Born: November 17, 1862
Died: June 18, 1941
Married: Fred M. Rice
Children: a daughter, Mrs. Minnie Benvenuto, and an adopted son, John (established by Betsy Tisdale, researcher and writer on Martha Reben)
Perditta Bliss Rice, known as "Kate," was an early resident of Saranac Lake. She was the great aunt of Natalie Leduc.
Lake Placid News, June 20, 1941
Member of Early Adk Family Dies
Mrs. Perditta Bliss Rice, 78, widely known pioneer resident of the Adirondacks, died at St. Mary's hospital, Saranac Lake, on Wednesday night following a brief illness.
Mrs. Rice was born in a log cabin at Wilmington on November 17, 1862, daughter of John and Mary Musgrave Bliss. She and her husband once lived in Lake Placid.
Mrs. Rice at an early age learned many household skills which are now extinct. She was adept at candle making, sheering sheep, spinning and carding wool, making clothes and concocting medicine from herbs.
When she was a young woman, Mrs. Bliss spent a winter at Adirondack Lodge and later often recalled how she could hear panther stalking near the lodge at night. She was personally acquainted with Henry Van Hoevenberg, sportsman who built the lodge, and for whom the bobsledders mountain was later named.
Mrs. Bliss also knew Paul Smith and Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau, the latter, she recalled, being known to Paul Smiths residents as "the sick doctor."
Her brother, the late Heman Bliss, was one of the founders of the George & Bliss boat business in Lake Placid.
She is survived by her husband, Fred Rice; a sister, Mrs. Etta Brewster of Peasleyville; three brothers, George of Nashua, N. H.; Arthur of Detroit, and John of Essex; a daughter, Mrs. Minnie Benvenuto of Rochester.
Funeral services were conducted at the A. Fortune Funeral home Saturday afternoon. Rev. Theodore R. Bundy officiated. Burial was in Pine Ridge cemetery.
