Judson A. Rice and Emily McCaslin

"...a half grown boy could outwork him," David Hanshaw, Mendon, MI.

Judson A. Rice was born in March 1844 in Waterloo, Seneca Co. New York, [1] the son of David Rice and his wife Elizabeth Rardeen. He stands as a heartbreaking example of the lives that were permanently shattered by the Civil War. A great deal is written of the illness and injury that afflicted the soldiers in the Civil War, but little attention is given to the lasting and deleterious affect their military service had on their lives after the war. Many soldiers not only made great sacrifices for their country during the course of the war, but continued to be plagued by the after effects of their service for years afterwards. Many saw their lifespans significantly shortened by their service.

The signature of Judson Rice.

In 1860 the census indicated that he was living at home in the village of Jordan, Onondaga Co. NY and working as a day laborer, presumably on a farm, as his military service record described him as a farmer. [2] He had black hair, brown eyes, his complexion was light, and he stood 5 foot 9 1/2 inches tall. [3]

He seems to have had a streak of patriotism, for he volunteered to serve the Union cause on 25 July 1862. He enlisted in Baldwinsville, Onondaga Co. for a term of three years. His father David had to provide his consent, since Judson was only 18 and was still legally a minor. John Walker of Jordan said he knew Judson since he was a small boy, and that at the time of his enlistment "he seemed to be a healthy young man..." Judson served as a private in A Company, the 122nd Regiment of New York Volunteers. In December 1862, near the town of Gettysburg, PA, Judson reported that he contracted typhoid, from which he never fully recovered. On 28 April 1863 he was sent to Division Hospital at Aquia Creek, VA. From Virginia he was sent to the General Hospital in Washington DC. He was clearly not bedridden, as he went absent without leave on 22 September 1863, for which he paid a fine of $10 when he was apprehended the next day. At some point he was moved to the General Hospital in Baltimore, MD, and was discharged on 29 October 1863 and returned to his regiment. The hospital would seem to have misjudged his health, for on 7 November he fell out during a march between Warrenton and Rappahanock station in Virginia and was admitted to hospital near Brandy Station, VA on 12 November 1863 with typhoid. He remained in hospital until his discharge from the Douglas U.S.A. General Hospital in Washington DC on 14 March 1864. [4]

According to his sister Rosetta's step-daughter, Mrs. Cynthia Cooper, when he was discharged from the army, he returned to Onondaga County. Getting off at the depot, he spent the night at his sister's house, located near the depot, since he was not strong enough to walk home. He was unable to lay down and spent the night propped up in a rocking chair. Too weak even to bring in his valise, he offered to buy his niece candy if she would do it for him. It was cold weather when he came home and he remained in the area until the fall of 1864 when he removed to Mendon, St. Joseph Co. Michigan where his mother and sister Henrietta were now living. [5]

Judson's mother was living in a house on the property of her brother, James Rardeen. Judson performed farm labor for several of the farmers in the area, but was unable to put in a full day's work. According to his uncle, he suffered from heart disease and coughing and could do "only one-third the work of an able-bodied man." Said Mr. Rardeen: he did "expectorate considerably." Another of the men for whom Judson worked, David Handshaw, who owned the farm next to the Rardeens', said that "a half grown boy could out work him." He added that Judson "at times would spit blood" and that he "saw him spit blood in my barn first when we were threshing." [6]

Despite his frailties, Judson managed to court and marry a young girl. Emily McCaslin and Judson Rice met in the spring of 1865. At the time both were living with and working for William Hall, in Mendon. She later stated: "I knew him but a short time before we were married and I knew nothing about his disability except I knew he was short of breath at times until after we were married." [7] Emily was born on 16 August 1849, and was probably the daughter of Charles McCaslin and Sarah Robbins. Although her death certificate gives her father's name as John McCaslin, her mother's name, as well as her father's birthplace, are listed as unknown, suggesting that the informant, apparently Emily's grandaughter, knew little about her origins. [8] In the 1900 and 1910 census Emily's father's birthplace is given as Missouri, and her mother's as New York. [9] The 1850 census shows an Emily "McCastle", born in Indiana c. 1849, in the family of Charles and Sarah McCastle. The McCastles are living with the Robbins family in Prattsburg, Steuben Co. NY. Charles McCastle was born in Pennsyvlania and his wife in New York. [10] The 1860 census found Charles McCaslin remarried and indicates that his eldest son, John, was born in Missouri. The three younger children, including Emily, were born in Indiana. [11] Additionally, Emily named her eldest children Charles and Sarah, an unsurprising choice if these were her parents' names. These names do not appear in Judson's family.

Judson Rice and Emily McCaslin married on 16 July 1865 in Centerville, St. Joseph County. The ceremony was performed by Samuel Chipman, a justice of the peace. Judson was 22 at the time; Emily was fifteen. Both were residents of Mendon. [12] The newlyweds lived with Judson's mother in Mendon until the fall of 1869, when Judson and Emily returned to Judson's home town of Jordan, where they moved into a house owned by George Barnes. Judson tried desperately to support his family but had to rely on the kindness of neighbors to eek a living. According to family friend John Walker of Jordan, George Barnes only gave Judson work because Judson had been in the army. Emily testified to her husband's efforts to work and support his family: "My husband Judson Rice worked on a farm as long as he was able to do anything." [13] He was still working in 1870, when the family was enumerated in Elbridge, and Judson's occupation was given as farm work. Emily had two small children to tend. [14]

Judson's situation became desperate, however, when in the fall of 1873 he became paralyzed on his right side, presumably from a stroke. The paralysis eventually became total, and he was unable to speak and could only say no, even when he meant yes. According to his wife: "He was paralyzed so bad that the skin cracked open and water run out." Christ Church in Jordan took a keen interest in the plight of the Rice family, and Charlotte Daball, acting on behalf of the church, frequently visited the family to check on their welfare and provide relief. The Rice family joined the church during this time, and the three children were then baptized there. The Reverend Joel Davis visited Judson two or three times a week and was at his deathbed. Other than that, Judson seemed to have few visitors, as his pension file states that "few of soldiers neighbors in Jordan seemed to know anything about him." [15] The 1875 census listed him as an invalid, with three small children. [16]

Judson Rice died of paralysis on 25 April 1876 in Jordan, Onondaga Co. NY, and was buried on 27 April according to the records of Christ Church, Jordan, as noted by the special examiner who handled his widow's pension claim, although Emily Rice recalled her husband's death as occurring on 2 May. The Reverend Davis preached his funeral sermon. [17]

Judson had filed an invalid claim for paralysis on 27 September 1875 and Emily filed a widow's claim for the death of soldier from disease contracted in service on 22 September 1876. A pension of $4 per month backdated to 18 March 1864 up to 15 October 1873 was evenutally awarded to Emily. She received in addition $25 per month beginning 15 october 1873 until the date of Judson's death. She also received a widow's pension from that date until the date of her remarriage in 1880. All three children were granted a pension of $8 per month beginning in 1880 and increasing to $12 per month in 1886 until they reached the age of 16. [18]

After Judson's death, Emily remained in Jordan and married George W. Weare on 14 June 1880 in Jordan in a ceremony performed by the Reverend Davis. They were living in Elbridge in 1887. [19] George was born in England in January 1852. He immigrated to the United States in 1874 but had not been naturalized as of 1900, although he was a well-established resident and owned his his farm with a mortage. [20]

Emily died in Jordan at the age of 69 on 17 December 1918 of a stroke; arteriosclerosis and cancer of the stomach were contributing causes. She was buried in Jordan's Maple Grove Cemetery. [21] George died on 28 September 1930, aged 79 and is also buried in Maple Grove. Neither apparently received headstones, as their names appear in the sexton's list of burials, but not in a transcription of headstones. [22]

Judson Rice and Emily McCaslin had the following children:
 

Emily McCaslin and George Weare had the following children: