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The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy

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Thanks to Wayne Rhodes of the Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg, Virginia for bringing us the following data. Check out their website at www.jmlibrary.org.

Westerfield, Thomas W., editor, Kentucky Genealogy and Biography (Volume III) Sketches from Butler, McLean, Muhlenburgh, and Ohio Counties Reprinted from Kentucky: A History of the State by Battle, Perrin, Kniffin, 1885. (Owensboro, KY: Genealogical Reference Co., 1971), p. 184.

Daniel James Rhoads, Ohio County, is the son of Riley and Nancy (Jones) Rhoads, the former a native of Muhlenburgh County; born in 1807.  While yet in his infancy his parents removed to Warrick, Ind., where they settled among the Indians.  About the close of the last century [18th], his great-grandfather came to Hartford, Ohio County, and assisted in building the first fort established there, and was engaged in many Indian wars.

Mr. Rhoads is the third of ten children, eight of whom are now living.  He was born April 9, 1834.  His father was at that time a farmer in Indiana, having gone to that place about seventy-three years since; he was the first to join the Washingtonian Society in Warrick County; he died in 1872.  Mr. Rhoads' mother was distinguished for perseverance and industry, and for the faithful performance of Christian duty; she and her husband were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; she was born in 181, and is still living at Boonesville, Ind.

Mr. Rhoads received his education in an old log schoolhouse, at the last named place.  In the spring of 1860, he removed to Muhlenburgh County, Ky., and was there engaged in farming during seven years.  He then entered into partnership with his uncle, Peter H. Baker, in the nursery business, under the firm name of Baker & Rhoads.  This business was continued nine years.  He is now extensively engaged in the fire and life insurance business.

March 27, 1861, he married a second cousin, Rachel V. Rhoads, a native of Muhlenburgh County, born June 30, 1844.  They have had eight children, seven of whom are living.  Mr. and Mrs. Rhoads are members of the Beaver Dam Baptist Church, which was organized in 1798, and was for a long time attended by people from a great distance; women and children often walking from Hartford to this church.

At the breaking out of the war, in 1861, Mr. Rhoads took the part of the Union and became a firm Republican, although his grandfather was a slaveholder, and had at that time thirty or forty slaves. 

Mr. Rhoads is a man of exemplary habits.  In his boyhood he became one of the first cadets in a boys' temperance society, and has never used either whisky or tobacco.

Many incidents of the early life of Mr. Rhoads' ancestors are worthy of note.  Henry Rhoads, fifteen years old, a brother of Mr. Rhoads' grandfather, wandered nine days at one time through the woods.  A company from the fort took this boy, Henry, along on a hunting trip, to carry in the game.   They killed a bear, and, loading it on to the horse started the boy for home.  He got lost, and becoming tired, he lay down to rest and soon fell asleep.  The horse, in the meantime, started for home and left the poor boy to wander around until relief should come.  He lived on frogs, and when found was insane, and had to be run down.  He was so bewildered that he did not know his father or mother, and had to be guarded several days.

D. J. Rhoads' father and mother saw the first steamboat on the Ohio River, and were filled with terror.  The grandfather relates that in the earthquake of 1812, people thought the world was coming to an end, and all were on their knees praying for mercy; at another time the falling stars had the same effetc.  In 1816, the cold was very severe, with ice every month in the year, and all came near starving.  In the early settling of Warrick County, Ind., they had lynch law, but after a few years Daniel Rhoads, and others, organized a court, and Daniel Rhoads was judge of the first court held in Warrick County, which court was held in his house.


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