Here is a 1924 postcard sent from Willshire, Ohio.
The picture side of the postcard shows cows grazing by a river and says Greetings from Willshire, Ohio. It looks like it could be the banks of the St. Marys River.
The reverse side is postmarked Willshire, Ohio, 11 November 1924, addressed to Rev. and Mrs. Lemuel Rice, Ada, Ohio.
The postcard is from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bowen, who write:
Willshire, Ohio
Nov. 11th 1924
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Rice
This is just to greet you on your annivrsity [sic].
With congratulations and best wishes
from
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bowen
This postcard is particularly interesting because Rev. Lemuel Rice was a Methodist minister in the Duckcreek/Willshire area in the early 1900s. Rev. Rice was mentioned in the Duckcreek Church records that I recently posted here on Karen’s Chatt, when he received a number of individuals into church membership at Willshire in 1908 and 1909.
The Bowens likely knew Rev. Rice and his family through the church. The 1891 marriage of Joseph Bowen (1863-1937) and Ina M. Denman (1869-1938) was also mentioned in the Duckcreek marriage records.
Lemuel Rice was born in Knox County, Ohio, 20 August 1851, the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Ling) Rice. [1]
Lemuel Rice married Martha Florence Banbury 12 November 1874 in Knox County, married by Rev. Mattison. [2]
In 1880 the Lemuel Rice family live in Marion, Hardin County, Ohio, and in 1900 they lived in Alger, Hardin County, Ohio. Lemuel was a farmer in both enumerations.
Lemuel apparently became a minister between 1900 and 1908, when he is mentioned in the Duckcreek/Willshire church records.
By 1910 the Lemuel Rice family lived in Celina, where he is a Methodist minister. The family lived at 422 Fulton Street and consisted of Lemuel, 58; Florence M, 57; Bernice V, 34, daughter; and Dale R, 18, son. [3]
By 1920 Lemuel and Florence had moved to Ada, Hardin County, Ohio, where they resided at 138 S Johnson with daughter Bernice and her husband Lyman Connor. The family in 1920: Lemuel Rice, 67, head; Martha F Rice, 66, wife; Lyman Conner, 49, son-in-law; Bernice Conner, 43, daughter. Lemuel’s occupation was a minister. [4]
Lemuel Rice died at his home in Ada on 10 February 1928. He died from a heart attack at the age of 76 years, 5 months, and 20 days. He was buried on the 13th. [1]
Rev. Lemuel Rice’s obituary:
Ada, Rev. Lemuel Rice
Rev. Lemuel Rice, 76, retired Methodist minister, died at his residence on South Johnson Street, Ada, Friday afternoon, of paralysis.
Funeral services will be held at the M.E. church tomorrow at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. Robert Kennedy assisted by Doc. Albert E. Smit. Interment will be at Woodlawn cemetery.
Rev. Rice is survived by two sons and four daughters: Mrs. Lyman Conner, Ada; Mrs. Addie Styles, Akron; Mrs. Barbara Hay, Harrod; Mrs. Arthur Anspach, Ada; Dale Rice, Mentor; and Charles Rice, Lansing, MIch. [5]
Rev. Lemuel Rice’s wife Martha Florence (Banbury) died 8 Feb 1926.
[1] “Ohio, Deaths, 1908-1953,” Ada, Hardin County, Rev. Lemuel Rice, 10 Feb 1928; database with images FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPFF-9HMT?i=350&cc=1307272&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXZFW-Y31 : viewed 9 Sep 2021).
[2] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016,” Knox County, Vol. 2, p.567, Lemuel W. Rice & Florence Banbury, 12 Nov 1874; database with images, FamilySearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S53N-6G?i=317&cc=1614804&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXDLF-CX7 : viewed 9 Sep 2021).
[3] 1910 U.S. Census, Celina Ward 1, Mercer, Ohio, ED 117, p.2B, dwelling & family 38, Lemuel Rice; digital image by subscription Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/ : viewed 9 Sep 2021).
[4] 1920 U.S. Census, ED 96, p.1B, dwelling 21, family 25, Lemuel Rives; digital image by subscription Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/ : viewed 9 Sep 2021).
[5] Rev. Lemuel Rice obituary, The Lima Morning Star and Republican-Gazette, Lima, Ohio, p.5, 12 Feb 1928; Newspapers.com, viewed 9 Sep 2021.