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Hazel Kirk Thatcher |
Mattie Steely Rice |
12. Mattie Steely Rice (Martha) (Married: John M. Thatcher (#11) on 12 or 13 March 1884 in Allen, Ohio (according to LDS).) John's obituary says the 12th, the wedding certificate and Mattie's obituary say the 13th).
Born: 7 April 1863 of Anthony C. Rice (#23) & Susanna Rebecca Steely (#24).
Died: 3 December 1904 of consumption at the age of 41; she is buried at Forest Cemetery, Circleville, Ohio, Lot 126, Section 33 with John Thatcher.(GPS: 39° 36.975' N; 82° 56.708 ' W).
a) Emma May Rice: (Married: Henry Renick). Born: 13 March 1865. Died: 13 December 1895;
b) Katie Viola Rice: (Married: Alex Renick) Born: 1 July 1867. Died: ?, buried in California;
c) Jennie Hays Rice: (Married: William Howard Wanamaker) Born: 26 January 1872. Died: 9 May 1950, buried Union Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio. (This was Aunt Jennie, who Hazel Kirk Thatcher (#6) lived with prior to marrying Charles Albert Leach (#5)). Jennie and William had at least 3 sons, John, Ralph, and Charles. A newspaper article was saved by the Leach family that tells about Ralph Wanamaker.Click here to read the article.]
Miscellaneous Information:
Below: These photographs of Mattie, as a little girl, were found in a trunk that had belonged to Jane Leach Webster (Mattie's granddaughter and Hazel Thatcher Leach's youngest daughter.)
The 1870 Census lists Anthony C. Rice (#23) (age 39), Mattie's father, as the head of the household. Mattie's mother, Susan R. Rice (age 30), is keeping house. The Value of Anthony's Real Estate is $14,000 and the value of his personal property is $2,240. Living with Anthony and Susan (#24) are their children: Mattie (age 7), Emma M (age 5), and Kate V (age 3). Also in the household are Lucy Engram (age 22), a house keeper, and Christopher Engram (age 20) and William Engram (age 18, both farm laborers.
The 1880 Census lists Anthony (age 49), living next door to his brother William. Anthony is a farmer. Living with him are Susan (#24) (age 40), Mattie (age 16), Emma (age 14), Katie V. (age 12) and Jennie H. (age 8). Also in the home is a 10 year old boy, George Kitzmiller, who is a servant.
Four years later, Mattie and John M. Thatcher married.
Below: These three photographs of Mattie, as an adult, were also found in the trunk that had belonged to Jane Leach Webster
Below: Mattie and John's Certificate of Marriage. The certificate states:
"This is to certify that I have this day joined in Marriage John M. Thatcher of Kingston, State of Ohio and Mattie S. Rice of Circleville, State of Ohio according to the laws of the State of Ohio and that there were present as witnesses Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Pixley of Lima and Mrs. J. B. Pixley of Lima and Mrs. Abbie S. Crippen Lima. Dated Mar 13, 1884, J. B. Pitman Rector, Christ Ch.
Mattie and her husband had two children, Russell Rice Thatcher (6a) and Hazel Kirk Thatcher (#6). Their children are shown below. Mattie's children were 18 and 19 years old when she died.
Below: Mattie's pitcher and rocking chair. In 2015, both are in the possession of Susan Leach Snyder (one of Mattie's Great Granddaughters).
The 1900 census, shows John as the head of his household. He is a blacksmith. John and Mattie have two children Hazel Kirk Thatcher (#6) and Russell Rice Thatcher (6a). Just four years later, Mattie died.
One of Mattie’s obituary states, “Mrs. Mattie Thatcher, wife of John Thatcher, died this morning at half past five o’clock at her home North Court street. Mrs. Thatcher had been ill with consumption for the past four years, but was confined to her bed but four weeks. Deceased was the daughter of Anthony C. and Susanna Rice and was born in Pickaway township, April 7th, 1863. She was united in marriage with Mr. Thatcher, at Lima, March 13, 1884. The husband and two children, Hazel and Russell, survive. Her aged mother and two sisters, Mrs. Alexander Renick of Springfield, and Mrs. W. H. Wanamaker of Columbus, are the surviving members of her immediate family. Her sisters have been with her for the past two weeks. The funeral will be held at the late residence, Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Rev. D. S. Tappan officiating. Interment will be at Forest Cemetery. Mrs. Thatcher was a member of the Darby, Presbyterian.”
A second tribute to Mattie states, “Mattie Rice Thatcher was born April 7th, 1863, died December 3rd, 1904. She was the daughter of Anthony C. and Susannah Steeley Rice, and was married to John M. Thatcher, March 13th, 1884; she was an invalid for several years, a victim of dread consumption. Her patience and ambition were truly wonderful, even when her case seemed hopeless to others she was always brave and cheerful and ever ready to minister to her family. While she could not for some time visit her friends she was ever ready to give every one a cordial welcome to her home, never would speak of her condition, always pleasant and cheerful. Even when death seemed near she was brave and resigned to her fate, begged her friends not to grieve for her, said she had put herself in the hands of her Heavenly Father and felt that his grace was sufficient. The gentle sweet disposition that characterized her whole life never forsook her. Dear patient self-sacrificing wife, mother and daughter will be sadly missed, but through our tears will try to say ‘Thy will be done.’ She leaves to mourn her loss, husband, two children, Hazel and Russell, mother and two sisters, Mrs. Alexander Renick of Springfield, and Mrs. Wm. H. Wanamaker of Columbus. She was a member of the Presbyterian church for ten years. The funeral services were held from her home December 5th, conducted by Rev. D. S. Tappan in a beautiful and impressive manner. The hymns ‘Come Unto Me’, ‘Thy Will be Done’; and ‘My Faith Looks Up To Thee’ were read by the pastor. The pallbearers were Henry C. Renick, Elijah Thatcher, Wm. H. Wanamaker, Geo. F. Grand-Girard and Alexander Stevenson. Burial at Forest Cemetery. The many beautiful floral tributes sent by friends showed the love and esteem in which she was held."
Left: Tombstone
Below: cemetery plot marker. Photos were taken on September 25, 2005.
Lifetime Events Summary for Mattie Steely Rice:
Contact person for this website is Susan Snyder: susanleachsnyder@gmail.com
