Harvey Rice

Harvey Rice Poems

Harvey Rice Biography

Harvey Rice, LL.D. (1800–1891) was an American lawyer, a Democratic state legislator, poet, author and newspaperman prominent in Cleveland, Ohio. Early life and education Harvey Rice was born in Conway, Massachusetts, March 18, 1871 to Stephen Rice and Lucy (Baker) Rice. He received his A.B. degree from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 1824. After graduation, he moved west to Cleveland to study law under the tutelage of Reuben Wood. In 1826, was admitted to the bar that year and entered law practice as a partner with Reuben Wood. His doctor of laws degree was awarded by Williams College. Professional career In 1828, Rice and other partners started a newspaper The Independent News Letter, that was later reorganized and renamed The Plain Dealer in 1842. In 1829, Rice became the managing editor of the paper. That same year he was appointed as Justice of the Peace. In 1830, he was elected as a Representative in the Ohio House of Representatives as a Democrat, serving for two years. He was appointed in 1830 as agent for the sale of fifty thousand acres Western Reserve School Lands. Over a three-year period he raised the sum of $150,000 through the sale of the public lands which was used to establish the public school system in Ohio. In 1851 Rice was elected to the Ohio Senate and served for two years. During his time in the senate, he was responsible for introduction and passage of laws to reorganize the public school system of the state and establish a system of public libraries. From 1879 until his death, he was president of the Early Settlers Association of the Western Reserve.)

The Best Poem Of Harvey Rice

The Old Year

Lo! the Year now retires,
The sad Old Year, like a king from his throne;
And, fated, he sinks, unwept and alone,
To the grave of his sires.

Yet he bears in his hand
A scroll of sweet memories traced with a tear-
Thoughts which come back to the heart like a seer
From the dark Silent Land.

The decrees of his reign
Enshrined let us cherish, though summoned to part
With friends whom we loved, the wealth of the heart,
In the vale of the slain.

Yet we sigh for the years
Which Hope has begemmed with promises bright,
And wait, though they come not, save with the night
Of the grave and with tears.

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