HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
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tensive land-owners of the county. He had various interests in addition to his land holdings, and was active in promoting the material prosperity of the county from the time of his settlement among the pioneers until his death, which occurred in 1889. He was married in 1835 to Miss Jane Van Dover, of Ulster County, N. Y., who died in 1885. In 1903 the living children of this pioneer family were Joseph, Isaac, Mrs. Elizabeth (Reynolds) Judd, Mrs. Olive (Reynolds) Hess, Miss Grace Reynolds, and Mrs. Minnie (Reynolds) Owens.
JOSHUA RHODES, pioneer farmer, Big-Rock Township, Kane County, was born in Oldham, Eng., in 1800, and died in Aurora in 1891. He came to the United States in 1818, and for a time was employed in a woolen mill in Boston, Mass., coming thence to Illinois, and making his home in Big Rock Township, Kane County, in 1838. Purchasing land from the Government, he converted it into the fine farm on which he lived until about 1885, when he removed to Aurora. The old farm is still in possession of his son, Joshua H. Rhodes, of Aurora. Mr. Rhodes was Town Clerk and Postmaster at Big Rock Center for many years, and was conspicuous among the pioneers of that early day for his sterling character and genuine worth. His wife, who was born in Wales, bore the name of Martha Powell before her marriage. She died in 1876.
RUSSELL RICHARDSON (deceased), manufacturer, born at Watertown, N. Y., March 20, 1835; came with his parents to Aurora, Ill., in 1843; in 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving until the close of the war. Returning to Aurora after the close of the war, he engaged in contracting and building, -which had previously been his occupation. He later engaged in the lumber trade and established a sash, door and blind factory at Aurora and Little Rock, Ark. Mr. Richardson was married in 1859 to Miss Eliza Akers, and their living children are: Charles R., William A. and Harry H. Mr. Richardson died June 12, 1894; his wife still survives.
JOHN D. RICE (deceased), in his life-time a prominent merchant of Aurora, born in Western New York. Dec. 16, 1825, was educated "in the local schools, and was trained a decorator and painter. For twenty years he followed his trade in Kalamazoo, Mich., and for four years in Chicago; in 1869 he established the firm oi' J. D. Rice & Son in Aurora, a firm that is still in existence. For more than thirty years Mr.
JOHN D. RICE.
Rice was conspicuous among the business men of Aurora, where he died Nov. 2, 1902. Miss Charlotte Howland became his first wife, and died leaving one son, W. H. S. Rice, who joined his father in business after leaving school, and is now the head of the firm. In 1862 Mr. Rice married Miss Mary A. Collins, also of Kalamazoo. The only child of this union, Helen, died when twelve and a half years old. Mrs. Mary A. Rice died Jan. 3, 1904. Mr. Rice was an elder in the Presbyterian church in Aurora for many years, and was always active in its behalf.
BRADFORD G. RICHMOND, Cashier Kane County Bank, Elburn, Ill., was born April 19, ] 850, at Campton, Kane County, and educated in the home schools. He was reared a farmer but was engaged in the grocery business for two years at DelCalb, which he disposed of because his wife's failing health necessitated a change of climate. They went to Southern California, where he carried on a contracting and building business for two years, then returning
