June 1805 from Litchfield Connecticut. Among them were the following families prominent of Southington as a charming rural community were: Luke Viets family, James Chalker family, Ben Viets family, James Nutt family, Seth Hurd family, Henry White family, Joseph Rice, Elisha Brunson, Joshua Osborn, Charles Hays, William Ely who laid out the center as a town, Benjamin Hobart, Samuel Haughton, Aretus Haughton, Henry Haughton, Elisha Walden family, and Frisbee family. During the war of 1812, when Governor Return J Meigs called for volunteers for the Ohio Militia, most of the young men from Southington Township attempted to enlist. Records of the time show that Comfort Hurd, Joy Hurd, Smith Hurd, Lemuel Frisby, Ephriam Joy, and Samuel Houghton were among the early volunteers. It soon became apparent that, if the residents of Southington wanted to have a school building, some source of revenue would have to be found to provide for it's construction. After a series of town meetings to discuss the problem, the towns people decided to try to build the school with volunteer labor and raise the funds by popular subscription. The outcome of the drive recorded as follows: "We the subscribers, being desirous of having a schoolhouse erected in one of two places---said places are, one, at the center of Southington township, the other, at the corner of lots east of Asa Walden's it is hereby agreed that the place which gains the greatest amount of assignment shall be deemed most convenient for the construction of a schoolhouse,and that several hours annexed to our names be paid to the committee who shall be appointed by said signers as they, or a majority of them direct." The first list is as follows: Comfort Hurd, six days; James Nutt, three days;Elisha Brunson, Eight; Caleb Brainard, two; Smith Hurd, two; Joy Hurd, four;Elisha Walden, three; Asa Walden, five; Henry K. White, one; Martin Rexford, one; Ephraim Joy, four; Jesse Rice, one; Luke Viets, four; James Chalker, six; Roderick Norton, two; Horace Norton, one; and Isaac Hurd, two. The oldest cemetery in the township was purchased in 1820, and paid for by popular subscription. The original subscription paper is still in existence in the possession of the Norton family. It reads as follows: "Agreeable to a vote of the township of Southington, a burying ground has been purchased by the trustees of said township. It is necessary, therefor, that money be raised to pay for the burying ground. It is thought to be less expensive to pay for it by subscription than by tax. the sum will amount to about 60 cents for each family. Those that are rich are requested to sign accordingly, as a tax must be the consequence if this subscription fails. We, the subscribers, promise to pay the several sums annexed to our names, six months after date. Witness our hands, Southington, November 23, 1820 Roderick Norton, 50c; Seth Hurd, 50c; Leonard Osborn, 25c; Gilbert Osborn, 25c; Joshua Osborn, 50c; Stephen Osborn, 25c; Milton Rice, 25c; Stephen Crofford, 50c; Horace Norton, 25c; Chauncy Taft, 30c; Eberander Crofford, 50c; Comfort Hurd, 50c; Ephraim Joy, 60c; James Chalker, 50c; Isaac Hurd, 25c; Chauncey Curtis, 50c; Ira rose, 25c; Daniel Maltbie, 30c; and Luke Viets, 50c." Ephraim Joy was the first carpenter in Southington township, Ohio." Another site contains readings from the graves of Jesse rice Jr. and his wife Mary Polly Chalker in Allen County, Indiana where they relocated after 1850 from Southington, Trumbull County. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/7078/UBcemetery.htm Will of Joseph Rice: In the name of God, Amen I, Joseph Rice of Southington, Trumbull County and State of Ohio being weak in body but sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last Will and Testament--Viz, first I give and bequeath unto my two sons, Rufus Rice and Newton Rice two peices or parcels of land lying and being in the township of Southington aforesaid on lots three and seventeen being all the lands I now hold in said lots supposed to contain two hundred and thirty three acres be same more or less, secondly I give unto my beloved wife one hundred dollars. Thirdly I give unto my several children Joseph Rice, Jr., Clarisa Chalker, Huldah Chalker, Elvira Burgett, Jonathan Rice, Martin Rice, David Rice, Lucretia Babcock and Lorenzo D Rice and Reuben Rice ten dollars each. Fourth I give unto my two sons Milton Rice and Newton Rice all the residue and remainder of my personal estate after paying my just debts and defraying expenses of administration and the above named legacies. And furthermore I hereby now (write?) constitute and appoint the above named Milton Rice and Newton Rice executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me made. Made acknowledged published and subscribed in presence of us who have subscribed our names as Witnesses this twentieth day of August AD 1835. Joy Hurd Comfort Hurd James Autt signed Joseph Rice Proved & approved Nov. Term 1835 Filed Nov 10. 1835 Recorded by George Parsons Clerk Decendents taken from a genealogical article published in the RICE FAMILY NEWS JOURNAL, VOL lll edited by Rosemary E. Batchler The first school was held in one apartment of Joseph Rice's double log house. The land for the Center Cemetery (1 1/2 acres) was purchased from Joseph Rice for $13.75 and deeded to the trustees. Joseph & Katharine, and their son Jonathan,and his wife Mary, are burried there.
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