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| Member of Farmer G.A.R. |
Born, raised, and died in Farmer Township, Defiance County, Ohio - that described Hiram F. Rice. His parents were early settlers in the township, established a farm there, and passed that farm down through the generations.
In 1860, Hiram lived there with his mother, Lydia, who was 52 and widowed. She was listed as the head of the family in the census, with real estate valued at $4000 - quite an amount for the time. Hiram, 22, and his brother, Aaron, 19, lived with their mother on the farm.
Hiram enlisted in Company F of the 111th Ohio Infantry on August 13, 1862 in Toledo, along with many other Defiance County men. His unit spent quite a bit of time in Kentucky and Tennessee, only to return again in 1863 to patrol and protect areas along the Ohio River against Confederate invasion. In the fall of 1863, the group headed south again for battles at Kennesaw Mountain and Jonesboro, and then they chased Hood's army around the south. On January 1, 1865, Hiram was promoted to First Sergeant. At some point after that promotion, Sgt. Hiram was wounded in the spine. (His pension papers would add details to this incident.) He mustered out at the end of the war on June 27, 1865 at Salisbury, North Carolina.
In 1890, Hiram reported on the Veterans' Census that he had served 2 years, 10 months and 15 days.
On March 20, 1870, he married Rhoda E. Stone, the daughter of Alpha and Samantha (Marihugh) Stone. After the war, his mother had apparently deeded over the farm to Hiram, as it appeared in his name in the 1866 plat book.
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| Section 21 |
Hiram and Lydia would have sons, Oney and Clark, and they also raised their grandson, Blake, an infant when his mother, wife to Oney, died. Lydia Rice died in 1895, and the Defiance Republican Express noted on June 6, 1895:
"Lydia Rice, mother of Hiram R. of Farmer township, died Saturday morning at the ripe old age of about 87 years. She was on of the pioneers of Defiance County. She was buried Sunday afternoon at Farmer cemetery."
Hiram's brother, Oney, had a wife, Hattie, who also died in 1895 at the age of 23. She was the mother of Blake, who was then raised by Hiram and Rhoda. In 1900, Hiram (born 1837), was 62 and he and Rhoda had been married thirty years. With them were Clark, their youngest son, 21 and single, and Blake B. their grandson, aged 6, born in April 1894.
Her obituary appeared in the Defiance County Republican Express on January 24, 1895:
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| Her husband, Oney, remarried in 1897 to Blanch and had children with her: Oney Jr.,Milo and Mabel. |
"Hiram F. Rice died at his home near Farmer on the 3rd of October at the age of 68 years, 11 months and 2 days.
He was born in Farmer township, Defiance county, where he always lived, except during three years spent as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, where he served as a member of Co. F., 111th O. V. I.
He was married to Rhoda E. Stone on the 20th of March 1870, and to this union were born two sons, Oney and Clark. A grandson, Blake, on account of his mother's death when a baby, has made a third member of the family since 1895.
On the 27th of last December, while in Bryan, Mr. Rice was stricken with paralysis, which gradually spread to his whole body and caused his death.
Funeral services were held by the Rev. Mr. Kelly, of the M.E. church in Farmer, October 7th, at two o'clock."
Rhoda Rice lived on until 1914.
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| Memorial card found among Rice family possessions, Farmer, Ohio |
The Defiance Crescent-News had an informative article about the Rice family farm on July 27, 1932, in its Rural Rambler column:
"A Family Farm
Clark Rice, who lives just west of Farmer, says that the old Rice eighty acres has been transferred only twice since it became a farm. The first member of the Rice family to reside here was Dr. Oney Rice (father to Hiram F. Rice) who homesteaded it upon his arrival from St. Lawrence County, N.Y. Then his son Hiram resided on the old home farm, and now the grandson, Clark resides here.
First Post Office
Mr. Rice showed the Rambler a desk that served as the first post office in Farmer. This desk stood just inside the hall door of the old Rice residence which was destroyed by a fire about twelve years ago. And from the desk was distributed the first mail at Farmer.
Antique Oil Can
Hanging on the wall of the farm shop on the Clark Rice farm is the coal oil can that Mrs. Hiram Rice purchased on a trip to Defiance when she bought the first coal oil lamp that the family owned. The purchase of the lamp marked the passing of the tallow candle for the purpose of illumination in the farm home.
Building By Generation
This farm has buildings erected by three generations of Rices. The old barn, now used as a utility barn, was erected by Dr. Oney Rice. The farm barn was built by Hiram Rice, and following the fire which destroyed the old dwelling. The modern residence were constructed by Clark Rice.
Handling the Farm
The farm, which has grown to comprise 171 acres, is beautifully set off by an eighty rod row of maples extending along the concrete road which passes the place. Dale Rice, the only son, is actively engaged with his father in operating the farm on which an important factor is the flock of 140 sheep.
This farm has been kept at a high level of productivity as is indicated by the 36 bushels per acre yield of this season's wheat crop. Oats looks good, but Mr. Rice says they are rustier than any oats he ever harvested.
Farm procedure includes the pasturing of sweet clover and oats by sheep each year as a successful method of maintaining soil productivity.
Family All At Home
Besides his farmer son, Dale, Mr. Rice has three daughters, all at home present. Miss Helen, who will teach in the Farmer school the coming term, is actively engaged as a 4-H club leader. Miss Grace will teach in District No. 1 in Farmer township this term, andMiss Doris is intending to complete the course in the Farmer School."
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