Cecil B. Rhodes, real estate, loan and insurance agent, at Lamar, Mo., was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., January 3, 1858, being a son of Marcus L. and Sarah E. (Harmony) Rhodes, who were born in Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. They were both taken to Indiana when young, and were there reared and married, the father being engaged in mercantile pursuits. When the war broke out he went out as captain of Company A, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was afterward promoted to the rank of colonel of his regiment. Shortly after being promoted he took the measles and died, at Memphis, Tenn., being only about thirty years of age. His widow is residing with her father in Barton County. Cecil B. Rhodes is the only surviving one of two children, and received his early education in the schools of Fort Wayne. When only fourteen years old he began clerking in a store, continuing five years, and then opened a store of his own at Concord, Ind., and later at Auburn, Ind., but was burned out at the latter place, losing everything. After traveling a year for a New York boot and shoe house, he resigned and came to Lamar, and in 1883 established his present business, in which he is doing well. He was $1,500 in debt on coming to the county, but is now the owner of 1,200 acres of land, besides town property. August 27, 1884, he was married to Miss Sallie B. Finney, a native of St. Louis and a daughter of Capt. William H. Finney, and by her has one child: Charley. Mrs. Rhodes is a member of the Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat, and a K. of P.
From the book entailed "The History of Barton County, Missour"
Published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889
The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy