This illustration of the rich land of Washington County, New York goes a long way towards explaining why seedsmen, like the Rice family, were attracted to the Cambridge area. This is a brief post to outline the family business growth.
History of Washington Co., New York- 1878
There were many Rice men involved in the establishment of the business later known as Jerome B. Rice Seed Company.
A Rice cousin, Roswell Rice had a business which started in 1832. I don't know anything about that one.
There was also R. Niles Rice who started small in 1834, traveling around in a wagon selling seeds. He built up his trade until in 1844 or 1845 when he settled in Cambridge, New York. At the same time he increased his business by buying out cousin Roswell's business and also another seedhouse owned by the Crosby family who had been in business since 1816.
In 1841 Niles Rice had a son Jerome, who joined the company in 1865. Jerome Bonaparte Rice was on the scene!
So..."In 1865, Mr Niles Rice associated his son, Jerome B. Rice, with him in the management of the business, which now extends through all the New England, Middle, and many of the Southern States. A large number of men and women are employed, and the arrangements for the distribution of the seeds are in strong contrast with the humble beginning forty years ago, some of the wagons used costing more than five hundred dollars, and other things are, in the same proportion, more complete and extensive. Besides the seeds grown at home, the Messrs. Rice have a large farm in Illinois where many tons of vegetable seeds are grown annually. The firm has originated several choice vegetables, among them tomatoes, and Rice’s ” Perfection” sweet corn, which is reputed the ne plus ultra of that vegetable."
History of Washington Co., New York- 1878
The company in its maturity was a wholesale business. While I miss the retail catalog art, the Jerome B. Rice Seed Company was an important player in the seed world, and his advertising posters make up for my lack of visuals (almost).
In 1939 the Jerome B. Rice Seed Company was purchased by Associated Seed Growers, Inc, Asgrow, causing great nervousness among the people of Cambridge, many who worked at Rice or in some way benefited by the company's presence. Three years later you can read how it all worked out for the town. Here is a story in the 1942 Washington County Post. It is good news I have to add, although people are wondering how the war will change things.
