When Ellen E. Rice was born in June 1855, in Randolph, Missouri, United States, her father, Mitchell Hansford Rice, was 34 and her mother, Rachel Jane Teter, was 25. She married George Tharp in 1871. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 daughters. She lived in Camp Point Township, Adams, Illinois, United States in 1900 and Kingston Election Precinct, Kitsap, Washington, United States for about 10 years. She died in Washington, United States, and was buried in Roy Cemetery, Roy, Pierce, Washington, United States.