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James Haywood Rhodes, Jr. went by "Jim" to differentiate himself from his father, whom everone knew as Haywood. Jim was a mild tempered person, frequently quiet, but when he spoke, what he said was what he meant - and what he wanted done. He was a serious person.
He was a farmer. But for a number of years, he and his brother, Emmett, operated the ferry that crossed the Clinch River. Speers Ferry, the name of the community where the farm is located, began when Joseph Speers started ferry to cross the Clinch. The Speers family operated it for a number of years. They had stopped by the time that Jim and Emmett were running it. This only lasted until the bridge was built so that cars could easily pass over the river.
Jim remained single for many years. When he finally did marry, he married Lillie Taylor, who was 19 years younger than him. This earned him the nickname by many, "Old Man." This was Lillie's second marriage. She was briefly married to J. J. Paige, a carnival operator and owner. It did not last long. Lillie was more of a homebody than even she knew. She did not like life on the road. During their brief marriage, she became pregnant, but the child did not live long. They were soon divorced.
Shortly after Jim and Lillie were married, Emmitt bought the farm from Lillie's father, E. F. Jim and Lillie moved into the main house and set up their home.
Because of the differences in their ages, jealousy played a part early in their marriage. Jim and Lillie separated very briefly. It started over Lillie going to the milk gap. A neighbor was also going there, and Jim accused her of going to meet him. Lillie went to Bob and Alma Taylor's by train. They counseled her and then took her back to the farm to Jim. Bob talked to to his brother-in-law, Jim, and it was all worked out.
Jim and Lillie did not have a church affiliation. Their son, Jim, would often go to Horton Chapel Methodist, but they did not. It was most work and family for them.
Illness played a big part in their later lives. Jim suffered at least two major strokes. The first was in the early 1950s, when his son, Jim, was in the Navy. His son received a discharge in order to come back home and look after his family. The second stroke came a couple of years later and was paralyzing, leaving him bedridden. It was likely a stroke that killed him in 1957.
Lillie died from a brain aneurysm. It came suddenly. Her daughter, Ruby, who was suffering from a number of different health problems at the time and unable to get out of bed, was in the next room, but unable to reach her. Lillie was found by Millard Qualls, who looked after the farm following Jim's death.
Census:
Listed in the 1930 Scott County, Virginia Census, Powell District, as follows: James Rhodes, head, 42, farmer; Lillie A., wife, 27; James H., son, 1 6/12. Also listed on the same sheet: Robert E. (Emmit), head, 52, farmer; Annie, sister, 34. And Anna Rhodes, head, 32, merchant, grocery store.
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The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy
1885 - 1957 (71 years)
