George E. Royce
Encyclopedia
George Edmund Royce was an American businessman from Rutland, Vermont
prominent in the quarrying and building stone industry, owning the True Blue Marble Company and he was a banker jointly founding the Baxter National Bank of Rutland. He was a member of the Vermont State Senate 1902-1903.
on 1 January 1829 to Alpheus Royce and Harriet (Moore) Royce. He attended public schools in the vicinity of Orwell, and attended two years of college at Troy Conference Academy
. In 1850, he moved to New York City and engaged in a number of business concerns, returning to Vermont in 1864 and purchasing hundreds of acres of land near Rutland, Vermont
with funds from his work in New York. In 1866, Royce organized the Steam-Stone Cutter Company along with W.T. Nichols, employing the steam powered stone cutter recently invented by George J. Wardwell, thus pioneering the industrialization of marble building stone quarrying in Vermont. Royce was also the prime investor in the establishment of the True Blue Marble Company near West Rutland
in 1884. In addition to marble quarrying, he was involved with Horace H. Baxter and Trenor W. Park
in the establishment of the Baxter National Bank in Rutland, serving as a founding director from 1870 until his death. He was also a director of the United States Tube Company in Buffalo, New York
.
In 1883, Royce was elected as a selectman in Rutland, and served until 1886. He led the establishment of the water works system of Rutland in the late 1880s, and served as the town's first water commissioner. Royce also served as a founding director of the City Hospital of Rutland
.
Royce was very active in Democratic Party
politics in Vermont as was influential in the state. He was a state delegate to the 1900 Democratic National Convention
, and was a staunch supporter of William Jennings Bryan
as the party nominee. Rice was elected to the Vermont Senate
in the elections of 1902, and he served until his death on 5 March, 1903.
an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony
as follows:
Rice's father Captain Alpheus Royce (who was born Alpheus Rice and changed his name in middle age) led a company of Vermont militia in the War of 1812
at the Battle of Plattsburgh
. His grandfather Jonas was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War
, serving at Valley Forge
, the Battle of Trenton
and the Battle of Princeton
. His great grandfather Adonijah Rice, was a member of Rogers' Rangers
during the French and Indian War
, and his great, great grandfather Jonas Rice
was the original European settler of Worcester, Massachusetts
.
Rutland, Vermont
Rutland, Vermont may refer to:*Rutland , Vermont*Rutland , Vermont*Rutland County, Vermont*West Rutland, Vermont...
prominent in the quarrying and building stone industry, owning the True Blue Marble Company and he was a banker jointly founding the Baxter National Bank of Rutland. He was a member of the Vermont State Senate 1902-1903.
Biography
George Edmund Royce was born in Orwell, VermontOrwell, Vermont
Orwell is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,185 at the 2000 census. Mount Independence was the largest fortification constructed by the American colonial forces...
on 1 January 1829 to Alpheus Royce and Harriet (Moore) Royce. He attended public schools in the vicinity of Orwell, and attended two years of college at Troy Conference Academy
Green Mountain College
Green Mountain College is a coeducational private environmental liberal arts college located in Poultney, Vermont, in the USA.Green Mountain is located in the Vermont countryside, at the foot of the Taconic Mountains between the Green Mountains and Adirondacks.The College has a core set of courses...
. In 1850, he moved to New York City and engaged in a number of business concerns, returning to Vermont in 1864 and purchasing hundreds of acres of land near Rutland, Vermont
Rutland, Vermont
Rutland, Vermont may refer to:*Rutland , Vermont*Rutland , Vermont*Rutland County, Vermont*West Rutland, Vermont...
with funds from his work in New York. In 1866, Royce organized the Steam-Stone Cutter Company along with W.T. Nichols, employing the steam powered stone cutter recently invented by George J. Wardwell, thus pioneering the industrialization of marble building stone quarrying in Vermont. Royce was also the prime investor in the establishment of the True Blue Marble Company near West Rutland
West Rutland, Vermont
West Rutland is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,326 at the 2010 census. The town center, located in the south central portion of the town and where about 87% of the population resides, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
in 1884. In addition to marble quarrying, he was involved with Horace H. Baxter and Trenor W. Park
Trenor W. Park
Trenor William Park was an American lawyer, political figure, businessman, and philanthropist.-Life:Trenor William Park was born in Woodford, Bennington County, Vermont on December 8th, 1823...
in the establishment of the Baxter National Bank in Rutland, serving as a founding director from 1870 until his death. He was also a director of the United States Tube Company in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
In 1883, Royce was elected as a selectman in Rutland, and served until 1886. He led the establishment of the water works system of Rutland in the late 1880s, and served as the town's first water commissioner. Royce also served as a founding director of the City Hospital of Rutland
Rutland Regional Medical Center
Founded in 1896, Rutland Regional Medical Center has grown from a 10-bed hospital with eight attending physicians into Vermont's second largest health care facility. RRMC has 188 licensed beds,and 120 physicians. RRMC is designated a Sole Community Provider by Medicare...
.
Royce was very active in Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politics in Vermont as was influential in the state. He was a state delegate to the 1900 Democratic National Convention
1900 Democratic National Convention
The 1900 Democratic National Convention was a United States presidential nominating convention that took place the week of July 4, 1900 at Convention Hall in Kansas City, Missouri....
, and was a staunch supporter of William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan was an American politician in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. He was a dominant force in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party, standing three times as its candidate for President of the United States...
as the party nominee. Rice was elected to the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
in the elections of 1902, and he served until his death on 5 March, 1903.
Family relations
Rice was a direct descendant of Edmund RiceEdmund Rice (1638)
Edmund Rice , was an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony who was born in Suffolk, England, and lived in Stanstead, Suffolk and Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire prior to sailing with his family to America. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in summer or fall of 1638, presumed to be first...
an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
as follows:
- George Edmund Royce, son of
- Alpheus Rice (aka Capt. Alpheus Royce) (1787-1871), son of
- Jonas Rice (1756-1839), son of
- Adonijah Rice (1717-1802), son of
-
-
- Jonas RiceJonas RiceJonas Rice was the first permanent settler of European descent in Worcester, Massachusetts, and was a founder and prominent citizen of the town...
(1672-1753), son of - Thomas Rice (1621-1681), son of
-
- Edmund RiceEdmund Rice (1638)Edmund Rice , was an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony who was born in Suffolk, England, and lived in Stanstead, Suffolk and Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire prior to sailing with his family to America. He arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in summer or fall of 1638, presumed to be first...
(ca1594-1663)
- Edmund Rice
- Jonas Rice
-
Rice's father Captain Alpheus Royce (who was born Alpheus Rice and changed his name in middle age) led a company of Vermont militia in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
at the Battle of Plattsburgh
Battle of Plattsburgh
The Battle of Plattsburgh, also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain, ended the final invasion of the northern states during the War of 1812...
. His grandfather Jonas was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, serving at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
, the Battle of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
and the Battle of Princeton
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
. His great grandfather Adonijah Rice, was a member of Rogers' Rangers
Rogers' Rangers
Rogers' Rangers was an independent company of colonial militia, attached to the British Army during the Seven Years War . The unit was informally trained by Major Robert Rogers as a rapidly deployable light infantry force tasked with reconnaissance and conducting special operations against distant...
during the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, and his great, great grandfather Jonas Rice
Jonas Rice
Jonas Rice was the first permanent settler of European descent in Worcester, Massachusetts, and was a founder and prominent citizen of the town...
was the original European settler of Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
.