Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-06-08
Communicated.
June 9Th, 1899.

communicated.
June 9Th, 1899.
To the Mo. VALLEY TIMES:
Having taken a run up the Jlli-
nois Central road and meeting
many old friends, have conclud-
ed that o short description of at
least ono beautiful home place is
worthy of special notice.
/ stopped off ct Smithland for a
short visit at the residence of Mrs
r G Rice, wife of the late DR. r q
Rice. Her home is situated in
the south part of that little city
on an elevation surrounded by ma
tive and cultivated timber, and is
reached by walks from the street
paved with brick. The residence
is large twu-storv building,
nicely painted white, and contains
parlors, sitting and dining rooms,
closets, bathrooms aud all the
modern improvements, furnished
handsomely and is one Of the
most pleasant homes in the west.
The grounds contain 20 acres in
all, surrounded hy a high wire
fence; five acres Oh the south is
beautiful park, containing deer,
squirrels aud birds, and a nice
artificial lake is contemplated in
the near future. From the dwell
ing tunnel has been constructed,
large and convenient, reaching
from the cellar to the barn in the
park, and in this tunnel is a rail-
road track for transporting feed
and other articles in case of storm.
Twenty acres is a native park slop-
ingfrom the house to a considerable
heighth, from which fine view is
presented of the surrounding
country. Five acres are devoted
to shrubs, plants, fruits and
flowers, thus making this 90 acres
!. gerry Paradise.
M ,,-. ernm the house run
to the main street Of the town,
and around the entire place is
beautiful drive. From the front
porch of the building very fine
view is presented-looking to the
north the side hills and bottom
land is in cultivation, dotted here
and there with both native and
artificial groves. Some two miles
north is the Rice farm and nearer
to the home is the fruit farm, from
which q fine crop last year was
harvested of small fruit, apples
and grapes. Looking east from
the residence for miles and miles
is a beautiful sight to behold
farms. farm houses, and groves in
every direction, the land being
level and can be seen as far as the
eye can reach. Moses, when he
stood on Pisgah's peak and viewed
the promised land from afar,
never saw a more lovely landscape
or a finer country than that to be
seen from the home place of Mrs
r @ Rice, of Smithland.
The home is surrounded with
a hedge of thorn about two feet
high, nicely trimmed and as level
on top as a table. Next to this
comes the evergreens, with here
and there rose bush or flower,
and all together making a very
beautiful grove and adding to the
sccane Of attraction. While stand
ing on the front porch and casting
the eye north and east, and then
on the grounds near the dwelling,
one could but think of Adams
home in Paradise from which he
was driven for merely eating the
forbidden fruit.
This home and surroundings is
one of the most beautiful spots in
all lowe, and attracts the traveller
who passes through Smithland for
its matchless grandeur.
The late DR. r @ Rice, who died
at his home, now rests on the
slope of the hill ascending west of
the residence, and his grave is
surrounded by hedge of cedars
and is visited by many. The
grounds are open to all visitors,
and many having q short time to
rest in the city never fail to make
q journey up and through the
grounds. ID. M. 81.