OBITUARY: Amador Dispatch May 4, 1906, Volume 47, Issue
33
Mandana Rice died on
4/29/06 between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. in her home about 4 miles east of
Jackson. She was born Mandana Bradley on
August 11, 1822 in Randolph County, Missouri.
She married David B. Rice and crossed the plains in 1853. One year later they moved to Amador County
and since 1858 she lived in the same house near New York Ranch. Her husband died 25 years ago. She had 8 children, 2 deceased, 15
grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
She was 83 years, 8 months and 18 days of age. Funeral services were held on May 2, 1906.
INQUEST HELD ON April 29,
1906, Jackson, Amador County, CA
State of California, County
of Amador
Documents held by Amador
County Archives, Jackson, California; Larry Cenotto, Archivist.
An Inquisition upon
the body of Mandania Rice who was found dead on April 30(sic), 1906 near New
York Ranch, Amador County.
April 30, 1906 She was
found dead in bed. Questions asked of
her son W. C. Rice:
Q: What is your name
A: W. C. Rice
Q: Are you a son of the deceased?
A: Yes, sir
Q: Were you living in the house at the time of
her death?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: When did you last see her alive?
A: About 8 o'clock April 29, 1906.
Q: Did she seem to be in good health?
A: She seemed to be as usual.
Q: Would you please explain to the jurors how
she talked last evening?
A: It was about Eleven O'clock when she called
me and said, "I am sick. I am afull
(sic) sick and I want some Salatiras (?) water and I said can I do anything for
you and she said "no, don't bother yourself" and I went back to sleep
and I got up at five o'clock and went out and fed the chickens and then came in
the kitchen and started the fire, and came in to kindle the fire in the sitting
room and called to her and called again and got no answer so I went in the room
and I found her dead, partly in bed and feet resting on the floor.
Q: What did you do when you found her?
A: I ran up to Amos Harman and then I went to
Jackson.
Q: Is there any questions for the jurors to ask
the witness?
~0~
Mandana was the sister of my 2nd great grandmother, Susan A. Bradley Davis. It took me about 30 years of researching before I located her -- and then it was because of a Power of Attorney entered into a Schuyler County, Missouri Deed Book in 1852. Her father Thomas Bradley had recently died, and her mother Elizabeth wanted to sell the old home place but needed all the heirs (their children) to go on record as approving of the sail. Mandana had moved to California; the family knew but we researchers didn't have a clue. She gave her Power of Attorney to her brother-in-law John G. Davis, and in it she indicated that she and her husband, David Rice, now lived in Amador County, California. This Power of attorney was entered in the Deed Book, along with the signatures of all the other heirs.
Mandana didn't know that she was lost and found, but I did some 100+ years later.
