Caleb Rice

Caleb Rice (1792–1873) was an American politician and businessman. He was the first Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts, when it became a city in 1852, and the first president of MassMutual Life Insurance Company, now a Fortune 100 company.^[4]

Caleb Rice
1st Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts
In office 1852–1853
Preceded by	Board of Selectmen
Succeeded by	Philos B. Tyler
3rd[1] Sheriff of Hampden County, Massachusetts
In office 1831–1851
Preceded by	John Phelps[2]
Succeeded by	Patrick Boies[2]
Member of the Board of Selectmen of West Springfield, Massachusetts[3]
In office 1826[3]–1830[3]
1st President of the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company[4]
In office June 1851 – March 1, 1873
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	E. W. Bond[4]
Personal details
Born	April 4, 1792 Conway, Massachusetts
Died	March 1, 1873(1873-03-01) (aged 80)
Spouse	Marietta Parsons Rice (m. 1826)
Children	Joseph Rice (1828–1831); Benjamin Stebbins Rice (1829–1831); Elizabeth D. Rice (b. 1835)
Alma mater	Williams College
Profession	Attorney, businessman
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Early years

Caleb Rice was born on April 4, 1792, in Conway, Massachusetts. He was the son of Joseph Rice and Betty (Dickerson) Rice. Rice married Marietta P. Parsons, daughter of Israel Parsons, in 1826.

Career

Rice served as the first Mayor of Springfield, Massachusetts, when it became a city in 1852, and he was also the first president of MassMutual Life Insurance Company. Rice also served as the third Sheriff of Hampden County, Massachusetts, and on the Board of Selectmen of West Springfield, Massachusetts,^[3] Additionally, Rice served for five years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from Springfield.^[5] He died March 1, 1873.

Genealogy and family relations

Rice was a direct descendant of Edmund Rice an early immigrant to Massachusetts Bay Colony as follows:^[6]

• Caleb Rice, son of
  • Joseph Rice (1768-1823), son of
    • Israel Rice (1742-1833), son of
      • Joseph Rice (1712-1789), son of
        • Phineas Rice (1682-1768), son of
          • Joseph Rice (1638-1711), son of
            • Edmund Rice (circa 1594–1663)