The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-10
A CENTURY OF LIFE.
Rachael Rice of Norway, Maine, Has Pas
sed the Charmed Limit.

May 9TH Rachel Rich, who was born
in what is now Norway. Me-, celebrated
her hundredth birthday. Many of her
friends and kiusmen assembled at her
home in the town of her birth to paw
her honor. These one hundred years are
still fresh in her memory, and it is ever
pleasant to her to recall the scenes and
inspiration of her youth. Her grand
father was Seth Rice, of North borough,
Mass, and he served faithfully in he
french and Indian wars. Instead of
money he was paid IN land, lot being
decided to him and his heirs in the town
ship of Waterford, then but an unbroken
forest, known only to Indians The
provision was made that it should he
taken up in six years or revert to the
government. His son Eber Rice, came
on foot in 1885 through the wilderness
to the place where he afterward became
man of great influence. He was hope
full. energetic and Industrious. He briIt
log house near the place where the old
house now stands and went back to
North boro for his wife, who came, bring
ing their infant daughter Betsey, their
only child. in her arms. His wife was
Resbecca Gamewell of Worcester, Mass,
and she was earnest in her struggle for
life-heroic, accomplishing and faith
full. These were Rachel's parents This
family was the seventh family in town
and the nearest neighbor was two miles
away. The only road in Norway at
RachePs birth was known as the
"Scoggin Trail" Mr.. Rice when Rachel
was three years old, built the large two
storied house which the family has oc-
cupied continuously and where Rachel
met her friends on the one hundredth
anniversary of her birth.
She distinctly remem bers her father
taking her by the hand and leading
her into the new, home. Eber Rice was
the first school master in town and
was for years a representative in the
legislature of Massachusetts before the
admission of Maine as State. This di-
vision he most strenuously opposed. He
was called Squire Rice" and was the
only lawyer in town.
School books were rare and costly in
Racheps young days, and the only
arithmetic she ever studied was written
in her fathers handwriting, which book
she still retains.
OuC lOOA6 UdCk WILL Happy UuOuR0LS
to her school days and speaks of her
schoolmates as if IL were but yesterday,
she. knew them. She was remarkably
we'll educated for those days. Her teach
ers were her father, whose salary for
teaching school in 1877 was S11.25, and
she speaks affectionately of master Lin
coin" and Mistress Saunders"
The schoolhouse was built of logs, and
though mile from her home.
she often ran the whole distance
to be in time for the opening session.
Later she studied and recited to Mr..
Douglass, for SO many years the pastor
of the Congregational church in the
village. Then she became a successful
teacher herself and taught for many
years in her native town, never receiv-
Ing more than one dollar a week.
The first church in town was built in
the year 1900. and she recalls wildly her
impressions of the dedication services.
She was her fathers helper and compan-
ion for years, and she speaks of her years
Of loving fidelity. After the marriage
of her sister Betsey and of Samuel and
Eber, her two brothers, she lived alone
with her youngest sister, Sophia, who
with her had watched over the last years
of her father and mother.
These two lived unmarried, and they
kept a horse, cows and sheep and hens.
Then, in 1882. Sophia died, and Rachel
was left alone in the old house. She
has made pets of all animals, and towards
them she shows the gentleness andEaffec-
ton Of her nature.
She lives alone, but is cared for by the
family of nephew who lives here. She
can read, write and sew without glasses,
and her hearing is perfect. She has
walked two miles to church within a
year, and within three years considered
it no hardship to walk miles. She is
kind and affectionaJe to all children
finding great pleasure in their society.
She clasps earnestly the hands of all
she meets, and when she finds an old
friend she never fails to say "God bless
you'll"