The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-04
JAMES HENRY RICE, SIR.
Distinguished Citizen, Valiant Sol
dier, Able Lawyer Beloved Man,
Active in Behalf OF Educational
Interests o fthc State, James Henry
Rice Lived Long and CsefuIly.

his residence here this morning at
3:O5. The funeral was held this af-
ternoon at the Presbyterian church,
oc which he was a ruling elder for
over thirty years.
James Henry Rice was born in
Charleston, August s, 1888, the son
| Of Margaret Ann and Ezekiel Rice.
! His father, native Of Clonmel, Coun-
ty Tipperary, Ireland, died within ten
months after James II. was born, and
is buried in the yard Of the First
Baptist Church in Charleston.
His mother was a daughter Of
! Henry TODD BUrch and his wife,
Sarah, who was born in Cheraw, a
sister of Mr.. Edward Carew, who died
in Charleston in 1850, a man of great
wealth and influence. His son was
! Col. John Edward Carew, editor Of
the Mercury, and for many years
| sheriff Of Charleston County.
Left widow during the infancy Of
her only son his mother began teach
| ing school in Sumter, and in ten years
had amassed enough money to edu-
cate him. He was sent to Mount Zion
Institute, then famous under Hut
son, and later to Furman University,
where he took his degree, afterward
taking law at Harvard. His plan of
rounding off with degree from Christ
| Church College, Oxford, at which
many of his ancestors were Inatri-
culated, was defeated by the outbreak
Of war. He returned home, enlisted
in Gardens Battery, Kershaws' brig
ade, in which he servd gallantly
throughout the war until within about
q month Of AppomattoX, when his
| friends sought and obtained a fur
| Tough in order to save his life.
After the war he married Anna Boil
ling Lawton, daughter Of William
| Henry Lawton, one of the largest
planters in the up-country. His place
on Saluda River in Abbeville district,
| known as "Riverlands," was long ia
nous for the hospitality dispensed
there.
Mr.. Rice taught school for several
years, but his health failing he began
| planting with great success, and was
| accommodating wealth rapidly. The
| call Of the law, his chosen profession
| became too strong, however, and in
1877 he moved to Ninety-Six and re-
| sumed a practice discontinued since
| he was in Greenville before the war.
In 1S7S-79 he was sent to the Gen.
votes behind his lifelong friend, Gen.
Samuel MCGOWAN. In the General
Assembly he distinguished himself by
| passing a comprehensive stock law,
a needed fish law, now known as Sec
ton SIT, of the Criminal Code. He
| was a leading member Of the body.
Declining to stand for reelection,
| he practiced law with Milledge l..
Bonham, the firm securing one OF the
most lucrative practices in the inter-
ior Of the State.
In 1886 he was elected State Super
intendent Of Education, and his law
| partner, Mr.. Bonham, was elected Ad-
jutant Inspector General, thus break
ing up the firm.
Common schools were at that time
| bitterly fought in South Carolina and
intensely unpopular. The State pro-
vided no travelling expenses for the
Superintendent, but he took the field
paid his own expenses and won the
| day. There has been no question
since in South Carolina as to the main
tenance of public schools. His series
Of short reports, couched in chaste
| and powerful language, secured recog-
milton from the French institute, and
he was voted a diploma and heavy
bronze medal for his work for educa-
tion in South Carolina, q most notable
recognition from a country that leads
European thought.
He was urged to run for Governor
by the Reform element in 1889, but he
| practical certainty Of election, but he
declined, and ran on his record for
the office he held, being defeated by
only fifteen votes, despite the par
tisan rancor Of those days.
Since his retirement from public
life he has lived quietly at his home
In Ninety-SiX. He spent many Of the
best years Of his life in Sunday school
| work, being superintendent until ad-
Vancing age compelled him to de-
sist.
Few men enjoyed to greater en-
o. III. Ill . 1