Rice Alva Howell

     Rice Alva was born on Tuesday, 30 December 1884 in White Oaks Township, Ingham County, Michigan. Rice married Vera Grace Glazier on 16 June 1909 in Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington, at the home of Ver'a brother, Harold. They first rented a home at 6509 10th Avenue NW and soon after purchased the house. 13 April 1910, Rice and his wife, Vera, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Seattle. Enumerated in this household were Rice Alva Howell [25 Michigan], his wife: Vera [25 Michigan], & daughter, Geraldine [1 mo. Washington]. They had been married one year with one child, one living.⁴ Rice's wife, Vera, died on 30 June 1910 in Wenatchee at the home of Ver'a brother, Harold leaving him a widower. Rice married 2nd Lucile Viola Leggett, daughter of William Haight Leggett and Anna Beardslee, on 4 October 1916 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. 9 January 1920, Rice and his wife, Lucile, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan, at 106 Colorado Ave.. Enumerated in this household were Rice A. Howell [35 Michigan], his wife, Lucile L. [35 Michigan], & their daughter, Joan V. [3 mos Michigan]. Rice is a real estate broker.⁵ Later in the year, the family moved to their new home at 588 Southfield, Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan. 3 April 1930, Rice and his wife, Lucile, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township at 588 Southfield Road. Enumerated in this household were Rice A. Howell [45 Michigan], his wife: Lucile L. [45 Michigan], children: Joann V. [10 Michigan] & Wilhelmina W. [8 Michigan], brother-in-law: Fred C. Leggett [49 Michigan]. It was valued at $58,000. Rice was 24 and Lucile was 31 when first married. Rice is a real estate broker.⁶ 19 April 1940, Rice and his wife, Lucile, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township at 588 Southfield Road. Enumerated in this household were Rice A. Howell [55 Michigan], his wife: Lucille [55 Michigan], Joanne [20 Michigan] & Wilhimena [17 Michigan]. Rice was a manager agent & insurance agent. Their home was valued at $7,500. Rice had 2 years of high school, Lucille 4 years of high school. Joanne one year of college, & Wilhemena 3 years of high school.⁷
Rice died on Thursday, 1 December 1949 in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township at the family home at 588 Southfield Road at age 64 years, 11 months and 1 day of a heart attack. His family was at his side.⁸ He was buried at Independence Township, Oakland County, Michigan, in the Sashabaw Cemetery in the Sashabaw Plains.

The following is a biographical sketch written in 1920 or 1921. The occasion and the author are unknown:
Rice Alva Howell, one of the rising young real estate men of Detroit, who is specializing in the handling of business and industrial property, was born in Ingham County, Michigan, December 30, 1884, and is a son of Floyd P. and Lucy Ann (Mapes) Howell, who are also natives of Michigan, having spent their entire lives in this state. The father is a successful farmer of Livingston County. They became the parents of four children: Rice A., Emmett, who resides in Livingston County; and Effie, who is the widow of Charles Lyons and resides in the same county.
"After attending the public schools of Fowlerville, Livingston County, Rice A. Howell pursued a special business course in the Fowlerville High School and when his textbooks were put aside he entered the department store of W. P. Schenk & Company of Chelsea, Michigan, there remaining through the succeeding three years. On the expiration of that period he resigned his position and removed to Seattle, Washington, where he was employed by the dry goods firm of McDougall, Southwick & Company, with whom he continued for two years. Returning to Michigan, he located at Detroit and obtained a position in the dry goods house of the Newcomb-Endicott Company, with which he continued for a year, after which he spent two years in the dry goods house of Carson Pirie Scott & Company of Chicago. He then came once more to Detroit and spent a year as an employee of the J. L. Hudson Company. Up to this period of his business career Mr. Howell had been identified entirely with mercantile lines, and was convinced that the real estate business offered a greater future. He entered that field of activity in the employ of the Forsyth & Merry Company. Two years' connection with that firm brought him broad experience along real estate lines and he then entered business on his own account in 1917, since which time he has specialized in the handling of industrial and business properties. He has sold various factory sites and is regarded as one of the most successful real estate operators in his city. His thoroughly reliable business methods and his progressiveness have won for him not only a high-class clientele but as well the commendation of his associates and all with whom he has been brought in contact through his business relations, which are constantly growing in volume and importance.
On the 16th of June 1909, in Seattle, Washington, Mr. Howell was married to Miss Vera Glazier, who passed away in that city on the 30th of June 1910. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank P. Glazier, of Chelsea, Michigan, and at her death left one child, Geraldine Elizabeth, who was born March 9, 1910, in Seattle, and is attending school in Detroit. Mr. Howell was married on the 4th of October 1916 to Miss Lucile Leggett, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. William H. Leggett, of Highland Park, Michigan, and they have one child JoAnn Virginia, who was born in Highland Park, Michigan, October 3, 1919.
Mr. Howell belongs to Palestine Lodge, A. F. & A. M., also to the Eastern Star and to the Detroit Board of Commerce. In his political connection he is a republican, taking a businessman's interest in political affairs. His chief recreation is found in motoring and gardening. He is interested in all those forces which make for development and betterment in the city and gives hearty support to all interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
Since February 1920, Mr. Howell has resided on Southfield Road, Birmingham, where his residence, Hillside View, is one of the very pleasant homes of that highly desirable suburban section. Hillside View was formerly known as the Warren D. Clizbe home and the original semi-colonial type of architecture has not only intensified but complete modernization of the structure including the addition of a three-car garage, has been carried out by Mr. Howell. The natural elevation of the property, overlooking Birmingham Park, the Oakland Hills Golf Club and the spring fed water courses leading to the River Rouge, all contirbute to an attractiveness that only nature could supply."