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From: Benedict, John Downing, Muskogee and northeastern Oklahoma : including the counties of Muskogee, McIntosh, Wagoner, Cherokee, Sequoyah, Adair, Delaware, Mayes, Rogers, Washington, Nowata, Craig, and Ottawa, Vol. 2 (Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1922), p. 427.
G. A. RHOADES - Among those who have made substantial
contribution to the agricultural development of Oklahoma the Rhoades family
is deserving of special mention, for its members have been continuously
engaged in the cultivation of the soil of this state for the past
thirty-three years, transforming wild and unproductive land into rich and
fertile fields through their arduous labors and progressive spirit.
G. A. Rhoades, a member of this family, was born in Kansas,
April 16, 1881, of the marriage of John and Sarah (Hardwick) Rhoades,
both of whom were natives of Missouri. In 1888 they came to Indian
Territory, and the father leased land four miles south of Skiatook, on the
Osage and Cherokee line, which he cultivated for four years, and then moved
to Bird creek, southeast of Skiatook, where he resided for three years. He
next took up his home on Turkey creek, west of Skiatook, where he spent four
years, and then located on Big Hominy creek, removing at the end of three
years to Wild Horse creek, south of his previous residence, continuing there
for a similar length of time. From that point he went to Hominy Post, where
he lived for a year, passing the next four years in the Turkey creek oil
fields, and the family then purchased their present place of eighty-two and
a half acres, situated five miles west of Vera, in Washington county, on an
exceptionally fine spot on the highway between Skiatook and Pawhuska, this
road constituting the dividing line between Osage and Washington counties.
When they took up their residence upon this land in 1916 it was still in a
state of un-development, being covered with scrub trees, and through arduous
and unremitting labor.
G. A. Rhoades has succeeded in clearing a large
portion of the tract with his father's assistance. He has made the soil rich and
productive, his principal crop being corn, which runs about thirty-five
bushels to the acre, and he also raises some hogs and cattle for the market.
He has erected upon the place a substantial four-room house and has also
added many other, improvements, converting it into one of the best farms in
the neighborhood.
Mr. Rhoades' parents also reside upon the farm, in
a separate dwelling, and both are active and in good health, the father
having reached the age of seventy-eight years, and the mother still attends
to all of her household duties. Their family numbered six children: Will,
who is still at home; Emma, who is married and resides in the Osage district;
Kate, who is married and lives in Arkansas City, Kansas; and Bert and
Myrtle, twins.
G. A. Rhoades, the fourth in order of birth, was married in 1903
to Miss Susie Newell, a daughter of John and Mary Newell, the former
now residing at Sand Springs west of Tulsa, while the latter is deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Rhoades have become the parents of seven children: Maudie,
Ira, John, Zeona, Garland, Estelle and
Alleine, all of whom are attending school except the three youngest.
Mr. Rhoades brings to his farming and stock-raising activities a
progressive and open mind, being keenly interested in all modern
developments in his chosen field of labor. His standards of farming are high
and as a member of one of the pioneer families of the state he is accorded
the respect and esteem of an extensive circle of friends.
* * * * *
1900 census record for G. A. Rhoades - (Note the spelling change in the last name - but the names fit the biographical information)
1900 Census, OKLAHOMA, Osage Nation, T-623, Roll 1344, p. 174
Dwelling 641, Family 651
John E. Rhodes, born Feb 1845, age 55, married 33 years, farmer, born
Missouri, parents born Kentucky
Sarah E. Rhodes, wife, born May 1849, age 51, eight children, six
children living, born Missouri, parents born Kentucky
William E. Rhodes, son, born Nov 1867, age 32, farmer, born Kansas
Katherine Rhodes, daughter, born Nov 1878, age 21, born Kansas
George A. Rhodes, son, born Apr 1881, age 19, farm laborer, born Kansas
Bertie F. Rhodes, son, born Feb 1884, age 16, farm laborer, born Kansas
Luna M. Rhodes, daughter, born Feb 1884, age 16, born Kansas