James Bice is a native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, but was reared in Washington county, the same state.  His father, Nicholas Bice was born in Pennsylvania, near Carlisle, his father was Joseph Bice, also natives of the same place.  Nicholas settled in McDonough county in 1853, and located on section 14, owning 120 acres of the northeast quarter, living on that place about 20 years, he sold and removed to Blandinsville, where he died.  His wife had preceded him a few years.  Her death seemed to so disturb his peace of mind that his property went like the wind, and he died having a very small allowance of this earth's goods.  James removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, taking his wife whom he had married August 31, 1843.  Her maiden name was Francis Aukrom, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth A. Aukrom, and a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania.  In 1854, he again removed, this time to Missouri.  Having a desire to visit his parents, with his wife came to McDonough county, and while on this visit bought 80 acres on section 27.  He now owns 202 acres in all.  Mr. Bice soon after settled on the place he bought, and improved it well, having good buildings, and a nice hedge surrounding the place for a long distance of Osage orange.  This he is trimming in nice shape, using a machine of late pattern which he considers valuable.  Mr. and Mrs. Bice have eight children--Isaac; Rebecca, wife of Thomas Foley, in Emmet township; Nicholas, living in Hire township; Jane, wife of Thomas Hainline, in Emmet; Lucinda, wife of Edmund Inman, in Emmet; Sarah, wife of James Stickland, also in Emmet township; Franklin and David, living at home, and running the farm.

Francis Ankrum Bice, was born in Green county, Pa., Nov. 17, 1832, and died at her home near Friendship church, in Hire township, Oct. 29, 1904.  For a number of years she was a member of the Methodist church, later united with the United Brethern church.  She was married to James Bice, August 31, 1853.  Ten children were born to this union, six girls and four boys.  Of these two are deceased.  She came with her husband to this state in 1857, settling on the farm which has since been her home.  Funeral was held in the M. E. church at Friendship, Monday, Oct. 31, and was largely attended.  Rev. T. W. Puffer, of Colchester, conducted the services.

Occurrences of the surname Aukrum are so few as to be almost non-existent, but there are a number of listings of the surname Ankrum and Ankrom.  There were two households headed by Joseph Ankrom in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1840; only the household in Center Township included a female who was in Frances' age range.

The children of James and Frances Bice were:

James Bice, 29, male, farmer, value of real estate 600, born PA
Frances, 27, female, born PA
Isaac, 5, male, born OH, attended school within the year
Elisabeth A, 3, female, born OH
Rebecca, 3, female, born OH
Nicholas, 7/12, male, born OH

James Bice, 39, male, farmer, value of real estate 1200 ?, value of personal estate 730, born PA
Frances, 37, female, born Pa
Isaac, 16, male, born OH
Elizabeth, 13, female, born OH
Rebecca, 12, female, born OH, attended school within the year
Nicholas Bice, 10, male, born OH, attended school within the year
Mary, 8, female, born OH, attended school within the year
Lucinda, 5, female, born MO
Sarah T, 3, female, born MO
James F, 3/12, male, born MO

Bice, James, 49, male, white, farmer, value of real estate 7000, value of personal estate 800, born PA, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Francis, 48, female, white, keep house, born PA
Nick, 21, male, white, farmer, born OH, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Mary J, 18, female, white, keep house, born OH, attended school within the year
Lucinda, 16, female, white, born OH, attended school within the year
Sarah, 13, female, white, born MO, attended school within the year
James T, 10, male, white, born MO, attended school within the year
David, 7, male, white, born IL, attended school within the year

Bice, James, white, male, 58, married farmer, born PA, both parents born PA
Frances, white, female, 57, wife, married, keeps house, born PA, both parents born PA
Frank, white, male, 19, son, [both single and married indicated], works on farm, born IL, both parents born PA
Sarah, white, female, 22, daughter, single, at home, born IL, both parents born PA
David, white, male, 17, son, single, works on farm, born IL, both parents born PA
Barnes, R W, white, male, 36, single, farm laborer, born OH, both parents born VA

Bice, James, head, white, male, Oct 1820, 79, married for 59 years, born PA, both parents born PA, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his farm home free of mortgage, farm schedule 72

Frances, wife, white, female, Nov 1823, 76, married for 59 years; mother of 10 children, 8 living; born PA, both parents born PA, could read, write and speak English