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In taking up the personal history of Charles Benjamin Rhodes we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Schuyler county. He was born in this county on the 29th of June, 1849, a son of John and Lucretia R. (Collins) Rhodes. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to William Rhodes, the great-grandfather of our subject, who was a native of England and in a very early day crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Sussex county, New Jersey, thus founding the family in the new world. Among his children was John Rhodes, Sr., who was united in marriage to Maria Shackleton and their son, John Rhodes, Jr., became the father of our subject. He was born July 15, I824, in Sussex county, New Jersey, and obtained a common school education. Leaving his native state he removed to Havana, New York, and later he became a resident of Millport, this state. At the age of eighteen years he left school and began earning his own livelihood as a farmer. In 1848 he was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia R. Collins, a daughter of Benjamin Collins, who was a son of B. and Ruth (Whitney) Collins, who removed from Connecticut and settled in Lansing, Tompkins county, New York, more than a century ago. Benjamin Collins was born in Lansing, New York, March 18, 1805. and by his marriage he had nine children: Mahala J., born October 24, I826; Lucretia R., born November 20. 1828; Ann Sophia, born October 16, 1830; Calista E., born July 24, 1833; Sarah E., born November 4, 1835; Lucinda, born March 19, 1838; Etta Linda, born July 8, 1840; Barnett C., bor n October 7, 184.2; and Charles B., born July 2, 1845.

John and Lucretia R. (Collins) Rhodes began their domestic life in Millport, where they lived for six years, removing thence to Townsend, which was their place of residence for thirteen years. Their next home was in Moreland and here, as in the other communities in which he has resided, Mr. Rhodes is held in the highest respect by reason of his sterling worth. He had a family of four children: Charles B., born June 29, 1849; Mary E., born April 2, 1851; Adelia S., who was born May 30, I852, and is now deceased; and John G., who was born September 28, 1854. The mother of these c11ildren died July 8, 1858, and on the Ioth of February, 1859, Mr. Rhodes was again married, his second union being with Mahala J. Collins. They had but one child, Elmer F., who was born June 2, 1867, and is now conducting a store at the Moreland station. He married Stella Knilfen. In his political affiliations John Rhodes, the father of our subject, is a stalwart Republican, having supported the party since its organization. In his religious views he is a Methodist and his life has ever been honorable and upright, in consistent harmony with his profession.

Charles B. Rhodes of this review was reared amid the refining influences of a good Christian home and to the public school system he is indebted for the educational privilcges which he enjoyed until he reached the age of eighteen years. He then started out in life for himself and in 1881 he purchased the mill property which he still owns, conducting the business with good success. In 1902 he purchased his farm, comprising ninety-five acres and to its further cultivation and development he is now devoting his energies, in connection with his milling business. He is an enterprising, wide-awake and progressive man and in his business affairs he displays marked capability, careful management and keen discernment. He is now accounted one of the prosperous residents of his community and he is held in high respect by a large circle of friends, many of whom have known him from his boyhood. In politics he is a Republican and like his parents he has adhered to the faith of the Methodist church, which finds in him a zealous advocate and earnest member.

Title: A biographical record of Schuyler County, New York
Author: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publisher: The S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1903, p. 382.