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The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy

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Charles Henry Rhodes, Jr the only child of Charles Henry Rhodes and Birdie Jeannette Adcock Rhodes, resides on North friendship Road in the family home built by his maternal grand father, Henry Moncure Adcock in 1884. Born Apr. 14. 1924, he has lived his entire life in McCracken County except for the years spent in the service of his country during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart as well as the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster after the battle at the Remagen Bridge in Germany. During that battle he was seriously wounded and subseouently lost his leg at the age of 20.

His mother. Birdie Rhodes, was born Sept. 28,1880in McCracken County, the daughter of Mary Ellen Smith and Henry Moncure Adcock. A woman of many accomplishments, she served as Executive Secretary to the Secretary of Treasury (Department of Loans) Washington D.C before returning to Paducah to become a teacher and marry Charles Henry Rhodes, Sr. on June 16.1921. She died Aug. 5, 1967. His father also had many interests. He was an amateur boxer, a Jiggerman, and worked for Illinois Central Railroad for 40 years. Born Sept. 28,1880, the son of Richard Harry Rhodes and Laura Kagi Denbow Rhodes, he came to McCracken County with his family around 1900. His parents were traveling south by boat. The river was filled with ice and when the boat docked at Paducah, Laura refused to get back on, so the family stayed in Paducah.

Charles Rhodes is descended from families whose lives have touched and influenced American history. His paternal grandmother Laura Kagi Denbow Rhodes' sister was Anna Kagi Kochenour who wrote the words to Shenandoah. Her brother, John Henry Kagi was a journalist who was killed with John Brown at the Harper Ferry raid.

His maternal grandmother was Mary Ellen Smith (born Jan. 28,1856 in Pittsburg, PA) the daughter of William Alexander Smith and Louisa Jane Lobaugh Smith. W.A. Smith's great grandfather was James Smith, one of the signers of our Declaration of Independence.

December 18,1954, Charles Rhodes married Rena Delorus Harrison Manning (born June 27, 1909). She was the daughter of William Monroe Harrison (born Aug. 10, 1866, died Aug. 18,1911) and Maud Annis Howard (born July 14, 1884, died Mar. 24, 1969). Her children by a former marriage were James Huntly Manning (born Aug. 19, 1928) who married Anita Cole (born July 3,1932); William Ralph Manning born June 2,1933) who married Marilyn Harris (bom Jan. 4, 1939); and Shirley LuVena Manning (born Mar. 23,1937) who married Scott Beauchamp (born Aug. 29, 1933).

His beloved Delorusdied Aug. 31,1984,and is buried at Mount Kenton Cemetery in McCracken County. Submit ltd by Shirley Manning Besuchamp.

Title: History and Families, McCracken County, Kentucky, 1824-1989
Publisher: Turner Publishing Company, 1989, p. 219
ISBN: 0938021362, 9780938021360

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