Obit: William Montgomery Guice, Franklin Parish, LA Submitted by Barbara Tuttle ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Source: Newspaper story on death of W.M. Guice William Montgomery Guice William Montgomery Guice, born in Wilkes County, Ga. October 9, 1828, died in Winnsboro, La. March 16, 1899 aged 70 years, 5 months, 4 days. The subject of this sketch was born in Wilkes County, Ga. October 9, 1828. His father was a farmer and he attended common and high school in his native state until his thirteenth year. The family, in October, 1844, moved to Bayou Bartholomew in Morehouse Parish, La. where they settled. They were accompanied by his uncle, William Gibson Guice, who first located with his family in Union Parish and moved from there to Ashley County, Ark. W. Gibson Guice was a Methodist minister and in late years represented his county in the legislature with great credit. In the spring of 1842, he and his brother, Newton Z., worked on the farm, but spent part of the latter at school in Bastrop. They then went to Missouri State University at Columbia, Missouri entering the preparatory department, October 1850 and the next session were promoted to the sophomore class. Both graduated in July, 1854. Newton Z. Guice, who entered the profession of law, enlisted in the Confederate service and was killed in 1863 (1864?) near Winchester, while leading his regiment, the eighth Louisiana, in a charge. A younger brother, M.A. Guice, also served with distinction being shot down and severely wounded while carrying the colors of the regiment. He, after the war, settled in Franklin Parish, practicing medicine, and died in 1881. After graduating in 1854, W. M. Guice settled in Caldwell Parish and engaged in teaching, which he did for two years. In March 1855, he married Miss Louretta, daughter of Reverend Thomas Meredith, a Baptist minister. They moved to this (Franklin) Parish where he taught school for a year and then was employed by the mercantile firm of Hooter & Holden. The year 1858, he spent in New Orleans, where he went as a student of the Medical Department of the University of Louisiana. During part of 1859, he did some practice and returned to New Orleans in the fall of the same year to continue his studies, graduating in 1860, when he returned to Winnsboro and located as a physician. When the Civil War broke out, Guice went into the Confederate service in command of a company of cavalry, doing active duty until May 25, 1865. Since then, he has been a constant resident of this parish, practicing his profession with great success and being considered one of the best physicians of the state. He was a deep student and "read up" in the tenets of medicine, so that his opinion on medical subjects was held in high esteem. His demise will be a severe loss to the medical profession. During the summer of 1892, Dr. Guice was appointed one of the school directors for the parish and at the organization of the board was selected as parish Superintendent, a position he held with high honor to himself and great benefit of the parish. It was during his term as superintendent that the true nobility of the man's nature became apparent. Recognizing the fact that educational advantages were the levels to elevate and improve the parish, he devoted --------- new school houses to be found in every portion of the parish are witnesses to his energy and good management. His many virtues are widely known. No one in distress ever appealed to him in vain. He freely gave his time and talents to the suffering. In the family circle, he was the kindest of fathers, a splendid citizen and a devoted and true friend. His last illness and death demonstrates the strong traits of his character. He watched the progress of his disease with a keen and intelligent interest and fought its advance with courage. But when he became convinced that his end was near, he put his house in order and awaited the final dissolution with calmness. His work is done; the world is better for his having lived in it and his mourning friends have the consoling thought that he lives again, for---"after the burden, the blissful mead, after the blight, the downy nest, after the furrow, the waking seed, after the shadowy river, rest!" At 1 o'clock Thursday-------the spirit of Dr. Guice was returned to his maker. Though the suffering------when the end came he died without a pang. Surrounded by his loving family, who had so tenderly watched his every movement for nearly a month, he passed away quietly and calmly into the great beyond, prepared and ready for the transition from life to immortality. He was 70 years old, 5 months and 7 days old. The funeral took place yesterday morning. At the ringing of the church bell every store was closed and the citizens turned out en masse to pay the last tribute of respect to one who was dearly loved and respected and whose long life had been spent in the service and upraising of his fellow man. We do not remember ever having seen in our little town a larger procession. The body lay in state in the parlor and the beautiful casket was covered with lovely flowers, gifts of loving friends. The casket was borne by 12 pallbearers, one set of 6 relieving the other at intervals. Leaving the house, the coffin passed between-----deceased old comrades the Confederate veterans who then took their position in front of the procession. There were 28 in number and 2 old Federal veterans who had asked to join the ranks. Next to the veterans came Rev. A.W. Moore and pall bearers-then the coffin. Behind the coffin came the family, then the school children, numbering over 100, accompanied by the teachers. Then followed a long procession of over 150 ladies and gentlemen. The services at the church were touching, the music of high order. Rev. A.W. Moore, who officiated, delivered a eulogy on the life of the deceased, which was a master effort and evidently came from the heart and the speaker. He was listened to with profound attention by the large audience. The services were concluded at the grave and the mortal remains of a ------- man are at rest.