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- William Ernest "Will" Rhodes, was born in Michigan in 1871, and moved with his family to Phoenix AZ in 1888-89. In Phoenix, he met and married Frances Mae (Fannie) Buford b. July 26, 1878, daughter of Henry Clay and Mary Kennedy Buford. Will married Fan (who he affectionately referred to as "Patootie") in 1896 in Phoenix. They had been married 65 years at the time of his death in 1961. Will and Fan had four children; Cecil b. 28 Sep 1898, Buford b. 28 Sep 1905 (both born in Phoenix), Elizabeth b. Dec 1910, born and died in Prescott AZ, and Francis (birth and death unknown).
Will had a bike shop in Phoenix, located at 30 W. Washington St., where he sold, repaired and rented bikes. He advertised, "Vulcanizing and All Kinds of Repairing Done on Short Notice by Skilled Mechanics". About 1905 he and his family moved to Prescott, living at 124 Garden St. He opened a bike shop in Prescott as well, and when the automobile became available, his shop became the first Chevrolet dealership in Prescott. About 1914, Will was offered a Chevrolet Dealership in Los Angeles, so he and his family moved to California, where they lived at 1755 West 25th Street, Los Angeles, until after his death.
Will was an avid fisherman and especially enjoyed ocean fishing. He also enjoyed racing cars, cigars, and playing pranks on friends and family.
Cecil became a dentist, never married, and lived with his parents, caring for them until their deaths (Will in 1961, Fan in !971). Cecil died in 1989.
Buford went into business, married his wife, Dorothy, and had four children. He lived for many years at Cambria CA.
The family also had a vacation home at Lake Arrowhead CA which they enjoyed for many years, entertaining family and friends. Here, he and his brother Albert spent many summer afternoons throughout the 1950's sitting on the porch overlooking the lake, reminiscing and retelling stories of growing up in early Phoenix.
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