BIO: William BICE, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
**********************************************************
__________________________________________________________________  

Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 465-366.
__________________________________________________________________ 

  WILLIAM BICE, Mount Union, Pa., was born August 20, 1846, in Mifflin 
county; his parents were James and Annie (Kantner) Bice. The paternal 
grandparents of Mr. Bice were English by birth. His father, born in 
Cornwall, England, came to America at the age of nineteen; he was a 
farmer and contractor. The mother, a daughter of John Kantner, was born 
in Big Valley, Mifflin county, Pa. Of their ten children, six are 
living: William; Ann (Mrs. John L. Sunderline); Emma (Mrs. Joseph 
Moon), of Steelton, Pa.; Towanda (Mrs. George Woods), of Harrisburg, 
Pa.; Ellen (Mrs. Harvey B. Bowman), Philadelphia, Pa.; Ida, dressmaker, 
Harrisburg, Pa. Those deceased are: Elizabeth (Mrs. William Foltz), of 
Mount Union; John and James, both killed in battle during the late war; 
and Lizzie, an infant. Mr. James Bice died from a stroke of lighting, 
in his own house, in 1868, at the age of sixty. Mrs. Bice died in 
August, 1892, aged seventy-three. They were members of the Methodist 
church.
  Until he reached the age of fifteen, William Bice was a pupil in the 
Mifflin county common schools. From the time when he left school until 
1865, he was occupied with farm work; in June, 1863, while yet under 
age, he had enlisted in Company I, Forty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, 
and served one hundred days. In 1865, he again enlisted, for fifty-
seven days, and was still in the service when the war ended. On his 
return from the army, he was for three months disabled for business by 
typhoid fever. In 1866, he came to Mount Union, and was for six months 
a bar tender. Returning to Mifflin county, Mr. Bice was occupied for a 
year in farming. In April, 1867, he established himself in the livery 
business in Mount Union, and has carried on the same since that time. 
He keeps fine horses, and does a flourishing business. During 1871-72, 
Mr. Bice ran a stage between Mount Union and Chambersburg, Franklin 
county, by way of Burnt Cabins, Shirleysburg, Orbisonia and Shade Gap. 
Besides his livery business, Mr. Bice also trades in horses. He is a 
Republican, and is active in politics; was elected constable in 1882, 
and served two years; re-elected two years later, and again served two 
years. He is connected with General Kane Post, No. 292, G.A.R., Mount 
Union.
  William Bice was married, February 22, 1867, to Susan, daughter of 
Christian and Hannah (Rupert) Hanawalt. They had one son, Charles L., 
who carries on the livery business in Lewistown, Pa. Mrs. Bice died in 
May, 1869, at the age of twenty-four. Her father was a farmer of 
Mifflin county, where both he and his wife were born. Their children 
are: three deceased: John; William; and Susan A. (Mrs. Bice); and six 
surviving: David; Samuel; Selina; Joseph; George; and Elizabeth. Mr. 
Hanawalt was killed on the railroad in 1867; his wife died in 1890, 
aged seventy-four. They were members of the Dunkard church.