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History of Kentucky
By Charles Kerr, William Elsey Connelley, Ellis Merton Coulter
Published by The American Historical Society, 1922

page. 321

Henry Colclazier Rhodes. In a study of the careers and characters of men who have attained success in business affairs it is found that success is not a matter of genius but rather the results of experience, industry and sound judgment. The lives of those who have acquired prosperity prove in the majority of cases that they have been those who have devoted their careers to close application to business principles and have risen gradually, winning over obstacles by reason of self- reliance, concentration and honorable dealing. To these may be attributed the success that has crowned the efforts of Henry Colclazier Rhodes, president of the Rhodes-Burford Company, Inc., of Paducah, Kentucky, the leading furniture business of the western part of the state.

Mr. Rhodes was born at Lagro, Wabash County, Indiana, February 23, 1858, a son of Phillip Charles and Louisa (Rifenberick) Rhodes. His grandfather, Henry Rhodes, was born in England, in 1801, and as a young man came to the United States, spending some years at Baltimore, Maryland, and then becoming a pioneer into Indiana, where he engaged in farming and the manufacture of pottery. He died at Attica, Indiana, in February, 1866. Phillip Charles Rhodes was born in 1840, at Baltimore, Maryland, and was reared and educated at Attica, Indiana, and shortly after his marriage moved to Lagro, where he established himself in business as flour miller. Later he followed the same line of industry at Lafayette and Indianapolis, and in 1883 removed to Evansville, where his death occurred in 1913. He was a republican in political matters, fraternized with the Masons and Odd Fellows and was a member and strong supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Rhodes married Louisa Rifenberick, who was born in 1835, at Monticello, Indiana, and died at Lafayette, Indiana, in 1868, and they became the parents of three children: Henry Colclazier; May, who died at the age of forty-two years at Louisville, as the wife of David Guess, also deceased, formerly a railroad man and later a merchant at Louisville; and Frank, who died at the age of eleven years.

After attending the public schools of Lafayette and Attica, Indiana, Henry C. Rhodes took a two-year course at Asbury (now DePauw) University, Green- castle, Indiana, and in 1877 went to Texas, where he spent seven years on ranches, riding the range as a cowboy. Returning to Indiana in 1884, he later went to Cairo, Illinois, where he first became identified with the furniture business as a clerk, gaining much experience in this line between the years of 1888 and 1800. In the latter year he came to Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked in a furniture store until 1901, this being the year which marked his advent at Paducah. Upon his arrival he founded the present furntiure business known as the Rhodes-Burford Company, Inc., which under his supervision has become the leading business of its kind in Western Kentucky, carrying the largest and most complete lines of stock to be found in this section of the state. The main store is located at 118-120 North Fourth Street, Paducah, while branch stores are maintained at the corner of Fourth and Jefferson streets, Paducah, at Paris, Tennessee, and Metropolis, Illinois. The trade covers Western Kentucky, Western Tennessee and Southern Illinois, and the product of the company is widely known for its excellence and quality. The present officers of the company are: H. C. Rhodes, president; F. E. Lack, vice president; and R. M. Prather, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Rhodes is a democrat in his political allegiance. He has shown an active and constructive interest in the welfare and betterment of his adopted city, and is a member of the Board of Park Commissioners, a position which he has capably filled for the past fourteen years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and chairman of the Board of Stewards thereof. He is prominently known in Masonry, belonging to Plain City

Vol. V—30

Lodge No. 449, A. F. and A. M.; Paducah Chapter No. 30, R. A. M.; Paducah Council No. 32, R. and S. M.; Paducah Commandery No. n, K. T.; Mizpah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Madisonville, Kentucky; and Louisville Consistory, thirty-second degree. Other fraternal connections are with Paducah Lodge No. 217,

B. P. O. E., and Otego Tribe No. 6, I. O. R. M. He likewise holds membership in the Paducah Board of Trade, the Paducah Rotary Club and the Paducah Country Club. Mr. Rhodes' home, the old Thornburg residence at 317 North Seventh Street, is one of the finest in the city.

On February 15, 1888, Mr. Rhodes was married at Mount Vernon, Indiana, to Miss Elizabeth Decker, daughter of the late John Decker, who was engaged for years in the mercantile business at New Haven, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes there have been born nine children: Amos Giles, Hazel Louise, Clarence Henry, Charles Dover, Eugene Burford, Walter Dewey, Elizabeth, John Phillip and Frank Hurt. Amos Giles Rhodes is a graduate of the Paducah High School, and at present is manager of the Rhodes-Burford Company's store at Paris, Tennessee. Hazel Louise Rhodes, who attended Paducah High. School and took a two-year course at DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana, is the wife of Roy M. Prather, secretary and treasurer of the Rhodes-Burford Company. Clarence Henry Rhodes, a resident of Paducah, is bookkeeper and auditor for the Rhodes-Burford Company. Charles Dover Rhodes, a graduate of Paducah High School, took a course at the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, and is now manager of the Rhodes-Burford Company's branch store at Metropolis, Illinois. Eugene Burford Rhodes attended Paducah High School, and in 1917 entered the aviation corps of the United States Army. He was sent to England with the Royal Flying Squadron and saw active service, being honorably discharged and mustered out in December, 1919. At this time he is a resident of Paducah and a traveling representative for G. I. Sellers & Company, manufacturers of kitchen cabinets. Walter Dewey Rhodes, a graduate of Paducah High School, took a course at-the International Y. M.
C. A. College at Springfield, Massachusetts, and in July, 1917, enlisted in the United States Navy, being assigned to the hospital corps in the transport service at San Francisco. He was honorably discharged as a second class pharmacist mate in September, 1919, and is now shipping clerk for the Rhodes-Burford Company at Paducah. Miss Elizabeth Rhodes, a graduate of Paducah High School and Bethel College, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, resides with her parents. John Phillip Rhodes, clerk for the Rhodes-Burford Company, attended the Paducah High School, and in May, 1918, enlisted in the United States Navy and made several trips overseas conveying soldiers. He was mustered out of the service in October, 1919, as a first class seaman. Frank Hurt Rhodes, the youngest child, attended the Paducah High School, and is now assistant bookkeeper for Rhodes-Burford Company at Paducah, Kentucky.