Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... 
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File contributed for use by:
Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn

Author: History of Will County, Illinois; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.

John I. RICE, hay dealer, Peotone; born in Rutland Co., Vt., Feb. 16, 1837, where he lived 
until 1844, when he removed with his parents to Wheatland, Will Co., IL, and worked upon a 
farm until 1862, when he was engaged with the army as Government Agent in the Quartermaster's 
Department stationed at Pilot Knob, Mo., for one year, when he came North and contracted for 
the supply of hay to the Government, which business he followed for one year, shipping from 
Lockport and three other points in Illinois to St. Louis; in 1864, he again went South, and 
was Government Agent in the Quartermaster's Department until the close of the war, when he 
came North, and again located at Lockport in the lumber business for two years, when he went 
to Chicago and in the provision business, which he followed for two years, when, being burned 
out, he came to Joliet, and was for several months Steward of the Illinois State Penitentiary; 
in 1871, he came to Will Twp. and engaged in the raising, pressing, baling and shipping of 
hay to the Chicago and Eastern markets, which business he now follows at Peotone and Monee. 
He married in Lockport Dec. 17, 1868, to Fanny GOODWIN; she died October following. Married 
again June 11, 1873, Bella MILNE, of Lockport; they have by this union one child - Robert M., 
born Oct. 14, 1875. Mr. RICE was Supervisor of Will Twp. for 1877.