In choosing the subject of our post today I went to my photographs taken in Richmond Cemetery, Madison County, Kentucky. The Rice gravestones are the first on my camera roll.

James Clark Rice, born August 5, 1839, was the son of Clark Rice and Charlotte Brooks of Clark County. Clark and Charlotte married April 19, 1832 in that county.

‘This is to certify that I joined together in the holy state of matrimony Mr. Clark Rice and Miss Charlotte Brooks on the 19th day of April 1832. Wilson Stivers

In the 1850 Clark County Census we find Clark and Charlotte Rice, both aged 45, with eight children – Margaret J., 17; Nancy, 15; Mary A., 14; James C., 12; Narcissa, 8; Gelina, 7; John W., 5; and Telford, 3.

Also in the 1850 Census for Clark County we find George Walton Bush and Elizabeth Crankfield and their family. George was 51; Elizabeth, 31, and born in South Carolina; and four daughters – Lucy A., 6; Mary E., 4; Frances L., 3; and Sarah E., 1.

On December 11 of 1860, James Clark Rice and Lucy Ann Bush married.

‘December 11, 1860, James Clark Rice and Miss Lucy A. H. Bush were married by Rev. William Rupard, minister of the Baptist Church, at the residence of George Bush, the father of the bride. James Duckworth and Columbus Garrett witnessed the marriage.’

In 1870 the family lived in Clark County, but by the 1880 census they had moved to Madison County. James was 41, Lucy, 36. Nine children were living at this time – Littleton, 17; Samuel V., 13; James C., 12; Julia, 9; Kitty, 7; John, 5; Bush, 4; and baby Sallie, 6 months. One other child was born to this couple – Cornelia Rice, in December 1880.

Three years after Cornelia’s birth, Lucy Bush Rice died October 24, 1883, at the age of 39. What a young age! I found no obituary for her.

Two years later after his mother’s death, almost to the day, eldest son Littleton Crankfield Rice died. He had been married a few days shy of one year to Nora Isabelle Robertson. Even though she remarried, she is buried next to Littleton.

Interior Journal, Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky

Friday, October 30, 1885

L. C. Rice, a prominent young merchant of this place, who has been battling for 19 days with malarial fever, breathed his last Tuesday evening at 5:45. He was rational to the last and didn’t fear death in the least. His remains were taken to Cynthiana, the home of his wife, and interred. His wife and little infant are left to mourn his loss. they have the sympathy of the entire community. The people here did all in their power to help him during his sickness. His wife and little one, though separated from him in this world, have the consolation to know that he died with the hope of a far better one, where there will be no sorrowing. The business men all showed their respect and closed their houses, our little town had a sad appearance. Mrs. Rice, being quite sick herself and having her husband taken from her so soon, being married but little more than a year, bore her troubles with a christian heart, knowing all is well with those that love the Lord.

A few discrepancies in the notice, particularly that Littleton was not buried in Cynthiana, Harrison County, but in Richmond Cemetery beside his mother. The couple did marry in Harrison County as per the following marriage record:

Ten days before Littleton’s death the following notice also appeared in the Interior Journal:

Mr. J. R. Wearen, our depot agent, is quite sick with the fever. Mr. Littleton Rice and his brother George are both in bed with the same disease.

So the three men mentioned all had malarial fever. Where did they get such a disease? Usually it is found in areas of tropical climates – and is caused by mosquito bites. We know that Littleton died, and brother George survived. This is a mystery.

James Clark Rice also died at a young age – 56 years. His death was from typhoid fever.

The Richmond Climax, Madison County, Kentucky

Wednesday, August 21, 1895

Died of Fever

James Clark Rice died of typhoid fever, Sunday night, probably 57 years. buried in Richmond Cemetery Tuesday. He was a native of Clark County, named for Gov. James Clark. Bought the Dr. C. C. Smith residence, near Waco, ten or fifteen years ago, and lived there at the time of his death. He was usually known as Judge Rice.

Three other family members are buried in Richmond Cemetery

The Courier Journal, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Monday, August 21, 1905

Dr. George Rice Dead

Monticello, Ky., Aug. 20 – [Special] – Dr. George Rice, a prominent physician, died at his home, Powersburg, this county, today of tuberculosis.

The Courier Journal, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky

Tuesday, March 1, 1921

John T. Rice

Winchester, Ky., Feb. 28 – Word has been received here of the death of John T. Rice at his home in Richmond, due to typhoid fever. He was married twice. His first wife, who died fifteen years ago, was Miss Betty Smith Tipton of this county.

Mr. Rice is survived by his second wife, who was formerly Miss Mary Todd, Madison County.

He was a nephew of Mrs. Frankie Brookshire, this county.

Again, another fever! Are some families more susceptible to certain ailments? It just seems strange that we’ve talked about three family members dying from fever.

Samuel Rice Died At St. Joseph Hospital

End Came to a Prominent Carroll County Farmer Saturday Night; Body to be Buried Here

Samuel Rice, a prominent Carroll County farmer, died at a hospital in St. Joseph, Mo., Friday night, a belated message received here by the family announced Saturday morning. Harry Rice, a son, in company with the undertaker, B. W.

Moler, left for St. Joseph Saturday afternoon to take charge of the body.  They expect to reach here sometime Sunday.  Funeral arrangements have not as yet been made and will depend on information from relatives residing at a distance.

Samuel V. Rice, the son of James and Lucy Rice, was born in Estill County, Kentucky, September 23, 1863.  He was the second of a family of nine children.  When a small lad, he moved with his parents to Madison County, Ky, where he attended the schools and grew up on a farm.  When 18 years of age Mr. Rice was ambitious to break into the great game of life on his own responsibilities and left Kentucky.  Carroll County and its fertile soils appealed to this young farmer, and he located on a tract of land near Norborne.  He devoted his time and energy in a manner that later terminated in success.

In the year 1902 Mr. rice and family moved to Carrollton.  Soon after locating in the city, he entered the grain business and followed this occupation for a number of months.  Later he entered the butcher business with Joe Hartung and was busily engaged in operating a meat market for a number of years, both as a partner of Mr. Hartung and under his own management.  Mr. Hartung, as will be recalled passed away a short time ago in California and his body laid to rest in Carrollton and his disposing of his interest in the meat market.  Mr. Rice retired from active work and has since been comfortably located on South Main Street, until a few weeks ago when he entered the hospital for treatment.

February 23, 1888, Saumuel Rice was married to Emma Haines, daughter of Jesse and Mary S. Haines, who at the time resided near Palemon.  To this union four children were born:  Charles, of Los Angeles; Harry and Ralph, of this county; a small daughter, Frances, died in infancy.  Aside from the widow and three children, Mr. Rice is also survived by two grandchildren; two brothers; three brothers preceded him in death.  He is also survived by three sisters, as well as many other relatives and friends.

Mr. Rice was at one time a member of the K. of P. Lodge.  Although he had never openly made his confession of being a member of a church, he liberally donated to the church cause.  Frequently he made theses donations as freely as others who were closer related with that work.  He was regarded as being one of the leading farmers of the county during his life and largely through his judgment and perseverance he reaped a competency few men attain.  He was s elf made man and he was widely known for his faithfulness to his family, to his neighbors and to his friends.  Sam Rice was an open, free hearted man and to his family the public will extend sympathy in losing one of their faithful members, companion and father.

Funeral Services – The body of the late Sam Rice arrived from St. Joseph, Sunday morning and was taken to the home on South Main Street.  Funeral services were held from the home at 3:00 o’clock, conducted by Rev. C. A. Bowles.  Interment was made in Oak Hill Cemetery.

I do not know which newspaper printed the obituary, I took it from Find A Grave. Samuel Vaughn Rice died June 5, 1925, in St. Joseph, Missouri. He lived and was buried in Carroll County, Missouri. The two unnamed brothers who survived him were Clark Waltham Rice and Bush Wayne Rice. The three sisters that survived him were Julia Ellen Rice Field, Catherine Susan Rice and Cornelia Delpha Rice Tribble.

Lexington Leader, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky

Thursday, March 10, 1938

Miss Rice Dies

Miss Catherine Rice, 65, was found dead in a chair in her room at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Park on Lancaster Avenue, about 7 o’clock this morning. Death was attributed to natural causes as Miss Rice had been in ill health for years.

She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Julia Park, of Richmond, and Mrs. Tom Tribble, of Waco; a brother, Clark Rice of Moberly, and several nieces and nephews. She was a native of Madison County and a member of the Speedwell Christian Church.

Arrangements for funeral services were postponed, pending the arrival of Miss Rice’s sister, Mrs. Park, who was in Chicago on a visit when the death occurred.

In 1938, after the death of Catherine, only three children of James Clark Rice and Lucy Ann Bush are living. I found nothing else about Baby Sallie, mentioned as being six months in the 1880 census. She must have died young.

Bush Wayne Rice, born in 1876, died in 1934. He is buried in Berea Cemetery in Madison County. I found no obituary.

The Lexington-Herald Leader of Fayette County, June 3, 1958, lists Mrs. Julia Rice Park, 88, who died at 3 a.m. at a local nursing home.

Two children were left, both dying in 1962. Clark Waltham Rice died July 19, 1962.

The Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky

Thursday, July 19, 1962

Clark W. Rice

Richmond – Clark W. Rice, 94, died at the home of a daughter, Mrs. James W. McKinney, Moberly, at 7:30 a.m. today after a long illness. He was a retired farmer and landowner and was a member of the Waco Masonic Lodge No. 338, F&AM for 62 years and Richmond Chapter, RAM, No. 16.

Other survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Maynard Johnson, Frederick MD, and Mrs. Elmore Powers, Erlanger; a son, Chester C. Rice, Oak Park, IL; a sister, Mrs. T. J. Tribble, Waco, and six grandchildren.

The body is at the Turpin Funeral Home.

Two months later the last family member to pass away is the youngest daughter, Cornelia Delpha Rice who married Thomas Jefferson Tribble.

The Lexington Herald-Leader, Fayette County, Kentucky

Tuesday, August 21, 1962

Mrs. T. J. Tribble

Richmond, Ky., Aug. 20 (Special) – Mrs. Cornelia Rice Tribble, 81, wife of T. J. Tribble, Waco, died at the Gibson Hospital Sunday after a short illness. She was a member of the College Hill Methodist Church.

Other survivors are five daughters, Mrs. Vivian Neely and Mrs. Edna McDonald, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Mrs. Julia Gibbs, Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. C. T. Price, Georgetown, and Mrs. Dorcie Brandenburg, Richmond; three sons, T. D. Tribble and Curtis Park Tribble, Los Angeles, Calif., and J. W. Tribble, Ft. Lauderdale; 16 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Turpin Funeral Home by Dr. Kenneth Harper. Burial will be in College Hill Cemetery. The body is at the Turpin Funeral Home.

Thus ends our story of the Rice-Bush family. Although, it doesn’t end here. Those children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original ten children of James Clark Rice and Lucy Ann Bush have multiplied and added more family members through the years. That’s the most endearing part of living a life and passing on – there will be those who come after you, remember you and pass those remembrances on through the years to others down the line.