From left, siblings Tom Rymers, Bill Rymers, and Robin Nelson stand next to the grave of their great-great-grandfather, Ezekiel Rice, on Sept. 13. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

ELMORE – Tom Rymers lives on the Elmore farm along the banks of the Portage River that his ancestors purchased over 200 years ago, and he knows a lot about his family history that spanned two centuries. But this year, the Fort Stephenson Chapter of the U.S. Daughters of 1812 gave him the gift of a new family honor. They discovered that Rymers’ great-great-grandfather, Ezekiel Rice, served in the War of 1812.

On Sept. 13, members of the Fort Stephenson Chapter hosted a Grave Marking Dedication at Rice’s grave at Rymers Cemetery, just steps from Rymer’s house. Fort Stephenson Chapter President, Kim Knepper, placed a War of 1812 flag marker at Rice’s grave and led a ceremony honoring his service.

Kim Knepper, the president of the Fort Stephenson Chapter of the U.S. Daughters of 1812, leads a Grave Marking Dedication at the grave of Ezekiel Rice on Sept. 13. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Rice enlisted in the war in Champaign County, where he originally settled with his parents. He reached the rank of sergeant while he served with the Ohio Militia, helping to deliver supplies to various forts in Ohio. His service was discovered when

Knepper started researching local War of 1812 veterans.

“One of the things we focus on in our chapter is finding records of service for the War of 1812,” she said. “We want to bring awareness of the war and how important it is. There was a lot of fighting here on the shores of Lake Erie.”

When Knepper discovered Rice’s service record, she contacted Rymer, who was unaware of his great-great-grandfather’s military experience.

This War of 1812 flag markers was placed on the grave of Ezekiel Rice on Sept. 13. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“This day is very special because Kim and the Daughters of the War of 1812 provided us with something we didn’t have up to this point, and that was Ezekiel Rice’s service record,” Rymer said. “We have a lot of anecdotal records about the work that he did and where he was, but the service in the War of 1812 was completely new to me.”

Finding veterans from the War of 1812 is not an easy task.

“We do research. We look through databases and War of 1812 records,” Knepper said. “It’s hard to find records from the War of 1812. It’s not as popular as the Revolutionary War.”

The Fort Stephenson Chapter wanted to honor Ezekiel Rice “because he’s a local pioneer” and because it is a way to highlight the War of 1812 veterans from the area.

Elmore Legion Post 279 provided a color guard at the Grave Marking Dedication. In addition, Nancy Pickens read a poem, and Sandra Best said a prayer during the ceremony. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“We have several of them, being that Ohio was one of the battlegrounds during the War of 1812,” Knepper said.

A large crowd gathered at the Rymer Farm for the Grave Marking Dedication.

“This is tremendous,” Rymers said. “I can’t believe how many people showed up, how many people love local history.”

For more information on the National Society United States Daughters of 1812, visit www.usdaughters1812.org.