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FROM: History of Rush County, Indiana, from the Earliest Time to the Present: With Biographical Sketches, Notes, Etc., Together with a Short History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana.
BY: Brant & Fuller
Published: 1888

BAZIL RHODES was born in Monongalia County, W. Va., May 9, 1830; is the seventh in a family of nine children, born to Joel and Catharine (Stewart). Rhodes, the former born near Hagerstown, Md., 1783, and died in this county, June 27, 1873; the latter born in Virginia, July 5, 1790, and died in 1867. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and began life for himself by farming upon rented land, which he continued, until 1834, when he came to Rush County and purchased 160 acres of land for $600, and in the spring of 1835, brought his family to the new country and home; coming down the Ohio River by flat-boat and thence by wagon across the country to Noble Township. They reared a family of nine children, eight of whom are yet living. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church. The immediate subject of this sketch received a limited education and upon reaching his majority, began working at the carpenter trade, which he continued until 1862, when he enlisted in Company L, Third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Cavalry and accompanied Gen. Sherman on that memorable March. to the Sea. He was a brave and faithful soldier, and was honorably discharged at Indianapolis in August, 1865. Returning home he resumed work at his trade and this continued until 1873, when he purchased eighty acres of the homestead farm, where he now lives. He was reared a Democrat, but since 1856 has been a staunch Republican. Mr. Rhodes was married September 13, 1856, to Miss Martha J. Lower, whose death occurred in August, 1859. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes had one child, Florin, who died at the age of thirteen months. Mr. Rhodes is a member of Andersonville Lodge, No. 96, F. & A. M.; also of the Methodist Episcopal Church.