History of Kentucky and Kentuckians - pg 1413

Mrs Bettie (Middleton)Rice - A life-long resident of Shelby county and one of its most estimable and highly respected women.

Mrs. Bettie Rice was born on the farm where she now lives Nov 7, 1847, it being the homestead where her father, the late Anthony Middleton, spent his entire life, his birth occurring Mar 27, 1808 and his death Aug 16, 1879.

Her paternal grandfather, Adam Middleton, was born Aug 2, 1770, in Virginia and died Jul 20, 1834 in Shelby county, Kentucky. Brought up and educated in his native state, he there married, Jul 27, 1794, Mary Fulton, who was born Feb 20, 1775. In 1800 he came with his family to Shelby county, Kentucky, and located five miles west of Shelbyville, on the state pike, which was then a rough dirt road. He was a blacksmith by trade, and followed that occupation principally through his active career. He erected a tavern, which in those early days became famous for its hospitality and very popular with the travelers through the country. He made the two keys, which are crossed, and by which the hostelry was subsequently known, and the farm, now owned chiefly by his grandsons, William R Middleton and Wallace B Middleton, is called the "Cross Keys Stock Farm."

Anthony Middleton was born and raised on the Cross Keys farm, but owned and lived on his farm, which joins the Cross Keys. He carried on general farming during his entrie life.
He married Madeline Mason, who was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, Aug 6, 1816 and died Aug 22, 1870. Her father, Peter Mason, a Virginian by birth and breeding, came to Shelby county at an early day, and was here engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1848, at an advanced age.

Mr and Mrs Anthony Middleton reared four children, namely:
Adam M, born Dec 21, 1836, served under Geneal John H Morgan in the Confederate army, was taken prisoner, and died at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, Aug 28, 1864;
Georgia, born Sep 2, 1838 married Robert Tribble,
and died Jun 22, 1866;
William P born Jan 16, 1842 died Oct 5, 1849'
and
Bettie, now Mrs. Rice.

Mrs. Bettie (Middleton) Rice, the sole surviving member of her father's family, was brought up on the farm which she now occupies, and is the owner of three hundred and twenty-five acres of rich farming land.
She married in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov 9, 1866, Captain James H Rice.
Mr. Rice was born May 23, 1838, in Tennessee. Enlisting as a soldier at the breaking out of the Civil war, he was made captain of a company and served in the Confederate army until the close of the conflict.
Five children blessed the union of Mr and Mrs Rice, namely:
Madeline S born Aug 6, 1871, is the wife of Edmund a Neff;
Georgia B born Nov 12, 1873 married J B Wakefield;
Masson born Nov 21, 1876, is the wife of B B Cozene;
Pearl M born Nov 1, 1878 died May 26, 1899;
and
Jimmie L born Mar 26, 1880 is the wife of Louis C Smith

Mrs Rice is held in high esteem throughout the community, and is a valued member of the Christian Church.
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NOTE: next person in book:
B B Cozine - the editor of a good, clean-cut, local newspaper if he be earnest and sincere in his efforts to advance the general welfare can wield a marvelous influence in public affairs and through the medium of his paper....