Probably the most aged veteran of the War of 1812 now living, as well as one of the very first and oldest steamboat owners in the Ohio Valley, is Mr. Jacob Rice, who resides at Silver Run, about two miles below Middleport, on the Ohio river, he having been ninety-eight years old on the 2d day of last January, and is yet remarkably well preserved.
Mr. Rice was born at Murraysville, near Pittsburgh, in 1790, and therefore has survived every Presidential Administration except Cleveland's since the Constitution of the United States was adopted.
He served a short time in the War of 1812, afterwards enlisting again and staying to the end, for which he now receives a pension.
He afterwards came to Marietta, in which place he remained about twelve years, and where he became one of the most prominent business men of the town. While here he met Lafayette when he landed and shook hands with him. Here he engaged in boat building, one among the boats built being the Muskingum, a side wheel packet with four boilers, the machinery of which was put up at Steubenville. The engine alone cost $4,500, and the boat about $20,000. She was in the Cincinnati and Pittsburgh trade. He also built a number of keelboats at the same place.
From Marietta he went to Cincinnati, staying there a short time. Going from there he went to his present home, where he has been for the balance of his life.
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