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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.

Hannis Taylor, Memorial Record of Alabama: a concise account of the state's political, military, professional and industrial progress, together with personal memoirs of many of its people (Madison, WI: Brant & Fuller, 1893), Vol. 2, pp. 978-979.

Dr. E. d: Rhodes, a retired physician of Talladega county, was born July 17, 1832, in Georgia.  He is a son of Heflin S. and Elizabeth (Gunn) Rhodes, both of whom were natives of Georgia.  The former was a Baptist minister, a farmer and a clerk in the land office where the lands in Georgia were divided.  His education was entirely neglected in his youth, and he went to school to learn to write after he was a man of the family.  He is a son of Thomas and Prudence RhodesThomas Rhodes was also a Baptist minister, serving in that capacity for many years.  He was a soldier in the war of 1812.

Dr. E. d: Rhodes was reared in Georgia, and at the age of eighteen could not write his name.  After he became of age, his brother furnished him the means to attend school.  In 1858 he began the study of medicine and in 1859 entered the Medical college of Augusta, Ga.  In 1860 he began the practice of his profession at Crawford, Ga., and became the physician of Alexander H. Stephens.  In 1861 he enlisted in company D, Forty-ninth Georgia infantry, and was elected first lieutenant of the company.  He served under Stonewall Jackson in the earlier part of the war.  Dr. Rhodes was in the house of Alexander H. Stephens and in conversation with him, on the day that Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was removed from his command at Atlanta.  When the news came to him at that time, Mr. Stephens in answer to Dr. Rhodes' question as the effect of the removal, immediately remarked, "We are whipped." 

The doctor served until the close of the war, and then returned to Crawford, where he remained from May to October, 1865.  He then removed to Talladega county, having at that time but $60 in money with which to begin life over again.  In connection with his practice he conducted a small farm, raising his first crop with an ox.  Little by little he accumulated property until he now owns a large plantation, which is under a high state of cultivation, and upon which he lives in ease and dignity, a fitting condition for one who has behind him a well spent life.

July 10, 1864, he married Lucinda Wynn, daughter of James and Lockey (Barksdale) Wynn, both natives of Georgia.  Of the children born to the marriage of Dr. Rhodes and Miss Wynn only one survives, Ira W.  The mother was also a native of Georgia.  She died May 12, 1872.

On March 15, 1877, Dr. Rhodes married for his second wife, Mattie Allen, daughter of Matthew and Angeline (Drummer) Allen.  The former represented Calhoun county, Ala., in the lower house of the legislature for several years.  The second Mrs. Rhodes was born in Alabama, was reared and educated here, and died February 28, 1887, having had one child which died at the age of four years.  Dr. Rhodes and his last wife were members of the Baptist church.  He has served as justice of the peace for two years.  In politics he has always been a democrat and is a member of the state alliance.

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1850 Census, Warren Co., GA, M-432, Roll 86, p. 150 (Division 90): Dwelling 355, Family 355: Elizabeth Rhodes, 48, real estate $1,000, born Georgia; Radford G. Rhodes, 24, farmer, born Georgia, in school; Edwin d: Rhodes, 18, laborer, born Georgia.

[Dwelling 354, Family 354: Asa G. Rhodes, 33, farmer, real estate $750, born Georgia; Frances P. Rhodes, 33, born Georgia; Thomas P. Rhodes, 2, born Georgia; Mary E. Rhodes, 3(?)]

1860 Census, Hancock Co., GA, M-653, Roll 126, p. 270 (Mayfield P.O.): Dwelling 442, Family 487: A. Buckner, 50, overseer, born Georgia; E. d: Rhodes, 27, physician, born Georgia; Ed Alford, 7; M. Long, 25, farm laborer.

1870 Census, Talladega Co., AL, M-593, Roll 41, p. 567 (Township 19, Range 4): Edwin d: Rhoades, 37, farmer, real estate $2,000, personal estate $1,000, born Georgia; Lucinda Rhodes, 30, keeping house, born Georgia; Ira Rhodes, 5, born Georgia.

1880 Census, Talladega Co., AL, T-9, Roll 32, p. 123 (Mardisville): Dwelling 30, Family 31: E. d: Rhodes, 47, physician, born Georgia, parents born Georgia; Martha A. Rhodes, 36, wife, keeping house, born Alabama, parents born South Carolina; Ira W. Rhodes, 15, son, works on farm, born Georgia, parents born Georgia.

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