Rice, Henry Mower (1817-1894), was a frontier trader, an Indian commissioner, and one of the first United States senators from Minnesota. He was born on Nov. 29, 1817, in Waitsfield, Vermont. In 1839, he moved to Minnesota as a trader, and became a partner in various frontier trading firms. His knowledge of Native American tribes led to his appointment as commissioner to make treaties with them. Through his treaties, the Chippewa tribes gave up most of the state of Minnesota. Rice was a U.S. senator from 1858 to 1863. He died on Jan. 15, 1894. He represents Minnesota in Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.
