Mrs. Mary Wilson Rice, 1803-1897

RICE, SHUMAN, UPTON, WELCH, WILSON

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 5/13/2008 at 07:39:54

OBITUARY OF MRS. MARY RICE
Mrs. Mary Wilson Rice was born Feb. 1st, 1803 in Pennsylvania, where she lived and was married to George Rice, Feb. 7th, 1821.

In the spring of 1839 they removed with their family to Henry county, Ia., settling on a farm three miles west of Mt. Pleasant, and where she lived until about 1876. She then sold the farm and built a house close to her daughter's, Phebe Welch.

Mrs. Rice was here in an early day, and has withstood many a hardship and privation of a pioneer's life in a new country. Iowa at that time was only a territory, and but thinly settled and people did not know every comfort, as many do now.

Mr. Rice was one of the many who crossed the plains in 1849 returning in 1850, and in 1851 Mr. Rice and a daughter, Sarah, fell victims to the dread disease, cholera, and died suddenly, leaving wife and six children, three sons and three daughters to battle life alone. She was the mother of twelve children, five dying in infancy. Since the father's death the three sons crossed to California. Two sons have since died, Nathan and William.

She leaves three daughters to mourn the loss of a mother, Mrs. Phebe Welch living near Mt. Pleasant, Mrs. Jane Upton of Ft. Madison, and Mrs. Elizabeth Shuman of Corning, Iowa. Mrs. Rice was a kind and generous hearted woman always administering to the wants of the sick and needy. She was ever ready to help those in want.

For the past twelve years she has lived part of the time with Mrs. Welch and part with Mrs. Shuman in Corning, where her death occurred, Feb., 11th, '97, at 7:30 p.m. at the advanced age of ninety-four years and ten days, after an illness of three weeks, or rather a rapid declining of old age.

She fell asleep in Jesus, and passed from this life to the life beyond.

Mother! Thy work on earth is done, The battle fought, the victory won. Lay down the cross and wear the crown. M.B.

"Mt. Pleasant Daily News", Wednesday, 24 February 1897, Page 4