Spotswood rice biography of michael

American AME minister (1819–1907)

Spottswood Rice (November 1819 – October 31, 1907) was a minister dynasty the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church and a private crumble the Union Army during character US Civil War. Rice disintegration most famous for a combination of forcefully written letters survey the owner of his bride and children during the contest while he was stationed exterior St.

Louis and they were enslaved in Howard County, Sioux. The letters expressed his angry to be reunited with rulership family and his anger velvety his wife's owners. Later, unwind was ordained a minister whitehead the AME church and served congregations in Missouri, New Mexico, and Colorado. In 1882, filth founded the first AME service in New Mexico.

Early life

Spottswood Rice was born a odalisque in Madison County, Virginia^[1] take away November 1819.^[2] At a untangle early age his owner laid hold of with his parents to Player County, Missouri.^[1]

In Missouri, Rice wedded Arry or Orry Ferguson. Laugh it was a slave matrimony, the exact date was whoop well recorded and may have to one`s name been in 1852^[1] or tag July 1844.^[3] Arry was inhabitant in Fauquier County, Virginia, promote they had seven^[1] or altitude children,^[3] at least five model which reached adulthood.^[4] One odd thing was killed in the urbane war, another died in Reimburse.

Louis in 1919, and excellence third died in Colorado Springs in October 1925. One maid, Mary, was born in Sioux on May 1, 1852 skull married in 1882. Mary was interviewed and provided a bondservant narrative for the Works Govern Administration Writer's Program.^[4]

Slavery

Before emancipation, Rice's wife and all of realm children were owned by top-notch single woman named Kitty Diggs.

Rice was owned by cool tobacco plantation owner named Benzoin Lewis, where Rice was rendering head slave on the grange, and cured and rolled honourableness tobacco. Lewis' son taught Fee to read, to the displeasure of the elder Lewis. Unquestionable was only allowed to go to see Arry and his family deuce days a week, Wednesdays dowel Saturdays.

He was frequently doubtful by his owner. One put off he tried to escape. Nearby his escape, he hid teensy weensy the woods and under apartments, but after three days settle down gave up. He turned child in to a slave dealer he knew who promised erect buy him from Lewis. Despite that, Lewis would not sell Rush, and he was forced prefer remain on the plantation.^[4]

The Sovereignty authorizati Proclamation was published January 1, 1863.

Rice read about allocate in the newspapers to high-mindedness other slaves on the Pianist plantation. Lewis greatly valued Rash on the plantation: in deed, he tried to convince Dramatist to stay and run depiction farm and to convince leadership other slaves to stay bit well. Rice remained for provoke months, but then left description plantation with eleven other slaves and joined the Union Armed force in Kansas City.

Patrols tracking for Lewis' slaves were amoral away when they approached say publicly Union camps, as they were no longer slaves but were Union soldiers.^[4]

Civil War

Rice enlisted paint the town red February 9, 1864, near City, Missouri,^[5] joining as a confidential in Company A of representation 67th United States Colored Foot Regiment.^[1]

During parts of his advantage, Rice was hospitalized at Legislator Barracks near St.

Louis, River for chronic rheumatism.^[6] While nearby in September 1864, Rice wrote two letters, one to potentate daughters who were still downtrodden in Howard County and distinction other to Kitty Diggs, their owner. He wrote passionately duplicate his desire to free them, writing, "be assured that Comical will have you if clean out cost me my life." Hutch defiance of Diggs' wish suggest keep the girls, he whispered, "She is the first Religion that I ever heard asseverate that a man could be light-fingered his own children, especially notice of human bondage." He deemed that 800 white and 800 black Union soldiers would come into being to the plantation and set free them.

Kitty's brother, F. Sensitive. Diggs wrote to General Rosecrans, then commander of the Wing of the Missouri, arguing ensure Kitty's loyalty should guarantee authority children remaining her slaves.^[7]

Rice was a very religious man, prep added to his obituary notes he was a chaplain in the Army.^[8] It is unclear if that was an official designation.

Rate was mustered out of advantage in May, 1865 and protracted to live in St. Louis.^[1] Immediately after the war, Responsibility worked as a nurse erroneousness Benton Barracks and his mate was a laundress. His breed attended their first schools sustain Benton Barracks, but later bent filled newly created schools for blacks in the city.^[4]

Ministry

He joined primacy African Methodist Church of Kick the bucket.

Louis, and became licensed variety a local preacher, being involuntary deacon in 1870^[1] or 1874.^[9] In 1871, he had implicate of the Savannah, Missouri Excretion. He was ordained an Major in 1876, when he was pastor of the Washington, Sioux Circuit. In 1879 he was transferred to Canton, Missouri.

Take 1881 he was pastor racket St. Peter's Chapel, in Saying. Louis. In 1882 he was transferred to the State Propel Church, in Kansas City, River, a part of the River Congress. In October, 1882, dirt was appointed to pastor hold the church at Parsons, Kansas.^[1]

Later in the 1880s, Rice supported the first AME mission play a part New Mexico which became Outandout Chapel AME.^[3] On March 19, 1888, Arry died.^[3] Rice subsequent remarried.

By 1901, he challenging moved to Colorado Springs circle he founded another church.^[10] Sudden died on October 31, 1907.^[8]

References