John T. Rice

John Tyler Rice (May 24, 1839 – April 8, 1925) was an American farmer, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Racine County during the 1877 term. He also served as a Union Army officer during the American Civil War.

He was the first American child born in the township of Rochester, Wisconsin (which then comprised all of the present territory of Rochester and Waterford). His father, Ira A. Rice, was a founder of Waterford, Wisconsin, and also served in the State Assembly.

Early life Rice was born on May 24, 1839, in what is now the town of Waterford, in Racine County, Wisconsin Territory. He was the first American child born in the township, his parents having arrived there about three years earlier. He received a common school education and went to work as a farmer in Waterford.

Civil War service Shortly after the outbreak of the American Civil War, Rice volunteered for service in the Union Army. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in Company C, in the 15th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. The 15th Wisconsin Infantry was known as the "Scandinavian Regiment" due to the large number of Norwegian, Danish, and Swedish immigrants serving in the ranks. The regiment mustered into federal service February 14, 1862; they left Wisconsin about two weeks later, traveling south for service in the western theater of the war.

Almost immediately after arriving in southern Missouri, the regiment was ordered into the Battle of Island Number Ten, but Rice's company was among three that sat out the battle, remaining for the defense of their camp at Bird's Point, Missouri. They rejoined the regiment at Island Number Ten shortly after the battle, as the regiment had been reassigned to guard large stores of ammunition and other materiel that had been captured there.

Personal life and family John Rice was one of two known children of Ira A. Rice and his wife Orilla ( Caldwell). The Rice family were descendants of Edmund Rice, a colonist who arrived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638.

On April 11, 1866, John Rice married Helen Amelia Boughton of New York. They had four daughters and were married for 43 years before her death in 1909.

Rice resided in Burlington until old age, when he moved to the Milwaukee Soldiers Home. He died there on April 8, 1925, at age 85.