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From: the History of Fresno and Madera Counties, Joseph Barcroft, editor for Madera County 1933

Welton C. Rhodes, sheriff of Madera County, is a native son of Madera and is a native son of California in the second generation, for his parents were both born in San Francisco. His father, Raleigh E. Rhodes, practiced law for a time in Fresno, and was the first city attorney of Madera.
Sheriff Rhodes was born in the Yosemite hotel, in the City of Madera, January 24, 1894, the son of Raleigh E. and Lillian (Welton) Rhodes. It is his proud claim that he was the first child born in the new county, which had been organized in the preceding year. His parents had come to Madera in 1893. His father died in 1915.
The future sheriff attended local schools in Madera, and then took a special course in the University of California. He was the foreman of the first paving construction job in the city, which was incorporated in 1906.
Enlisting in the Great War, W. C. Rhodes was assigned to the Military Police and was stationed in Virginia, and had the rank of first lieutenant. He is now a captain in the Officers Reserve Corps.
Returning to Madera at the close of the war, Mr. Rhodes became under- sheriff and served in this capacity from 1919 to 1924. In 1924 he was appointed county auditor. In 1927 he became sheriff and has continued in that position ever since. He has a staff of four, three deputies and a jailer.
Mr. Rhodes is vice president of the California Sheriffs association and is chairman of the board of directors of the National Association for Identification, and he organized the San Joaquin Peace Officers association, He is a member of the Native Sons and of the Elks Lodge.
Mr. Rhodes is married to Eva Mae Burgess, also born at Madera. They have two children: Raleigh E. and Billie Mae.