My Genealogy Hound

John B. Rice, farmer and citizen of Haywood County, is a native of White County, Tenn., and was born within one mile of Sparta, August 19, 1826, and is the son of Col. Theodrick and Mary (Harbert) Rice, both natives of Virginia. The father engaged in a number of business enterprises. At one time he owned a foundry in East Tennessee; at another he was a prominent dry-goods merchant at Sparta, and later he was running at the same time two or three grist and saw-mills, meeting with success in all his efforts. He commanded a regiment in the war of 1812, and was with Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. Mr. Rice, Sr., was a devoted and influential member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, and contributed liberally to its support; he was the father of three sons and four daughters; one daughter died. Our subject was the third son; he received a good education, and has always given his attention to farming. He married two sisters, Isabella and Sarah Shaw; both are dead. By his first wife he had seven children—six sons and a daughter; the latter and one son died. Mr. Rice is a Democrat, and for fifteen years a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, and is now a deacon in the church. In 1862 he entered the Confederate service in Company B, Sixteenth Tennessee Cavalry, and was first lieutenant of this company. They were placed in Gen. Forrest’s command and remained there until the war closed.