Jonathon Rice, Profile 20!

By: Karen Zach

Twenty – get that? Now, I’ve written about the Fruits and Vancleaves with many children each, the Deeres doing the same and other families with a dozen or so offsprings each but this family had 20, well at least dad did with two wives. Jonathan B. Rice was born 30 April 1790 in Henry County, Kentucky and married there 20 Feb 1812 to Rebecca Reynolds born 13 April 1795 Boone KY. She was a busy momma, birthing him eleven children, one later the same year of their marriage (William); Jesse James 1815; Elizabeth 1817; Washington 1819; Isaac E 1821; Jonathan Napoleon Bonaparte 1823; Jacob; 1825; Mary 1828; Rebecca Ann 1829; Catherine about 1830 and Joseph Jackson 1832. All as far as I know grew to adulthood.

Although I’m not sure what Jonathan’s middle name is, since they named their son Jonathan Napoleon Bonaparte (and later generations carried the name as well) always felt Jonathan’s B was likely Bonaparte, too. The Rice family headed to MoCo in late 1828, after Mary was born in Henry County earlier that year. Two more children were born to Rebecca in Montgomery County, Catherine and Joseph Jackson, although she passed about a year later (26 Sept 1833) so it could possibly have been with her dozenth, but likely she was just worn out. Buried Old Union Cemetery just north of Waveland.

JB married the next year in March in Parke County to Susan Wineland Mitchell, a 22-year-old widow, he being twice her age. They would produce nine more children (Andrew; Wallace; Eliza Jane (know nothing about her other than she was born 15 Oct 1839 at Waveland); Lucinda (who died at age 17); Lewis Cass; Milton; Thomas Joseph; James Albert and Susan Isabella. Two years after Susan Isabella’s birth (1855) Jonathan received bounty land (War of 1812 soldier) and most of the family moved to Kankakee County, Illinois (Milton, Thomas, Susan, Andrew passing there and Lewis Cass in Payne County, Oklahoma whereas James Albert went to Effie, Minnesota where he passed) where JB received 120 acres of land that was oddly on both sides of the Kankakee River. Susan Wineland Rice, daughter of Jacob Fredrick and Maria (Sies) Wineland, grew-up on the Montgomery/Parke County line in a close-knit family. However, there was quite a tragedy with her brother, Fred and his nephew being murdered by Fred’s jealous son, Milton. I have a fictionalized story of that account I might sneak into an ATC And, of Susan Wineland’s children, Wallace did stay in the area (about the only one) born 2 July 1837 near Waveland and passing away 18 Nov 1907 in Hillsboro marrying Rachel Stephens having a son and daughter (Susan and William Melvin).

The older of Jonathan B’s children stayed much better in our area, the oldest, William M. farmed and died in Fountain County marrying Mary Stevens and their children mainly stayed in the area as well (Rachel, Elizabeth, Mary Jane, Jonathan, William who died young and George Washington who was badly crippled).

Jesse James Rice stayed in Kentucky and Elizabeth married a Baptist minister, Reese Davis and stayed in the Waveland area producing three daughters and a son (Rebecca, Susan, Emma and William J).

Washington Rice also stayed here, marrying Permelia Deer and were parents of William, Jonathan (for his father), Simeon (for Permelia’s father), Martha, James Washington and Mary Elizabeth (for her mother) and were grandparents of about 25. These children married into area families: Davis, Glenn, Moore, Easley and Keyt.

Isaac E married Margaret Stephens, farmed in Fountain County and had two daughters, Rebecca for his mother, Mehitable for hers and son Abednego for her father. Unusual names.

Jonathan Napoleon Bonaparte married Narcissa McCollum, parenting five sons and three daughters, all mainly staying in the Newtown area.

Jacob died young and is buried in Attica. Mary wed Berriman Clore and lived their whole life in Brown Township, producing four daughters and two sons, marrying to the Thorn, Canine, Clore, McCampbell and Carters.

Ninth child, Catherine I know zip about – anyone?

Rebecca married Andrew Davis adding five more (grand)children, including (I think) a set of twin sons.

Lastly for the first batch of Rice children was Joseph Jackson who lived in the Newtown area, fathering another Jonathan Napoleon Bonapart, Edward, William Isaac, Eliza, Rebecca, Lydia and possibly Elizabeth. This JNP had such a sad ending, he telling his wife he was going to be in Newtown all day on business, she going to visit all day and a neighbor was to come and feed their horse. This neighbor found JNB Rice dead with a dram of carbolic acid beside him. The coroner declared it a suicide, but his brother protested saying murder – everything perfectly laid-out. He was only 44 and wrote no note. Some said he’d been mentally off and was highly jealous but few thought he’d have done that. Same ruling in the inquest, though.

Our Jonathan B. has no tombstone but on FindAGrave there is a photo of where he is supposed to be buried at Aroma Park in Kankakee Co IL right on the edge of the river in the Rice-Day Family Cemetery. The memorial even notes that his grave could not be in the river. Ahhhh. Sad. He died Christmas Eve in 1872. It is today (photo by Drew Smith) on private property and not really accessible but here’s what it kind of looks like! Wherever ya’ are resting, RIP dear man!

Mainly, the older of the Rice children remained in our area, while many of the second batch of children of Jonathan B’s family went to Illinois and beyond. And, yes, there were problems in the family, but overall, a nifty group. The Rice family most certainly went forth and prospered producing farmers who produced the same, all good men and women and at Jonathan’s death he left “19” of his 20 children, 92 grandchildren and 47 greats. Wow!

-Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County. You can reach her at [email protected].