This ebook covers the Rice Family's of Washington County, Maine who resided in the towns of Centerville, Marshfield, Northfield, Machias and Machiasport Maine.
THE RICE FAMILY GENEALOGY
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Benjamin Rice
Benjamin Rice was married to Jane Larrabee. they had two children;
Judah Rice who married Susan Foster.
Freeman Rice who married Sarah Foster.
Alice V. shows up on only one official record, a census record of Benjamin and Susan Rice.
BENJAMIN RICE
parents unknown
born[ some records state Canada, others state Maine
(family members believe the Rice's came to Maine from N.S. Canada and lived on or near Indian land there.)
died; Centerville, Maine
Father; unknown
Mother; unknown
WIFE
Jane Larrabee
born; 1811 at Machiasport, Maine
married; 1840
died; Feb. 26, 1882 at Centerville, Maine
(her death listed in old newspaper clipping)
father; Joseph Larrabee - born Oct. 31 1756 at Machias, Maine
died; 1850 at Machiasport, Maine
mother; Rebecca (Libby) Larrabee
born; 1781 at Harrington, Maine
died; 1816 at Machiasport, Maine
Judah Rice who married Susan Foster.
Freeman Rice who married Sarah Foster.
Alice V. shows up on only one official record, a census record of Benjamin and Susan Rice.
BENJAMIN RICE
parents unknown
born[ some records state Canada, others state Maine
(family members believe the Rice's came to Maine from N.S. Canada and lived on or near Indian land there.)
died; Centerville, Maine
Father; unknown
Mother; unknown
WIFE
Jane Larrabee
born; 1811 at Machiasport, Maine
married; 1840
died; Feb. 26, 1882 at Centerville, Maine
(her death listed in old newspaper clipping)
father; Joseph Larrabee - born Oct. 31 1756 at Machias, Maine
died; 1850 at Machiasport, Maine
mother; Rebecca (Libby) Larrabee
born; 1781 at Harrington, Maine
died; 1816 at Machiasport, Maine
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Judah Rice
Judah Rice
born; 18 JAN 1843 - Machiasport, Maine
died; 30 March 1922 - Northfield Cemetery
married on 18 JAN 1868 - Machiasport, Maine
His Father; Benjamin Rice
His Mother; Jane Larrabee
His Wife;
Susan E. Foster
born; 30 NOV 1849 - Machiasport, Maine
died; 27 nov 1912 - Northfield Cem, Northfield, Maine
Her Father; Horace Foster
Her Mother; Nancy Libby
THEIR CHILDREN;
Thurman C. Rice -
born 7 MARCH 1889 Machiasport, Maine
died 1 Jan 1957
married on 3 JULY 1913
his wife;
Mabel H. Hatt
born; 18 NOV 1895 - Wesley, Maine
died; 7 MAY 1922 - Northfield, Maine
(Their child - Thurman Cleveland Rice Jr, married Grace Lydia Burke. Thurman Jr was born in Marshfield, Maine on 10/29/1918 and died on 2/5/2000 at Fulton, New York. Grace was born on 10/23/1920 at Plantation 14, Maine and died on 1/27/2003 at Ct.
They had several children, including Clyde E. Rice, born Calais, Maine and died on 2/21/2018 at Suffield, Connecticut.
Virgil Wilder Rice
born; 10 SEPT 1886
died; 9 APRIL 1965
1st wife
Margaret Belle Ingersoil
2nd wife;
Vesta Beulah Dill
born; 19 Oct 1896 - Richmond, Maine
died; 5 Dec 1987 - Machias, Maine
(she later married Ralph Day)
her father; Charles E. Dill
her mother; Achsia B. Babcock (Peacock)
(NOTE: Virgil Wilder Rice was first married Margaret Ingersoil, who was still in school. The marriage was annulled, she later gave birth to Oral Church Rice - Virgil is named as the father, at the time of the baby's birth - 10/19/1912, Margaret was dating Thomas Scott Bowden. Her and Thomas had two children before they were married, on license their two kids are listed as is Oral C. Rice. Virgil went on to marry Vesta Beulah Dill.)
Grover Cleveland Rice
born; 9 Feb 1892 centerville, Maine
died; 25 MAR 1893
Benjamin Harrison Rice
born; 9 Feb 1892 centerville, Maine
died; 18 AUG 1892
William W. Rice
born; 11 OCT 1863
died; 21 MAR 1892
(never married)
Merton "mertie" Rice
born; 22 APRIL 1871
died;
Clyde Garvey Rice
born; 21 NOV 1883
died; 30 MAY 1962 - Northfield, Maine
married on 30 SEPT 1906 - Machias, Maine
his wife;
Etta May Burns
born; 27 JULY 1885
died; 1958 - Northfield, Maine
her father; Henry Burns
her mother; Charlotte Amanda Welch
Elmer Hilton Rice
born; 2 APRIL 1882 - Northfield, Maine
died; 1933 in a "Bug House" from mental illness (Susan Rice's notes)
married on 7 April 1904 - Wesley, Maine
his wife;
Fannie S. Archer
born;
died;
her father; Charles A. Archer
her mother; Corilla Leighton
Edwin A. "Ed" Rice
born; 24 OCT 1868 - Machiasport, Maine
died; 1911
married Amy on 4 March 1911 at Grantham, , New Hampshire
1st marriage;
Ada Bertha Wright
Ada'a marriages included;
berthas other marr
Frank W Savage
Lee Franklin Underhill
Henry Edward Pecoy
Alonzo Frank Thompson
Wiliam E Rich
Charles H. Sargent
4 of her husbands were from New Hampshire
her father; Lorenzo D Wright
her mother; Emma L Crocker
2nd Marriage
Amy Slack
born;
died; 2 Feb 1946 NH
her father; Henry F. Slack
her mother; Laura White
Amy's 1st husband -
Elmer Glenn Kidder
married Amy in 21 August 1892 at Enfield, , New Hampshire
Father; Alfred R. Kidder
Mother; Mary E. Foster (daughter of Thomas Foster)
Clara Rice
born; 20 JUNE 1870
died;
Annie B. Rice
born; 10 JAN 1875
died;
Husband 1;
Wellington E. Caler
born; 20 April 1865 Centerville, Maine
died; 10 May 1905 Centerville, Maine
married; 28 Aug. 1892 Columbia Falls, Maine
his father; Charles W. Caler
his mother; Christina Christie C. Snow
Husband 2;
Maleolm W. Clark
born; 2 Feb. 1880 Boston, Mass.
died; 7 Dec. 1960 Ellsworth, Maine
married; 31 Oct. 1904 Machias, Maine
his father; Samuel Clark
his mother; Almira ?
NOTE; Annie Rice died young and her child, Hazel, was raised by Susan and Judah Rice after her death. This information comes from notes in a book which belonged to Susan Rice, Bible Readings For The Home Circle. Thurman Rice gave the book to his mother as a gift, mailed to her from Vermont.
(NOTE; Sometimes while researching your family genealogy you run into surprising discoveries, such was the case in my research of Annie's daughter Mina, who married Darrell Clifton Roberts. I just now learned that she died in Fairfield, Maine at the old Fairfield Sanatorium, where she had been a patient for 5 months and 10 days suffering from tuberculcsis, she she had been battling for 18 months. Mina daughter Violet Roberts passed away in 2004. Years later, Clyde and Etta Rice's daughter, Grace Lois Rice Anthony, would apply for and get hired there, where she worked for many years. Grace purchased land within view of the Sanatorium and lived there in a two room log cabin, but to my knowledge I do not believe she ever knew Mina Rice had ever been a patient there. Violet Marie Roberts married Philip Ivan Chambers)
Ernest Owen Rice
born; 30 JAN 1880
died; 1 Jan 1900
Fairfield Maine Sanatorium
notes;
Judah Rice and his brother Freeman Rice each married daughters of Horace Foster and Nancy Libby of Machiasport, Maine. They purchased the Rice Farmstead in Northfield, Maine and the two families lived there sharing the taxes. At some point Judah came to own all of the Rice lands, including the 100 acres where the farmhouse stood, mainly blueberry fields, land across the roadway where a hunting cabin stood, land and another hunting cabin on Eastern Ridge, and a large section of land near where the one room schoolhouse once stood in Northfield, Maine.
Clyde Garvey Rice - Judah's son, ended up with all of the Rice property but years later when Etta May Burns came down sick from cancer and had to have operations, Clyde had to begin selling off sections of land, including all of the land by the one room schoolhouse.
Clyde's brother Virgil Wilder Rice also owned land and a farmhouse by the one room schoolhouse where Virgil lived with his wife Vesta Beulah Dill. Vesta was listed in at least one town record as being the superintendent of Northfield schools. Virgil liked to tip the bottle and was said to be extremely jealous of Vesta, which led to many fights. Grace Lois Rice, who married Raymond L. Anthony of Canton, Ohio would walk the long distance from the rice farmstead to Vesta's nearly every day and considered her one of her closest friends.
Vesta would later marry Ralph Day. On at least one document Virgil and Vesta are both listed as being registered Maine guides.
I recall my Uncle Bernard Rice as saying Benjamin Rice came down to Maine from NS, Canada and that he lived on Indian land there. My grandmother, Grace Anthony also said Benjamin came down to Maine from Canada, but she thought he may of lived on land near or on Indian lands there. We have never been able to find out who Benjamin rice's parents were and if anyone has such information, please consider contacting me and sharing it with me, I would be very thankful.
The farmhouse burned to the ground some time after the last Rice lived there during a lightning storm. Only the barn remained and was later torn down by the new land owner.
My grandmother, Grace Lois (Rice) Anthony lived in this for many years raising her daughter there. The cabin was directly across the road from the Rice Farmstead. The new land owner torn the cabin down.
THE FLYNN FAMILY GENEALOGY VIDEO
born; 18 JAN 1843 - Machiasport, Maine
died; 30 March 1922 - Northfield Cemetery
married on 18 JAN 1868 - Machiasport, Maine
His Father; Benjamin Rice
His Mother; Jane Larrabee
His Wife;
Susan E. Foster
born; 30 NOV 1849 - Machiasport, Maine
died; 27 nov 1912 - Northfield Cem, Northfield, Maine
Her Father; Horace Foster
Her Mother; Nancy Libby
 |
| Judah Rice |
 |
| Susan E. Foster |
THEIR CHILDREN;
Thurman C. Rice -
born 7 MARCH 1889 Machiasport, Maine
died 1 Jan 1957
married on 3 JULY 1913
his wife;
Mabel H. Hatt
born; 18 NOV 1895 - Wesley, Maine
died; 7 MAY 1922 - Northfield, Maine
(Their child - Thurman Cleveland Rice Jr, married Grace Lydia Burke. Thurman Jr was born in Marshfield, Maine on 10/29/1918 and died on 2/5/2000 at Fulton, New York. Grace was born on 10/23/1920 at Plantation 14, Maine and died on 1/27/2003 at Ct.
They had several children, including Clyde E. Rice, born Calais, Maine and died on 2/21/2018 at Suffield, Connecticut.
 |
| Thurman C. Rice |
Virgil Wilder Rice
born; 10 SEPT 1886
died; 9 APRIL 1965
1st wife
Margaret Belle Ingersoil
2nd wife;
Vesta Beulah Dill
born; 19 Oct 1896 - Richmond, Maine
died; 5 Dec 1987 - Machias, Maine
(she later married Ralph Day)
her father; Charles E. Dill
her mother; Achsia B. Babcock (Peacock)
(NOTE: Virgil Wilder Rice was first married Margaret Ingersoil, who was still in school. The marriage was annulled, she later gave birth to Oral Church Rice - Virgil is named as the father, at the time of the baby's birth - 10/19/1912, Margaret was dating Thomas Scott Bowden. Her and Thomas had two children before they were married, on license their two kids are listed as is Oral C. Rice. Virgil went on to marry Vesta Beulah Dill.)
 |
| Right - Virgil Wilder Rice, Maine Guide |
 |
| Vesta Beulah Dill |
Grover Cleveland Rice
born; 9 Feb 1892 centerville, Maine
died; 25 MAR 1893
Benjamin Harrison Rice
born; 9 Feb 1892 centerville, Maine
died; 18 AUG 1892
William W. Rice
born; 11 OCT 1863
died; 21 MAR 1892
(never married)
Merton "mertie" Rice
born; 22 APRIL 1871
died;
Clyde Garvey Rice
born; 21 NOV 1883
died; 30 MAY 1962 - Northfield, Maine
married on 30 SEPT 1906 - Machias, Maine
his wife;
Etta May Burns
born; 27 JULY 1885
died; 1958 - Northfield, Maine
her father; Henry Burns
her mother; Charlotte Amanda Welch
 |
| Clyde Garvey Rice & Etta May Burns |
 |
| Charlotte Amanda Welch |
Elmer Hilton Rice
born; 2 APRIL 1882 - Northfield, Maine
died; 1933 in a "Bug House" from mental illness (Susan Rice's notes)
married on 7 April 1904 - Wesley, Maine
his wife;
Fannie S. Archer
born;
died;
her father; Charles A. Archer
her mother; Corilla Leighton
 |
| ELMER HILTON RICE - RICE GENEALOGY |
Edwin A. "Ed" Rice
born; 24 OCT 1868 - Machiasport, Maine
died; 1911
married Amy on 4 March 1911 at Grantham, , New Hampshire
1st marriage;
Ada Bertha Wright
Ada'a marriages included;
berthas other marr
Frank W Savage
Lee Franklin Underhill
Henry Edward Pecoy
Alonzo Frank Thompson
Wiliam E Rich
Charles H. Sargent
4 of her husbands were from New Hampshire
her father; Lorenzo D Wright
her mother; Emma L Crocker
2nd Marriage
Amy Slack
born;
died; 2 Feb 1946 NH
her father; Henry F. Slack
her mother; Laura White
Amy's 1st husband -
Elmer Glenn Kidder
married Amy in 21 August 1892 at Enfield, , New Hampshire
Father; Alfred R. Kidder
Mother; Mary E. Foster (daughter of Thomas Foster)
 |
| Edwin "Ed" Rice & Amy Slack |
 |
| Edwin "Ed" Rice |
Clara Rice
born; 20 JUNE 1870
died;
 |
| Clara Rice (seated) and mother Susan E. (Foster) Rice |
Annie B. Rice
born; 10 JAN 1875
died;
Husband 1;
Wellington E. Caler
born; 20 April 1865 Centerville, Maine
died; 10 May 1905 Centerville, Maine
married; 28 Aug. 1892 Columbia Falls, Maine
his father; Charles W. Caler
his mother; Christina Christie C. Snow
Husband 2;
Maleolm W. Clark
born; 2 Feb. 1880 Boston, Mass.
died; 7 Dec. 1960 Ellsworth, Maine
married; 31 Oct. 1904 Machias, Maine
his father; Samuel Clark
his mother; Almira ?
NOTE; Annie Rice died young and her child, Hazel, was raised by Susan and Judah Rice after her death. This information comes from notes in a book which belonged to Susan Rice, Bible Readings For The Home Circle. Thurman Rice gave the book to his mother as a gift, mailed to her from Vermont.
 |
| Annie B. Rice |
 |
| Annie's daughter - Mina Caler |
Ernest Owen Rice
born; 30 JAN 1880
died; 1 Jan 1900
 |
| Ernest Owen Rice |
Fairfield Maine Sanatorium
notes;
Judah Rice and his brother Freeman Rice each married daughters of Horace Foster and Nancy Libby of Machiasport, Maine. They purchased the Rice Farmstead in Northfield, Maine and the two families lived there sharing the taxes. At some point Judah came to own all of the Rice lands, including the 100 acres where the farmhouse stood, mainly blueberry fields, land across the roadway where a hunting cabin stood, land and another hunting cabin on Eastern Ridge, and a large section of land near where the one room schoolhouse once stood in Northfield, Maine.
 |
| photo I took of the Rice Farmstead as seen from upper blueberry fields, route 192, Northfield, Maine |
Clyde Garvey Rice - Judah's son, ended up with all of the Rice property but years later when Etta May Burns came down sick from cancer and had to have operations, Clyde had to begin selling off sections of land, including all of the land by the one room schoolhouse.
Clyde's brother Virgil Wilder Rice also owned land and a farmhouse by the one room schoolhouse where Virgil lived with his wife Vesta Beulah Dill. Vesta was listed in at least one town record as being the superintendent of Northfield schools. Virgil liked to tip the bottle and was said to be extremely jealous of Vesta, which led to many fights. Grace Lois Rice, who married Raymond L. Anthony of Canton, Ohio would walk the long distance from the rice farmstead to Vesta's nearly every day and considered her one of her closest friends.
Vesta would later marry Ralph Day. On at least one document Virgil and Vesta are both listed as being registered Maine guides.
I recall my Uncle Bernard Rice as saying Benjamin Rice came down to Maine from NS, Canada and that he lived on Indian land there. My grandmother, Grace Anthony also said Benjamin came down to Maine from Canada, but she thought he may of lived on land near or on Indian lands there. We have never been able to find out who Benjamin rice's parents were and if anyone has such information, please consider contacting me and sharing it with me, I would be very thankful.
 | |||
| Rice Farmstead as seen from route 192 |
 |
| Rice hunting cabin, route 192, Northfield, Maine |
My grandmother, Grace Lois (Rice) Anthony lived in this for many years raising her daughter there. The cabin was directly across the road from the Rice Farmstead. The new land owner torn the cabin down.
 |
| VIRGIL WILDER RICE - MAINE GUIDE RICE GENEALOGY |
 |
| THURMAN C. RICE JR OBITUARY RICE GENEALOGY |
 |
| Clyde Garvey Rice dog license |
THE FLYNN FAMILY GENEALOGY VIDEO
Clyde Garvey Rice
Clyde Garvey Rice
born; 21 NOV 1883 - Machiasport, Maine
died; 30 MAY 1962 - Northfield, Maine
married on 30 SEPT 1906 by By justice of peace Henry R. Taylor
Occupation - a Registered maine guide, trapper and farmer.
His father; Judah Rice
His mother; Susan Foster
He married
Etta May Burns
born; 27 JULY 1885 - North New Portland, Maine
died; 25 MAY 1958 - Northfield, Maine
Her Father; Henry Burns
Her Mother; Charlotte Amanda Welch
CHILDREN;
1. Bernard Francis Rice
born; 20 JUNE 1907 - Northfield, Maine
died; 31 Dec 1981 - Northfield, Maine
wife; (never married, had live-in girlfriend)
Cassie Adelaide "Young" Bagley
born; 20 April 1900
died; 22 Nov 1968
Her Father; Amos Westbrook Young
Her Mother; Minnie Almira Dunbar
(Cassie was married to Asa J. Bagley)
2. Grace Lois Rice
born; 19 JAN 1909 - Northfield, Maine
died; 4 NOV 1986 - Fairfield, Maine
married at West Va. in 1934
Husband
Raymond L. Anthony
born; 17 Dec 1896 - Canton, Ohio
died; 23 July 1969 - Canton, Ohio
His Father; George L. Anthony
His Mother; Flora J. Kapp
child 1; (still living)
child 2; (still living)
Notes; Clyde and Etta lived at the Rice farmstead along route 192 in Northfield, Maine.
The farmstead was right next to the Northfield Cemetery where a number of the Rice's are buried. The family had their own private dirt road which ran from the farmhouse to the Cemetery. Bernard inherited the farmhouse where he Cassie lived after Etta and Clyde died. After Bernard died the farmhouse burned down during a lightning storm.
Cassie came to the farmhouse after Clyde learned Etta was dying from cancer. He placed an ad in the local paper and Cassie answered the ad. She was still married to Asa J. Bagley at the time and they had several children and no one knows why she left him to move to the Rice Farmstead.
She was hired to help tend to Etta, to cook and do house keeping duties in exchange for room and board. Cassie also had very poor eye sight and got a monthly SSI check as well.
In time Etta got so bad she became bed ridden and had to under go operations. Clyde had to sell off a large area of land he owned over by the Northfield one room schoolhouse in order to help pay off the hospital bills. Etta died and Cassie stayed on as a house keeper, but in time Clyde also became ill and ended up being bed ridden. Just as she had done for Etta, Cassie tended to Clyde until he died.
Somewhere along the way Cassie and Bernard Rice had fallen in love and Cassie remained at the farmstead, but now as a live-in girlfriend of Bernard. Cassie was always very thin and frail looking but I never saw her get angry - she always was soft spoken and offered up a smile. Cassie always treated us kids just as if she was our grandmother. Cassie and Asa's children often stopped by the Rice farmstead to visit her and her son Norman Bagley saw to it that Bernard and her got into Machias at least one or two times a month to shop for food. Just like Cassie, Bernard also suffered from very poor eyesight and could not drive.
It was Cassie's wish that when she died she would be buried in the Northfield Cemetery, not far from Bernard and her wish was honnored after a battle with cancer that saw her first in the Machias hospital and later moved to the Calis hospital, where she died.
Clyde was a registered Maine Guide as was some of the other Rice's. He loved to be out in the woods and was a very good hunter as well as a trapper. In his lifetime Clyde shot more than his share of deer and bear.
Etta did not like her photo taken - she always said that when she was dead and gone she didn't want people looking at her. She also thought the earthen cellar at the Rice farmstead was haunted and did not like to go down into it. Etta had also hoped she would of had all boys.
Bernard loved to study his Bible and talk religion and after Cassie passed away, perhaps out of loneliness, he began inviting jehovah's witnesses to the farmstead. They always sent two at a time and tried their damest to convert Bernard, but what they didn't know was that it was Bernard who was doing the converting and in time he ended up getting several of them to leave and become true Christians. The group finally stopped sending people to the farmstead.
Bernard got a monthly SSI check because of his poor eyesight and made extra income several ways. He had vast Blueberry fields and also repaired chain saws. He collected old tools with a passion and restored them to like new condition. He also began to repair old cast iron wood stoves.
Besides the blueberry fields, the Rices also owned the land across route 192 which had a hunting cabin on it. Lots were also rented in the summertime which had several converted school buses on them. The family also owned land on nearby Eastern Ridge with yet another hunting cabin on it. It was Bernards wish to restore all of the family land that had been sold over the years back into the family and he had restored some of those lands when he passed away.
Bernard had a weak heart in later years and his doctor told him he had to take it easy. On a very cold winter day the fire box ran dry and Bernard had to make his way out for more firewood. After hauling in an armful he got chest pains and went into the front parlor to lay down - he would never wake up.
FLYNN FAMILY GENEALOGY VIDEO
born; 21 NOV 1883 - Machiasport, Maine
died; 30 MAY 1962 - Northfield, Maine
married on 30 SEPT 1906 by By justice of peace Henry R. Taylor
Occupation - a Registered maine guide, trapper and farmer.
His father; Judah Rice
His mother; Susan Foster
He married
Etta May Burns
born; 27 JULY 1885 - North New Portland, Maine
died; 25 MAY 1958 - Northfield, Maine
Her Father; Henry Burns
Her Mother; Charlotte Amanda Welch
 |
| Clyde Garvey Rice holding three baby Black bears |
 |
| Etta May Burns with Cassie A. "Young" Bagley |
CHILDREN;
1. Bernard Francis Rice
born; 20 JUNE 1907 - Northfield, Maine
died; 31 Dec 1981 - Northfield, Maine
wife; (never married, had live-in girlfriend)
Cassie Adelaide "Young" Bagley
born; 20 April 1900
died; 22 Nov 1968
Her Father; Amos Westbrook Young
Her Mother; Minnie Almira Dunbar
(Cassie was married to Asa J. Bagley)
 |
| Bernard Rice and Cassie Bagley |
2. Grace Lois Rice
born; 19 JAN 1909 - Northfield, Maine
died; 4 NOV 1986 - Fairfield, Maine
married at West Va. in 1934
Husband
Raymond L. Anthony
born; 17 Dec 1896 - Canton, Ohio
died; 23 July 1969 - Canton, Ohio
His Father; George L. Anthony
His Mother; Flora J. Kapp
child 1; (still living)
child 2; (still living)
 |
| Grace Lois (Rice) Anthony at her home in Fairfield, Maine |
 |
| Raymond L. Anthony - born and died in Canton Ohio |
Notes; Clyde and Etta lived at the Rice farmstead along route 192 in Northfield, Maine.
The farmstead was right next to the Northfield Cemetery where a number of the Rice's are buried. The family had their own private dirt road which ran from the farmhouse to the Cemetery. Bernard inherited the farmhouse where he Cassie lived after Etta and Clyde died. After Bernard died the farmhouse burned down during a lightning storm.
 |
| Rice farmstead - I took this photo of the shed which served as main entrance to the house |
Cassie came to the farmhouse after Clyde learned Etta was dying from cancer. He placed an ad in the local paper and Cassie answered the ad. She was still married to Asa J. Bagley at the time and they had several children and no one knows why she left him to move to the Rice Farmstead.
She was hired to help tend to Etta, to cook and do house keeping duties in exchange for room and board. Cassie also had very poor eye sight and got a monthly SSI check as well.
In time Etta got so bad she became bed ridden and had to under go operations. Clyde had to sell off a large area of land he owned over by the Northfield one room schoolhouse in order to help pay off the hospital bills. Etta died and Cassie stayed on as a house keeper, but in time Clyde also became ill and ended up being bed ridden. Just as she had done for Etta, Cassie tended to Clyde until he died.
Somewhere along the way Cassie and Bernard Rice had fallen in love and Cassie remained at the farmstead, but now as a live-in girlfriend of Bernard. Cassie was always very thin and frail looking but I never saw her get angry - she always was soft spoken and offered up a smile. Cassie always treated us kids just as if she was our grandmother. Cassie and Asa's children often stopped by the Rice farmstead to visit her and her son Norman Bagley saw to it that Bernard and her got into Machias at least one or two times a month to shop for food. Just like Cassie, Bernard also suffered from very poor eyesight and could not drive.
It was Cassie's wish that when she died she would be buried in the Northfield Cemetery, not far from Bernard and her wish was honnored after a battle with cancer that saw her first in the Machias hospital and later moved to the Calis hospital, where she died.
 |
| Cassie A. Bagley gravestone, Northfield, Maine |
Clyde was a registered Maine Guide as was some of the other Rice's. He loved to be out in the woods and was a very good hunter as well as a trapper. In his lifetime Clyde shot more than his share of deer and bear.
Etta did not like her photo taken - she always said that when she was dead and gone she didn't want people looking at her. She also thought the earthen cellar at the Rice farmstead was haunted and did not like to go down into it. Etta had also hoped she would of had all boys.
Bernard loved to study his Bible and talk religion and after Cassie passed away, perhaps out of loneliness, he began inviting jehovah's witnesses to the farmstead. They always sent two at a time and tried their damest to convert Bernard, but what they didn't know was that it was Bernard who was doing the converting and in time he ended up getting several of them to leave and become true Christians. The group finally stopped sending people to the farmstead.
Bernard got a monthly SSI check because of his poor eyesight and made extra income several ways. He had vast Blueberry fields and also repaired chain saws. He collected old tools with a passion and restored them to like new condition. He also began to repair old cast iron wood stoves.
Besides the blueberry fields, the Rices also owned the land across route 192 which had a hunting cabin on it. Lots were also rented in the summertime which had several converted school buses on them. The family also owned land on nearby Eastern Ridge with yet another hunting cabin on it. It was Bernards wish to restore all of the family land that had been sold over the years back into the family and he had restored some of those lands when he passed away.
 |
| Bernard Rice & Cassie Bagley at hunting cabin on Eastern Ridge |
Bernard had a weak heart in later years and his doctor told him he had to take it easy. On a very cold winter day the fire box ran dry and Bernard had to make his way out for more firewood. After hauling in an armful he got chest pains and went into the front parlor to lay down - he would never wake up.
 |
| Clyde Garvey Rice Registered Maine Guide papers |
 |
| Bernard Francis Rice in kitchen of Rice farmstead |
 |
| Bernard Francis Rice in front parlor of the Rice farmstead in Northfield, Maine |
 |
| Rice farmstead - photo I took from route 192, Northfield, Maine |
 |
| My mother giving Bernard Rice a hug goodbye on one of our visits to the Rice farmstead |
 |
| Clyde G. Rice death Certificate |
FLYNN FAMILY GENEALOGY VIDEO
 |
| Cassie A. "Young" Bagley - photo taken by Bernard Rice |
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