The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-05-17
DR.. LANCE PAYS
GRACEFUL TRIBUTE
To the Late James Franklin Rice,
Whose Funeral Obsequies
Were Held at Sc. Paul's M. T..
Church ON 9th Inst.


Funeral services where held at'St.
Pau's ME. Church on Thursday, May
9, and the following memoir to the de-
parted was read by DR.. w. w. Lance:
lanes Franklin Rice was born in Stark
county, Ohio, August H. 1912. While
vet quite Young he moved with his par
ents 10 Richland county, Ohio, where he
lived till the year 1878, when he was SO
years of age. He then removed with
his family to Mercer county, Ohio, on a
farm he purchased in Hopewell town
ship; and here he continued TO live until
the time of his transfer to the home of
the blest above.
On October rs, 1868, when 20 years Of
age, he was joined in marriage to Miss
Priscilla Peterman. To this union were
born two children-Mrs. Mary Riece,
who, having been left a widow by death,
has dwelt under the home roof, COM
fort and help to her parents as the in
irmities of multiplied years came upon
them. The other child is Attorney Clar-
ence Rice, a member OF the Mercer
county bar, and mayor OF the village
of Celina. Mr.. Rice also leaves behind
him one brother and three sisters.
When 20 years of age he was happily
converted to God, and united with the
U. B. church. But on moving to Mercer
county he became member of the Evan
gelical church, in Hopewell township.
There he continued an active member
until about 20 years ago, when he trans
ferred his membership to the st. Paul's
Methodist Episcopal church in Celina.
OF this church he remained faithful
member till transferred to the Church
Triumphant above.
Mr.. Rice loved the house of God. He
enioyed the services of the sanctuary,
and one of his greatest deprivations was
his inability to attend many times when
his heart yearned to be there. He would
allow neither weather nor darkness to
keep from attending revival meeting
if it was at all possible for him to get
there. While never very demonstrative,
vet he had a heart easily touched, and
he kept it tender by constant intercourse
with the spirit of the Merciful Christ.
The earlier years of his life were most
ly spent at the carpenter trade. He was
recognized as a high-class workman,
and was mostly engaged in the finishing
workmanship of adding grace and beau
ty to buildings on which he was en-
ployed. But the later years, after hav-
ing purchased his farm, were given al
most exclusive to agriculture; and as
such became recognized as one of the
farmers of Mercer county,
and at the same time one of its most
highly respected and useful.
A few years ago he was the victim of a
slight paralytic stroke, but from that he
speedily recovered. Sometime after that
he was visited with a second, but from
that he recovered sufficiently to look
after his affairs and attend the services
of the church. But about FIVE weeks ago
he was attacked third time while in
town attending to some matters OF busi-
ness. He was taken to the home of his
son Clarence, where he remained till he
was so far recovered as to be taken to his
home. Once there, we hoped for his re-
covery again, but it was not so to be.
After making brave fight for life his
spirit plumed itself for its fight to the
better world, and few minutes after 4
o'clock Wednesday morning, May 8, 1918, |
it sped away to be with God after having
so?ourned in the body for rs years, s
months and 21 days.
A good man has gone. Beloved and
by all who knew him, his
memory will remain long in the COM
nunity of which for forty years he has
been highly respected citizen.
He leaves behind the widow with
whom for almost so years he has walked
Il the fellowship of bliss and Christian
life. And the son and daughter, having
oeen reared under the benign influence
If Christian parentage, are we'll prepar-
ID to care for the widowed mother. He
llso leaves a beloved grandson, the child
If Clarence and Mrs. Rice.
Besides his brother and sisters, he
caves many to mourn his departure and
with the bereaved. The