JOHN BRICE; NO 8 “NEW LONDON TIME” June 15, 1900 Jasper Township has many old and respected citizens within its broad expanse of territory, and among them resides the subject of this sketch John Brice was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, on the 20th day of May 1818, hence has just passed his eighty-second milestone. On his father’s side he is a descendant of some of the best families in Maryland, while his mother’s people were natives of Pennsylvania. His father and four uncles served in the war of 1812, hence Mr. Brice may well claim the heritage of civil and religious freedom. That war forever settled the question that the rule of the Briton was at an end under the western skies and that a republic was destined to rise and in matters of government establish the divine right of people as in contrast with the fallacious claims of kings. In 1821, with the entry of Missouri into the galaxy of states, his father came to this state and bought a quarter of a section of land lying in the rich elm belt that rises in the part of the county and extends northwest up through Marion and Lewis counties. The farm that received the family a year later is now the comfortable home of Abraham V. Beavers. Until recently one of the largest and most towering elms stood by the spring well which furnished the water supply for family as well as a cool and refreshing drink to many a thirsty passer for more than three-forth of a century. The family and all the earthly effects were loaded in one of those old Virginia crooked wagon beds and drawn by five horses. These wagons and the beds they carried could not be said to be things of beauty. They were built with care for hard service, very deep, with sides stayed and ribbed and when covered with trick homemade lien were imperious to wind and water. Then family of three children, a scanty supply of household goods in the wagon, Father or friend, Amos Sutton, who came with them, on the “wheel horse” by turns, one horse led behind, not for trade, as many go this way to-day, but in case of accident to the leader, and two cows completed the outfit of this pioneer family seeking a home in the new-made state. In the deep forest of elm and hickory a cabin was put up, the few neighbors coming from miles about to help until the roof was on and the door hung on wooden hinges, puncheon floor laid down, fireplace in, as well as the “chinkin” between the logs and all ready for the abode of the “new comer.” In the construction of these homes the axe and frow were almost the only tools needed or used. But these two implements in the skilled hands of our study forefathers were wonderfully useful instruments Very few things indeed were they that these plain tools could not do when well handled. Helping the father until his 24th year, then Mr. Brice was married to Miss Elizabeth Jane Rice, daughter of John Rice, also an old pioneer. The ceremony was performed by Rev. George Rice, a Cumberland Presbyterian Minster. This body of people had some time before organized a congregation and held services in the large two-story building which stands on what is known as the “Uncle Charley” Rice place and owned at present by our worthy citizen, John T. Keithly (Keithley). During a meeting in this historic old building in 1841, Mr. Brice and the fair young forest girl destined to become his wife and life partner a year later, joined the church and during all the eventful years since then the swain in person but on in purpose, in hope and effort have following in the “Master’s way” as best they could. Espousing the cause of the Democratic Party in 1840, Mr. Brice voted his first ballot for Martin Van Buren, the friend and favorite of Andrew Jackson. He has ever held to the same political party and invariably gives it his hearty support. With him the principles of the party whose founder was the immortal Jefferson, are next in esteem to the church of his choice and the fold of his household. During the early days of the “settlement” where Mr. Brice lived the red man of the forest was often a passing visitor. The smoke from the wigwam had long since gone out, as had the moccasin tracks along the streams, but the warriors with their broken families were often seen wending their hopeless way toward the “Great Father” at Washington seeking redress for grievances which the inexorable degrees of fate had sealed upon them forever. At Spencerburg, Pike county, Mock had put up a horse tread wheel mill and hither the few farmers came for the grist, out of which the sweet “pone” bread was made and cooked in round iron covered ovens placed in the roomy fireplace and bedded in live coals. Water from the spring and salt from Fike’s Lick were all the “trimmings” that entered into the composition of this bread, but mine you, no dyspepsia or any of the modern ills of stomach or liver followed its use. This much cannot be said of the “patent” article of food used today. Fike’s Lick was near where the old St, Vrain Mill stood for many years and here the farmers made their salt. The process was slow but the good farmers and their families didn’t dread things that were slow. They had plenty of time for the securing of the few wants they had. Fashion and politics, the two great tyrants of modern times were little known and less regarded then than now. Mr. Brice and his good wife tell us that with their own hands they planted the cotton, flax and hemp and prepared the fiber from these crops into garments for all the family. Soon after the cabin was built, came the cotton gin, breaking machine, spinning wheel and loom. Where apparel, table linen, bed covers and linen all in snowy whiteness fell from the fingers of Mrs. Brice and she proudly relates to-day the fact that her own hands could prepare and make every textile article needed in her family. Surely the “helpmeet” of the Scripture was in that cabin home. Uncle Johnny Brice has all his life been a churchgoer and among the gifted men, he has heard preach the Gospel of Life he names Revs. Alexander Campbell, Downing, Farr, Dr.. Tucker and others. He has also heard James S. Green and Thomas H. Benton, two of the greatest men our country has ever produced. He has never been back to his native state. Today, he lives on the farm close by the one his father entered and where that venerable sire sleeps among his kindred gathered since. Mr. and Mrs. Brice have three children living, viz., Margaret E., wife of Henry Sparks, of Vandalia, Mo., Geo. E. Brice, residing near Elk Lick and Eva K. wife of Ben B. Farnsworth, residing in the family. Two others, Fannie and Katie, died some years ago. Just as the full bloom of happy girlhood was upon the creek and all the hopeful aspirations of youth in the heart the dread massager came to each. They sleep in the family cemetery on Grandfather’s place but live in the memory of many relatives and friends. Some years ago Mr. Brice owned a large farm on the prairie six miles north of Vandalia, which he fenced, hauling the rails several miles with a four and six horse team. He has always been an expert teamster and it has only been in the last few years that he has relinquished the saddle and single line into the hands of his son-in-law, Ben Farnsworth. The education Mr. Brice received was in the old Johnny Dowell and Scott schoolhouse east of the old home in Pike County. There he learned the three “Rs” and such other branches as were taught in the district school of those days. He has been an active man all his life and has contributed much to the betterment of the moral and religious conditions about him and we earnestly hope that the Good Master whom these two good people so faithfully serve will further lengthen out the days of their earthly pilgrimage.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 01:47:55 +0000
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