Part of the Wisconsin Biographies Project
J. Rossman Rice
J. Rossman Rice, of the firm of Rowell & Co., manufacturers of plows and cultivators, Hartford; is the son of John H. and Susan (Rossman) Rice; was born in Sharon, Ohio, June 18, 1842; when 15 years of age, he came to Hartford and began the study of medicine with his brother John A., he was educated in the common schools and at Oberlin College, Ohio; in 1860, he went to California and where he remained four years, during which time he was in the employ of the firm of Briggs & Haskell, fruit growers, proprietors of the largest orchards in the world; during the last two years of his connection with these parties he was superintendent of the orchards; he returned to Hartford in 1865, and, shortly afterward, bought an interest in the plow and cultivator works of Rowell & Co. (1866), and has continued that connection to this writing; at the time of his buying into the establishment, the business was conducted on a small scale; the machinery was run by a two-horse tread-power, the annual products amounting to only $4,700; the factory is now run by a 30-horse-power engine, and the yearly business has been worked up to $28,000; a full description of the works is given under the head of "Industries of Hartford." Mr. Rice was married, April 22, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Watson, daughter of John and Mary Watson, of Ohio, then residing at Hartford, Wis. Two sons were born to them-Ralph and Roy. Mr. Rice is one of the most active and enterprising men of Hartford.
Sources:
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"History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin," published in 1881 by Western Historical Company.