John A. Rice, a well-to-do farmer of Sacred Heart township, was born in a log house on section 22, Feb. 1, 1872, son of August W. and Rodena (Swenson) Rice. He attended the district schools of his neighborhood and the graded schools of Renville, and was reared to farm pursuits by his father. March 24, 1896, he purchased his present place on section 24, Sacred Heart township. The buildings were poor and the farm was not well developed. Mr. Rice has erected a modern home and has made many other improvements. He successfully carries on general farming and makes a specialty of Holstein cattle and full-blooded Duroc-Jersey swine. Mr. Rice is one of the originators of the Sacred Heart Farmers' Telephone Co., secretary of the Renville Shippers' Association, and a stockholder in the Renville Farmers' Co-operative Elevator. For nine years he has served on the school board of his district. He is an active member of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Renville and is at present serving as one of its trustees. Mr. Rice was married Nov. 5, 1896, to Ingeborg Samuelson, a native of Sacred Heart township, and they have five children: Walter Cornelius, Dora Adeline, George Alfred, Inez Josephine and Mildred Cornelia Rice.