The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy
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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. 107-108.
David E. Rhoads, Muhlenburgh County, is the eldest of two children - one boy and one girl - born to Christopher and Sarah A. (Downing) Rhoads. He was born November 27, 1842, in Yazoo County, Miss. His parents were born in Muhlenburgh County, Ky., and Northumberland County, Va., respectively. Christopher Rhoads was the son of David and Elizabeth (Vaught) Rhoads, both natives of Virginia. David was a son of Solomon Rhoads, who was born in Germany.
The mother of the subject was the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Wildy) Downing, born in Scotland and Virginia, respectively. Edward Downing was a Revolutionary soldier, and a son of Thomas Downing, of Scotch and English origin.
The father of our subject moved with his parents to Mississippi about 1829, and the mother with her parents came to the same State in 1836. The father died in 1849. In the same year David E. moved with his mother to Kentucky.
David E. Rhoads was reared on a farm; received a fair common school education, and taught school in Muhlenburgh County; then farmed until September, 1861, when he enlisted in Company H, Eleventh Kentucky Infantry, under Capt. Sketoe; took part in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro, siege of Knoxville, Atlanta, and numerous skirmishes; was discharged as orderly, December, 1864; returned and took a prospective trip through the West. In 1870 he engaged in the grocery business at Nelson Creek, Muhlenburgh County for three years, when he engaged in farming until 1882, afterward he engaged in the livery business with Mr. Williams, in Greenville, Ky.; sold his interest in the spring of 1884, and returned to farming. He owns 425 acres of land in good condition.
He was married in April 1869, to Ella K. Heck, of
Muhlenburgh County, and a daughter of Evan and Eliza (Wilson) Heck, natives of
Muhlenburgh and Daviess Counties, of German descent. One boy blesses this union
- Edwin C. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes are members of the Baptist Church; he is a
member of the I.O.O.F.
