Henry W. Kice

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Henry W. Kice

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The first member of this old New Jersey family to come to America was Peter KICE, a native of Germany, who came over prior to the year 1776, and fought in the Revolutionary War, serving as private in Colonel Lamb's Second Regiment of Artillery. He deserted from the Hessians to join the Continental army, enlisting at West Point, New York, serving three years. He was a resident of Warren county, but it is not recorded how long he made his home there, nor when he died. The name of his wife is not given, nor the number of his children; but one son, Henry, is mentioned below.

Henry KICE, son of the immigrant Peter KICE, was born in Warren county, New Jersey, May 16, 1792, died February 28, 1840. He became a farmer in that locality. He married Betsey NUNN, and had a son, William L., of further mention.

William Losey KICE, son of Henry KICE, was born in Warren county, New Jersey, and became a farmer like his father. He died from pneumonia in 1874, at the age of forty-six years. His wife was Ellen W. LUTES, a daughter of John LUTES and his wife, who was a Miss Jane SEALS before her marriage to Mr. LUTES. The family was of German extraction, residing in Hunterdon county, New Jersey. Mrs. KICE survived her husband and is now living at the age of seventy-nine years.

Henry William KICE, M.D., son of William Losey and Ellen W. (LUTES) KICE, was born in Chester township, Morris county, New Jersey, October 16, 1860, and has been for the last twenty-five years a practicing physician of Wharton. He received his education at the public schools of the county, and at Hiller's Home School, in German Valley, his preceptors having been Dr. Wentworth and Dr. Wiggins, of Flanders and Succasunna, New Jersey. At the conclusion of his studies, he became a teacher in the public schools for awhile, teaching in Morris county and in Hunterdon county. He then entered upon his medical education, being admitted to the medical department of the University of the City of New York, where he was finally graduated in the class of 1888, receiving his degree of M.D. Locating at Port Oram, now Wharton, New Jersey, he entered upon the practice of his profession in April, 1888; but in 1900 took a post-graduate course at the Medical School and Hospital of New York. He has been practicing continuously ever since, and is now one of the leading physicians of Wharton with an ever increasing field of labor. He is connected with the leading medical societies and institutions of New Jersey, now secretary of the Morris County Medical Society and is a member also of the New Jersey State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He belongs in addition to the Tri-county Medical Society, representing Sussex, Warren and Morris counties. He was appointed physician to the board of health, and medical inspector for the public schools, and he is surgeon for the Empire Steel and Iron Company, and for the Thomas Iron Company. His practice in Wharton for the past twenty-five years has been a very active and important one, and he has won the confidence and esteem of the entire medical fraternity.

Dr. KICE is very active in the public affairs of the community and has done much good work for the social and civic betterment of the town. In 1898 he was elected mayor of the borough on the citizens' ticket, and for fifteen years has served on the board of education and accomplished many needed reforms in the school system and management. He is interested in fraternal affairs, and is a member of the K. of P., the I.O.O.F, and the F. and A.M., belonging to the Acacia Lodge, No. 20, of the last named, in Dover. Dr. KICE is one of the organizers of the Port Oram Social and Literary Club and is one of its most active members. He is a consistent member of the Methodist church.

On March 20, 1883, Dr. KICE was married to Marilda ALPAUGH, daughter of George and Angeline (THORPE) ALPAUGH; she is a native of Morris county, New Jersey. Dr. and Mrs. KICE have one son, Luther, born in Morris county, now a successful physician of Baldwin, Long Island. He was educated at Cornell University, after which he entered Jefferson Medical College from which he was graduated in the class of 1908. He married Etta STEWART, of Brooklyn; they have one child, Janith. Dr. KICE and his charming wife have a handsome residence in Wharton, which was built by him in 1908; they have many friends and acquaintances and exercise a lavish hospitality.