LEANDER L. RHODES, a well-to-do farmer in Westhampton, Hampshire County, Mass., was born in this town, March 23, 1833, son of Spencer L. and Esther (Ludden) Rhodes, the former of Westhampton, the latter of Chesterfield. Spencer L. Rhodes was a farmer, whose entire life was spent in Westhampton, where he died in July, 1876, his wife having passed away nine years before. They were the parents of three children, namely: Leander L. Albert A., a farmer in Huntsburg, Ohio; and Horace S., who is associated in business with Jacob Holley in Northampton.
Leander L. Rhodes in his childhood attended the public schools, of Westhampton, where he mastered the common English branches, and at home learned to do farm work, acquiring in the mean time the knowledge of natural history and the principles of growth and fruition which come to every farmer’s boy, to whom Nature’s work-room is open from the time when the first tender bud appears on the branch until is seen
"The unnatural red
Which Autumn paints upon the perished leaf."
In 1858 Mr. Rhodes bought for a home the estate in Huntington known as the Knight farm, and was there engaged in general farming till 1864, when he purchased the handsome property of which he is now owner. This estate comprises two hundred and seventy acres, about fifty of which are devoted to raising crops. Mr. Rhodes also keeps some good stock.
On January 1, 1857, he was united in marriage with Mariette Adams, who was born in Huntington on April 30, 1837. Her parents, Martin and Sallie (Brown) Adams, were lifelong residents of Huntington. They died some time since. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes has been blessed by the following children, now grown to maturity: Lyman, a farmer in Gove County, Kansas; Lilla, who is with her parents; Carrie, wife of A. M. Coit, of Huntington; and Alice, wife of P. A. Connery, also of Huntington. All enjoyed in childhood and youth good educational advantages.
In politics Mr. Rhodes favors the Republican party. He is not an office-seeker, but has served with credit on the Board of Selectmen for four years in Westhampton. Mrs. Rhodes is a member of the Congregational church in this town. They have a pleasant home, and are enjoying in the afternoon of life the comforts of prosperity for which the master of the house has worked long and well, his good wife, needless to say, performing her full share of the daily tasks, as farmers’ good wives do.
From the book entitled: Biographical review; this volume contains biographical sketches of the leading citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts
by Biographical Review Publishing Company
Publication date 1896
The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy
LEANDER L. RHODES, a well-to-do farmer in Westhampton, Hampshire County, Mass., was born in this town, March 23, 1833, son of Spencer L. and Esther (Ludden) Rhodes, the former of Westhampton, the latter of Chesterfield. Spencer L. Rhodes was a farmer, whose entire life was spent in Westhampton, where he died in July, 1876, his wife having passed away nine years before. They were the parents of three children, namely: Leander L. Albert A., a farmer in Huntsburg, Ohio; and Horace S., who is associated in business with Jacob Holley in Northampton.