Indiana McCaslins

The Chronicle, Scottsburgh, Indiana, Vol 3, Thursday, June 29, 1882 DEATH OF A PIONEER On Thursday morning June 1st, Uncle Stephen Rice, of Johnson township, passed from among the living. Mr. Rice was born in Otsego Co., New York on the 10th day of May, 1798. He was the oldest of eleven children. His father's name was Ebenezer Rice. The names of Stephen's brothers and sisters are: William, Eben [sic], John Wesley, Reuben, Russell, Giles, Lucy, Polly, Esther and Ann. Of those eleven pioneers, four are yet living, and their average age, omitting the two who died young, is bout 66 years. In the year 1817 Ebenezer Rice with his large family immigrated to the "far West," in accordance with the popular adage of the times "Westward the course of empire takes its way," and cropped one summer near Lawrenceburg, Ind., when he removed to land near where the ancient town of Wooster now stands, where he entered upon the pre-emption plan about 400 acres of land, varying in price from $1 to $2 per acre. Stephen was naturally the first to accumulate property of his own, (he being the oldest) which he secured on the same or almost the same terraine as his father had done. In the year 1821 he wooed and won a poor girl named Rhoda Condra, with whom he lived pleasantly till the time of her death, March 2, 1877. Miss Condra, who was about eight years older than her husband, was born in Rutherford county, North Carolin in the year 1790. She with her father's family had penetrated the wilds of Indiana even before it became a star in our Union. The following are a few events of Mr. Rice's life. He joined the M.E. church in 1828, but dated his conversion from 1842. He was a punctual and regular attendant at church during his life, and was one of its strongest financial supporters. He united with the ancien order of Odd Fellows at Wooster about the year 1852, in which lodge he is said to have been a worthy member. After the Wooster Lodge surrendered her charter to the Grand Lodge of Indiana about 20 years ago, he did not attach himself to any lodge until last winter, when after producing satisfactory evidence, he was admitted into the Lexington lodge as a non-beneficial member. His political history is identified with the Whig, the Republican and the Greenback parties, with he voted and never asked an office. For several years during the days of Jackson he was accustomed to participate in the 'annal regimental and battalion muster service for mutual protection from the Indians who were incited to hostility by the treatment of border mercenaries. He never was engaged, however, in actual service. At one time in his life, he was engaged at working in the river canal at Louisville. His early trading was done chiefly at Charlestown, 22 miles distant, and more recently at Lexington. He resided on the farm he entered, for 64 years and in the house in which he died, for 45 years. He has three children, thirteen grand-children and twenty-four great grandchildren yet living. The names of his children are Wesley, Sylvester and Mahala (Law), aged respectively 60, 57 and 55 years. On April 12, 1877, Stephen Rice was again married to Mrs Jane Ward, with whom he happily spent the remainder of his life. In his last illness he was attended by Drs. Sarver, of Wooster, Lothrop, of Lexington, and White, of Kent; who pronounced his disease paralysis, caused by the softening of the brain. The stroke that prostrated him occurred while he was at work on his farm about twelve days before his death. One of his sons learning of his prostration conveyed him to the house on a sled. Death was apparent from the first, but his "iron constitution" yielded very reluctantly to his imperial command and he lingered for several days. At 2 o'clock Friday afternoon, June 2nd, his funeral was preached by Rev. Dr. Hester from the text, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city." His remains were interred by the Lexington Lodge I.O.O.F. at the Rice burial ground. Thus lived and died one of the oldest pioneers of our county, a consistent father, brother, and husband and a good citizen. May we profit by his vices and ever cherish his virtues. DIXIT. Transcribed by Lois Johnson