I am looking for any information, anecdotes, history, or data on members of the following families in AL, Lauderdale Co., Florence or Mars Hill areas: RICE, COLLIER, ALLENSWORTH, GRESHAM, THORNTON, WRIGHT Principally, my interest is rooted in the RICE family descended from Joseph Manson RICE born c. 1798 in Hampton Courthouse, VA and died bef. 1852 in Limestone County, AL; buried in Iuka, MS. He married ELIZABETH GRESHAM on 20 Sep 1821 in or near Florence, Lauderdale County, AL, daughter of THOMAS GRESHAM and MARY THORNTON. She was born 1795 - 1805 in prob. Wilkes County, GA, and prob. died in Lauderdale County, AL; buried in Iuka, MS. Children of JOSEPH RICE and ELIZABETH GRESHAM are: i. WILLIAM THOMAS RICE, b. 16 Apr 1824, Decatur, AL; d. 20 Jun 1874, Iuka, MS. ii. MARTHA RICE, b. Bet. 1829 - 1830, AL; d. WFT Est. 1865-1930. iii. MARY E. RICE, b. WFT Est. 1826-1849; d. WFT Est. 1842-1933. iv. THOMAS GRESHAM RICE, b. 1851; d. WFT Est. 1831-1930; m. JULIA A. YONGUE. Notes: In 1831, James Wright and William Thomas Rice established a machine shop on Cox Creek near the present site of Mars Hill Church. They produced rotary saws, steam engines, cotton gins and castings. This factory produced cannon and shot during the war. WILLIAM THOMAS RICE (JOSEPH MANSON) was born 16 Apr 1824 in Decatur, AL, and died 20 Jun 1874 in Iuka, MS. He married (1) MARY COLLIER c. 1847. She was born c. 1830 in Decater, AL, and died c. 1857. He married (2) SARAH (SALLIE) WALTON WILLIAMS Bef. 1860, daughter of WILLIAM WALTON. She was born c. 1839 in TN. Children of WILLIAM RICE and MARY COLLIER are: i. JOSHUA (JAMES) MANSON RICE, b. Bet. 1851 - 1852, AL; d. 19 Apr 1904, Sarcoxie, Jasper County, MO. ii. FRANCIS (FANNIE) EUDORA RICE, b. 1848; d. WFT Est. 1866-1942. iii. DONNELL WADSWORTH (WADDIE) RICE, b. Bet. 1 Oct 1849 - 15 Mar 1850, prob. Lauderdale County, AL; d. WFT Est. 1870-1939; m. WFT Est. 1868-1900. iv. MATTIE RICE, b. 7 Sep 1855; d. WFT Est. 1872-1949; m. JOHN S. WOODALL, WFT Est. 1872-1905; b. 11 Jan 1858; d. WFT Est. 1876-1949. Children of WILLIAM RICE and SARAH WILLIAMS are: v. ERVIE RICE, b. 1862; d. WFT Est. 1880-1956. vi. ZENA PENELOPE RICE, b. 1864; d. WFT Est. 1882-1958. vii. ADELLE RICE, b. 1867 in AL; d. WFT Est. 1881-1961; m. J J YOUNG, WFT Est. 1881-1914; b. WFT Est. 1850-1870; d. WFT Est. 1884-1956. viii. DR. WILLIAM WALTON RICE, b. 1869 in MS; d. WFT Est. 1870-1959. ix. VELMA WILLIAMS RICE, b. 20 May 1870; d. 20 May 1870. x. ELLA RICE, b. 17 Jul 1871; d. WFT Est. 1872-1965. Notes for WILLIAM THOMAS RICE: 1870 Census shows family in Iuka, MS, area, with a child of 1 born MS and child of 3 born AL. So it would appear they moved to Iuka from Lauderdale County, AL, (neighboring counties) between 1867 and 1869. Ervie and Zena may have been visiting away from the home on Enum. Day, 1970.