Charles Dearmont, "Mont" was born September 21, 1869, in Fenton, Genesse Co. Michigan. His parents, James Peters Rhodes and Mary McBride Rhodes, were newly married and living next door to James' older brother, Charles. James Peters Rhodes' older children from his previous marriage (Frank b. 1865 and Amanda b. 1867) were living with their grandmother, Betsy Ann (Peters) Rhodes in Corunna, Shiawassee Co. Michigan.
On the 1870 census James Peters Rhodes lists his occupation as "retailing flour" so he has not yet joined his brother-in-law, Harvey Phipps, (also of Fenton) to learn photography. Charles Rhodes (no doubt after whom Mont was named) lists his occupation as jeweler; an occupation he seems to have kept throughout his life.
In 1888-89 Mont moved with the family to Phoenix AZ. Mont never married, and in his twenties contracted consumption (tuberculosis). He spent at least one summer (probably 1897) in Prescott, camping at Iron Springs with his younger brother, Albert.
To get to Prescott, Albert rode his bike from Phoenix (through Wickenburg and Skull Valley) on the railroad tracks. Sleeping beside the tracks along the way, this trip took him three days of hard riding. He could never ride slowly on the tracks for then he would feel every bump, so he had to keep moving fast enough to keep the bike from hitting each tie along the way. While camping at Iron Springs, Albert was in charge of getting supplies. Albert would ride his bike into Prescott each day to get what was needed, then catch the train out of Prescott at 3:00p.m. checking the bike as baggage and getting off at Iron Springs with the supplies and bike.
Mont died in the spring of 1898, at the age of 28.
The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy
1869 - 1898 (28 years)
