Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-04-09
Mrs. Albert Smith Rice
Rockland Courier Gazette)


A telegram received in this city Tues
day announced the death that day in
DeLand, Florida. of. Mrs. Frances W.
Rice, aged So, wife of the late Albert
Smith Rice of Rockiand. The funertl
will be held Sunday aftcrroo.. at .
o'clock at the old family home, u Mid
die street, Rev. W S. Rounds Of The
Congrega tional church officiating.
Mrs. Rice was born in Hallowell, Sept.
10, 1886, daughter of Judge Henry Knox
and Sarah Nord) Baker. of famous
family of Kennebec county. There were
II children, of whom Mrs. Rice was
oldest and four Of whom survive-Mrs.
Ellen B. Buck of Atlanta, Mrs. Anna
Ham of San Diego. Cal. Sanford Baker
of Georgia and Mrs. E. c. Dudley of
August. One of the girls Of the family
was Martha Baker Dunn. the eminent
Maine writer. The marriage to Mr..
Rice, promising young ladyer. son of
Judge Richard D. Rice of tho supreme
court, took place on May 80. 1861. and
after a short residence in the town Of
Union they came to this city. living
first on Park street, later In the KIM
ball brick house (now torn DOWN on the
present Tillson estate. and removing
thence to the Middle street residence
which ever since has been the family
home. Mr.. Rice died in 1899.
There were six children born to Mr..
and Mrs. Rice, two (Margaret and
Thomas) dying in infancy, the others
being Richard H. Rice, general man
ager Of the Lynn General Electric Co.;
Lieut. Col. Mervyn Ap Rice of Mont
clair. n. j.; Annie Frances, married to
Lieut.. Comdr. Carton F. Snow, U. s. N,
residence in Rockland, and Ellen Adela,
married to Henry W. Dunn. Boston
attorney.
Mrs. Rice delighted in travel and had
made extended trips abroad in many
countries. On one of the journeys she
was guest at the embassy In Japan,
when her brother in law, Col. Buck Of
Georgia, was the U. S. ambassador to
that country. She was In Venice few
years ago and close by that historic
structure. the Campanile, when it fell.
Her recent years had been spent largely
among the homes Of her children, 60
Ai6 "ASCio W y ioliId, WHITE IL WdS
that death from bronchial pneumonia
occurred after an illness Of only five
days. With her previous to the illness
was her daughter. Mrs. Dunn. and hus-
band and her brother-in-law, r. wes-
ley Dunn Of Waterville, and the sons
Richard and Mervyn arrived before the
end came. These are accompanying the
remains to Rockland for burial.
Mrs Rice was woman Of high in
tel'ectual attainments and great
strength Of character Early uniting
with the Congregational church here,
her life was addressed to things that
made for the betterment of the COM
muntty. and for many years she was a
prominent figure in the social and
church life Of the city. Loyalty in her
friendships was among her chief char
acterlstics. Her beneicences were too
many to reckon, indeed they could not
re recorded. for much Of her goodness
was SO secretly done that even the re-
cipient could not be altogether certain
Of the source Of it. The later years Of
Mrs. Rice.s life found her only occa-
~ionally returned to the friends and
scenes Of earlier days but this was the
SHOT she cared most for and 1t was the
friends of those days. in the steadily
narrowing circles. that she held in close
and enduring affection.