Sarah Webster Rice
April 9, 1832-March 3, 1887
Niles Democrat, Saturday, March 12, 1887, page 5, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
Sarah Webster, wife of John Rice, died in this city March 3, in the fifty-fifth year of her age. She was born in Niles township and has resided in this vicinity all her life. She was an an estimable woman in every respect. She leaves a husband and two sons to mourn a loved wife and mother.
Niles Mirror, Wednesday, March 16, 1887, page 5, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
OBITUARY
Died in Niles, Mich., on the evening of March 3d, 1887, of cancer of the liver, Mrs. Sarah Webster, beloved wife of John Rice of this city.
The subject of this brief sketch was born in Niles township, April 9th, 1832 and, with the exception of a few months, spent her entire life in Berrien County. She was joined in marriage to him who now mourns his heavy loss on July 11th, 1850, to whom were born two sons and one daughter.
In 1860 Mrs. Rice became the subject of deep religious convictions, when, with her husband, she was led down into the baptismal waters by Rev. Wm. Roe, being upon a profession of her faith symbolically buried with Christ, and united with the Disciple Church of Buchanan. Some seven years, afterwards, she became a member of the Free Will Baptist church of Berrien. Thence removing to Sumnerville, she became identified with the Free Baptist church there, in whose fellowship she continued until summoned to join the church triumphant. Her illness was of long duration extending over several years, but she gave evidence during these years of trial and suffering that Divine grace was able to sustain. What a record is left to her bereaved family after nearly fifty-five years of contact with the world in all its changes, She was indeed a faithful wife and mother. Her words were few, but the quiet influence of her life will be an inspiration in many a trying hour. Those who knew her best could not fail to recognize her life to be a powerful incentive to nobility and virtue. She loved the church of her choice, and although removed from its privileges, maintained her relation to the same as an earnest, faithful member, in the bonds of Christian harmony and love, till her departure from the fellowship of earth to that of the saints in heaven. When nearing the end, with the calmness and composure of one to whom death had no terrors, she arranged the details of her burial, sending for her Pastor that she might communicate with him personally in reference to the service. She also sent a message by him to her brothers and sisters in the church, "Tell them," she said, "it is well with me. Be faithful, meet me in heaven."
And thus, in the language of the poet, it may be said of her--
"No breaking heart is here,No keen and thrilling pain;No wasted cheek where the frequent tearHath rolled and left its stain.O! friends of mortal years,The trusted and the true;Ye are watching still in the valley of tears,But I wait to welcome you.Do I forget? Ah, no!For memory's golden chainHath bound my heart to the hearts belowTill they meet to touch again."
Chief among the mourners she leaves the companion of thirty-seven years, two sons, with their companions, and one grandchild, who has a double bereavement in the loss of his two grandmas in death within three days of each other.
Her remains were interred in Silver Brook cemetery, Niles, on Saturday, the 5th inst. The funeral services were held in the M.E. church, conducted by Rev. J.D. McColl, of Pokagon, assisted by the Pastor of the M.E. Church, preaching from Phil. 1:31.