Elijah Rice, 1860-1952

RICE

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/8/2009 at 15:15:11

Elijah Rice Dies at Home of Daughter

Elijah Rice, 92, a resident of Emmet county for over 60 years and a widely known farmer and rural mail carrier, died last night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Myrtle Duncan, following a short illness. Rice, who had been in good health despite his advanced age, fell in his daughter's home five weeks ago and suffered a broken hip. After spending several days in the hospital he returned home and had been in the care of his daughter since.

Mr. Rice was born and reared in Sharon, Wis., in 1860. [He was the son of Seymore Rice and Charlotte Guile Rice]. He received a grade school education in the rural schools near Sharon. In 1880 at the age of 20. Rice and Adelie B. Lowell were married and settled on a farm near Sharon. Mr. Rice and his family later moved to the south part of Iowa before moving to Emmet County.

In 1892 the family moved to Emmet county and settled on a farm four and one-half miles southeast of Estherville. Rice farmed there until 1913 when he moved into town and worked as a rural mail carrier. Mr. Rice carried the Superior rural route using a horse and buggy in the days before the model T and model A became standard post office equipment. In 1922 he retired and has lived here in Estherville with his daughter since.

Even while in retirement Mr. Rice took an active part in taking care of his garden. He also raised bees and rabbits and spent a good deal of time working in the outdoors.

Mr. Rice was preceded in death by his wife who died in 1942; a son, Irvin E., who died in 1951; and a daughter, Ruth, who died in infancy. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Myrtle Duncan and Mrs. Grace Wonderlich of Richland, 12 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Sternborg's Funeral Home Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery.

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: Estherville Daily News, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa, December 27, 1952.