History: by Marie Templeton and the Rimrocker Historical Society

The Rices, by Nellie Bennett

Picture Credits Evelyn Garvey

Christopher Phillip Rice and Elizabeth Trounce were the parents of twelve children. The family came to Nucla 1909. They bought eighty acres from Metcalf and the family still owns this property. They later bought eighty acres from Martin Sage. Evelyn Rice Garvey and her family still owns this property.

There were three girls and five boys in the Rice family. Susie Patricia Rice married Samuel Puderbaugh in Central City on October 24, 1911. They had two boys Arthur Lawrence and Thomas Phillip Puderbaugh. Both Tom and Arthur lived here all their lives. Arthur Lawrence never married. Thomas (Tom) Phillip married Mary Cooper. They had three boys and raised them in the Nucla area..

Twin girls, Rose Lillie Rice and Lillie Rose Rice, were born in Hailey, Idaho on December 23, 1892. Rose Lillie married John Ettheridge. They had one girl named Mabel Rose. She spent a lot of her life in the Nucla area. Lillie Rose married Albert Kenshol in Nucla in 1914. They had one boy, Kenneth Walter and one girl, Mildred.

Frank George Rice was the fifth child. He was born on March 9, 1890 in Hailey, Idaho. Frank Rice married Dessie Sage April 29, 1914 in Nucla, Colorado. They had four daughters, Nellie, Viola, June, and Evelyn. They grew up, married and raised their families in the Nucla area. Viola passed away in February 2001. Greatly missed by all.

Jim Rice married Rosalie Lehman December 19, 1925 in Gunnison, Colorado. They raised three children, Edith, Bonnie and Donald, in this area. Edith married Buford Davis and moved to Delta, where they raised their family. Bonnie married A.E. Curtis. They raised three children, Georgia, Pat, and David, in this area. With the exception of David, who lives in the Denver area, all are deceased. Donald married Mary Anna Enstrom. They raised two girls and one boy in this area. They later moved to Grand Junction and then Craig.

Frank and Jim were partners on the home places. They farmed and raised Hereford cows.

John William married Irva Hanna. He died in Grand Junction on January 16, 1923.

Joe Rice married Nina May Sage. They had one son, Cecil, who still lives in this area. They adopted a baby girl, Arlene May. She lives in Delta. Joe died September 12, 1959 in Nucla.

Lawrence was born in Stanton, Idaho on February 20, 1902. He grew up in Nucla and graduated from high school here. He lived most of his live in Nucla. Then he moved to Alabama and died there.

The Rice families continue to live in this area and are the descendants of some of the original pioneers of our community.