HENRY MARTIN RICE
1861-1944
Henry Martin Rice, 82 years old, passed away Friday at his home at
Barnetts Creek. A well-to-do farmer of the Barnetts Creek section.
Mr. Rice was respected and loved by all who knew him.
His widow survives and an adopted niece, Mrs. Vencil Fannin,
Barnetts Creek. Also four brothers, Dr. Grant Rice, George and
Manford, Oil Springs and Wilson of Barnetts Creek, and a sister,
Mrs. Minta Dixon, Jackson, Ohio survive.
The funeral was held Sunday at the home under the direction of the
Preston Funeral Home, with Rev. Guy W. Preston officiating.
PAINTSVILLE HERALD
THURSDAY
JAN 13, 1944
HENRY MARTIN RICE DIES AT BARNETTS CREEK
Henry Martin was born on the waters of Jennies Creek, a stream
flowing from the southwest of Johnson County and emptying into Big
Paint Creek, some two miles from its emptying into the Big Sandy
River, on May the twenty second, Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-one.
He was the son of John J. and Polly Salyer Rice. Mollie was born
in Rowan County, Kentucky on February the Eighteenth, Eighteen
Hundred and Sixty-Two. She was the daughter of Harvie and Lou
Howes Davis. The childhood and probably the young boyhood of this
good man was spent in the neighborhood and near the old
hearthstone in which he was born. Early in his life his parents
moved from Jennies Creek section to the Oil Springs and Barnetts
Creek section, but his entire life was spent in the county in
which he was born. When a small girl, Sister Rice's parents moved
from Rowan County and came to Johnson County, but her entire life
was spent in the state in which she was born. Henry Martin, like
his forefathers, chose for a life's occupation farming, while
Sister Rice chose teaching, and taught in our county schools for
nearly twenty years. These good people have been counted among
our most successful in all their undertakings and their home has
been one of the greatest of all the county. They maintained a
wonderful home. Early, in their lives they gave their hearts to
God. Father Rice was baptized into the Baptist faith taking
membership with the Little Paint Church of United Baptists while
Mother Rice was baptized into the Methodist faith. But within
these churches each of these good people lived great lives for
God.
The marriage of these good people seemed to be one of sense and
great judgement, Henry Martin being twenty nine and Sister rice
being twenty eight. It occurred February the twenty-seventh,
Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-one. These good people were not
blessed with children being born in their home, but at the tender
age of three, they took their little niece, Donna Rice (now Mrs.
Vincil Fannin) and reared her as their own child. To this union
these great people were blessed to see them rear nine children:
Sgt. Granville C. Fannin, Air corps, Italy, Gunner on flying
fortress, now a prisoner in Germany, Charles M., Gerald C., both
in the U. S. Navy now in the Pacific, Mrs. Orville Ealy, Columbus,
O., Her husband is Sgt. Orville Ealy, U. S. Army; Mrs. Gerald C.,
Columbus, Ohio, Frank, Phyllis, J. B. and Nancy at home. In this
great race of life Sister Mollie by reason of death slipped away
and joined her friends ont eh other side March the twenty sixth,
Nineteen Hundred and Eighteen.
Later, or in the fall of Nineteen Hundred and Thirty One he was
married to Celia Colvin. Henry Martin has been a man that had
enjoyed good health practically all his life, but in the latter
days of the past December, he contracted flu with its
complications. The best of medical skill was called to his aid,
but in spite of all that loving hands could do, in the afternoon
of January the seventh, he too slipped away to join his friends
who had out-stripped him. On the following Sunday at two o'clock
the funeral services were held at the home of Mr. And Mrs. Fannin,
with the Elders Furman Blair and Guy W. Preston officiating. In
the close, Charles (Chick) Willis sang that beautiful hymn.
"Sunrise".
Immediately after the services the body was laid to rest in the
Rice cemetery near the home. He leaves to mourn his going besides
his wife and daughters and her husband, and children the following
brothrs and sisters, George, Dr. Grant, Wilson, Manford and Mrs.
Clark Dixon. The following outstripped him in the race, Leck,
Mrs. Mandy Bayes, Mrs. Ella Salyers, and Hannah.
In the passing of Henry Martin this neighborhood, the county and
state have lost one among their very best citizens.
He came to the end of the journey of life being eighty two years,
seven months and fifteen days old.
Baptist Tidings
Volume 5 NO. 7,
Paintsville, KY
February, 1944
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