John Phillip Arntz Sr. and his wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" Rice, early settlers of Vickeryville, Montcalm Co., MI During the Civil War, 1861-1865, his sons John ll and Henry, took part. Sylvester Arntz another of the four, came to Evergreen Township and purchased land of William Stone in Section 35. Henry Arntz purchased land in Section 1, Bushnell Township, Montcalm Co., MI. Elizabeth passed away on 6 Dec 1869 in Montcalm County. John died 15 May 1874 and is buried beside wife Elizabeth "Betsy" in the Vickeryville Cemetery, also known as Maple Ridge Cemetery.

A bit about John & Elizabeth (Arntz) Rice: John had served in the war of 1812 enlisting 24 Aug 1814 serving under Capt. Samuel D. Culberson's company of Pennsylvania Volunteers and was discharged 22 Sept 1814. He had stood guard over the magazine at Baltimore for 48 hrs. in succession during the campaign there. Fort McHenry was under seige by the British. During that attack Francis Scott Key was aboard a vessel that was marooned in Baltimore Harbor and wrote the words to the Star Spangled Banner. John later removed to Canton County, OH where he married Elizabeth Reis (Rice) 7 Feb 1827. They are ennumerated in the census in Williams County, OH in 1850. The family had moved on to Bushnell Twp., Montcalm Co., MI by 1860 where they were ennumerated at Line 606, Dwelling 64. John and family are still there for 1870 at Dwelling #261 and Family number #265. He is listed as a Farmer in all the census records.