Sara Rice

Ancestors

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Biography

Sara Rice has English ancestors.

Sara Rice has French origins.

Sara Rice has German Roots.

Sara Rice has Scottish Ancestors.

About

Sara Rice^[1] born in Battle Creek, Michigan. I have 4 older brothers. My parents were Wilfred E. Rice . b 1927 Battle Creek and Helene Smith b. 12 Aug 1927 Chicago, IL. I lived in Bay City, Michigan from 1964-1972 and then Battle Creek where I graduated from St. Philip and then Western Michigan University.

I taught secondary Spanish and History in Kankakee, IL., Homer, MI and Bellevue, MI. Later, I discovered my ancestors lived in all three places!

I went on to study graduate-level American-History. I presented research on a national level about my Italian family. I also studied Organizational Learning and Performance and have done extensive trainings on various mental health topics.

I am a published author through the publisher Seeking Safety. In 2023, I coauthored a book: Archway Cookies: A Taste of 20th Century Americana which is available on Amazon, Bookbaby Bookshop, Barnes and Nobles, Abe Books, Walmart, etc. Part of my research for the book included a genealogy of and of Harold Arthur Swanson 1904 - 1954 and Ruth Martin founders of the Archway Cookie Company.

I have worked on genealogy for 40 years and have contracted to do genealogy for others.

African Ancestry

Currently researching

There is no indication that my African ancestors came from the South. Likely, they escaped from NY or New England and went to Canada in the late 1700's

My African Ancestors were taken from Mali, Africa and married into my Palmer family- Rowley, MA > NY>MI.

My other African Ancestors were taken from Benin & Togo, Africa. We estimate that they most probably were brought to the USA about 1750. I am still looking for them:

Alexander Smith (3rd GGF) born around 1805 supposedly in Canada. His wife was Nancy White of German heritage, but she may be mixed-race as well. He lived in Toronto moved to Royalton & Niagara, NY about 1855 then to Leelanau, Michigan by 1870. My Ancestor William Smith (Great-Granddad), son of Alex served in the Civil War. He appears white with some African features.

Catherine Taylor (Great Grandma). I am not certain if she is mixed race. She married Wm Smith. She seems very white in appearance with light eyes and hair, although her complexion seems non-white. Supposedly, she was born in Plainfield, Kent, Michigan in 1856. Her parents are unknown.

She doesn't appear on a census until 1870 when she was working in Sebra Rathbun household, but no direct DNA to his immediate family. She married Wm Smith who also worked for Sebra Rathbun. Her census records indicate that she was illiterate. This seems odd for being raised in Michigan or coming from Western NY.

They lived in Allegan County, MI.

Other Genealogies I work on

Rice from Rhode Island

Schmid/Smith from Yamaska, Quebec

Tenney - Rowley, MA

Zanotti - from Cuceglio, Piemonte, Italia

Costa Zana - from Cuceglio, Piemonte, Italia

McCandlish from Wigtown, Scotland

Sheehan from Kill Parish, County Waterford, Ireland

Ronayne or Ronan from Kill Parish, County Waterford, Ireland

Looking for Edward W. Rice and spouse Deborah's last name.

Crosby line - Rowley, MA intersecting with Palmer line

Constance Brigham - Rowley, MA

My children's Line

• Southern: VA, NC, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri.

Hicks, Lively, Reel, Forehand, James (as in Jesse), McGahan, Sisk, Barbee,

My children are connected to the Edmund Rice line. I am not.

• Kalamazoo/GrandRapids, Michigan

Veenhuis, Hoogerheide

• Hudson, Lenawee & Kalamazoo

White, Steger

Sources

1. ↑ First-hand information. Entered by Sara Rice at registration.