After their second child was born, Charles and Mintie left Kentucky and moved to Wenatchee, Washington. They arrived in Wenatchee on 21 April 1903. While living in Wenatchee they had seven more children. They lived in Washington for the remainder of their days.
The 1930's were challenging economic years. The harsh economy took its toll on Charles as well. Several years after his wife died, at the end of his life, Charles moved to Seattle, Washington, and lived at Camp Carnation. He had heard that the government had people live there in order to avoid paying them a pension. At first he thought it was just a rumor, but then he found out that it only cost $5.00 a month to keep a man in the camp. Since most monthly pensions were about $18.00-$25.00 per man, Charles decided that perhaps it was true that the government would rather have a man in a camp than pay them a pension. After all, it saved the government money to have men live in a camp, rather than pay them money for a pension.
It was while living at Camp Carnation that he wrote a letter (20 April 1939) to his daughter Bessie, in response to her inquiry about the history of his family. At the time of his letter, he was lonely and felt his life had been a failure. He was quite ill at the time he wrote the letter. Having been a widower for 12 years, it was probably a welcomed event when he died later that same year, on 27 Sep 1939. He was buried in the Wenatchee City Cemetery, Chelan, Washington.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
More Charles
As a child Charles enjoyed fishing and hunting. He especially enjoyed going hunting with his grandfather, Sam K. Rice. In addition to hunting and fishing, Charles attended school whenever he could. School was only held three months out of the year, but he was seldom able to attend the last month of school because he was needed to help with the harvest.
When Charles was 22 years old he attended a penmanship class that was being taught in the area. He had high hopes of excelling in the class. However, on the second day of class, a girl from a neighboring county joined the class and that was the end of Charles' thoughts of doing well in the class. He was absolutely smitten with the new girl and married her one year later.
Because Charles' father had recently died, when they were first married Charles and Mintie lived with his mother to help with the harvesting of the crops. Then they moved out and made a home of their own.
Times were hard in Magoffin County. Timber companies came to Kentucky in the 1890's, purchasing huge portions of land. They were followed by the coal companies, who moved in and bought mineral rights. This forced the people out of their homes and made them dependent on the coal companies for jobs. When coal was in demand the economy did well, but when coal was not in demand the economy did not do well. Some people migrated, looking for better opportunities.
When Charles was 22 years old he attended a penmanship class that was being taught in the area. He had high hopes of excelling in the class. However, on the second day of class, a girl from a neighboring county joined the class and that was the end of Charles' thoughts of doing well in the class. He was absolutely smitten with the new girl and married her one year later.
Because Charles' father had recently died, when they were first married Charles and Mintie lived with his mother to help with the harvesting of the crops. Then they moved out and made a home of their own.
Times were hard in Magoffin County. Timber companies came to Kentucky in the 1890's, purchasing huge portions of land. They were followed by the coal companies, who moved in and bought mineral rights. This forced the people out of their homes and made them dependent on the coal companies for jobs. When coal was in demand the economy did well, but when coal was not in demand the economy did not do well. Some people migrated, looking for better opportunities.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Charles Newton Rice
Today I would like to share a little bit about my great, great grandfather, Charles Newton Rice. This info is taken from a research paper I did last fall semester 2008. I have documentation for everything I site here.
Charles Newton Rice was born 10 June 1873 in Magoffin County, Kentucky, to James (Berg) Franklin Rice and Sarah Jane Howes. He married Mintie Lou May on 13 May 1898,in Magoffin, Kentucky, died 27 September 1939, in Seattle,King, Washington, and was buried in Wenatchee City Cemetery, Chelan, Washington.
Mintie Lou May was born in October 1876 in Kentucky, daughter of Thomas Greene May and Amanda Conley. Mintie died on 17 September 1927 in Wenatchee, Chelan, Washington, and was buried in the Wenatchee City Cemetery, Chelan, Washington.
Although he was born Charles Newton Rice, later in life his middle initial mistakenly was put on a legal document as "M.," instead of "N." Thereafter, he chose to use the middle initial "M." Charles was born and raised on a farm in Magoffin County, Kentucky.
When Charles was born Magoffin County was only about 13 years old. It was created in 1860 from parts of Floyd, Johnson,and Morgan counties. It is in the Eastern Coal Field region of Kentucky. The Licking River flows through the county and when it rains can cause a lot of flooding in the area. In 1800, the first settlement was established on the hill of the horseshoe bend of the river, as a defense from the Indians.
Stay tuned for more information at a later date.
Charles Newton Rice was born 10 June 1873 in Magoffin County, Kentucky, to James (Berg) Franklin Rice and Sarah Jane Howes. He married Mintie Lou May on 13 May 1898,in Magoffin, Kentucky, died 27 September 1939, in Seattle,King, Washington, and was buried in Wenatchee City Cemetery, Chelan, Washington.
Mintie Lou May was born in October 1876 in Kentucky, daughter of Thomas Greene May and Amanda Conley. Mintie died on 17 September 1927 in Wenatchee, Chelan, Washington, and was buried in the Wenatchee City Cemetery, Chelan, Washington.
Although he was born Charles Newton Rice, later in life his middle initial mistakenly was put on a legal document as "M.," instead of "N." Thereafter, he chose to use the middle initial "M." Charles was born and raised on a farm in Magoffin County, Kentucky.
When Charles was born Magoffin County was only about 13 years old. It was created in 1860 from parts of Floyd, Johnson,and Morgan counties. It is in the Eastern Coal Field region of Kentucky. The Licking River flows through the county and when it rains can cause a lot of flooding in the area. In 1800, the first settlement was established on the hill of the horseshoe bend of the river, as a defense from the Indians.
Stay tuned for more information at a later date.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Kentucky Rice Family
The family I have been researching is from Magoffin County, Kentucky. I am researching four generations in Kentucky, beginning with Charles Newton Rice, in preparation to accredit in Mid-South research. (Obviously, I would be interested in doing this research regardless of accreditation.)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
This blogging business is all new to me. I'm supposed to be adding an entry at least once a week for a Computers in Family History class at BYU. I couldn't even remember how to get to my blog. Finally, the thought occurred to me that I could access it through the class website. And........here I am.
For the past year I have been doing extensive research on the family of James Franklin Rice. It is my intent to post things here regarding my research of this family.
For the past year I have been doing extensive research on the family of James Franklin Rice. It is my intent to post things here regarding my research of this family.
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