The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy
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Henry McCalley, Northern Alabama, historical and biographical (Birmingham, Ala.: Smith & DeLand, 1888), pp. 465-466.
William J. Rhodes, Merchant, Talladega, was born at Mobile, November 9, 1832, and was reared and educated at Talladega. In early life he learned the carriage-maker's trade, and was engaged in that business at the outbreak of the late war. In April, 1862, he joined Company G, Thirty-first Alabama, was made orderly sergeant, and remained in the service until the close of the war. He was at the battle of Chattanooga and the siege of Vicksburg; at Kingston, N.C., and in General Smith's Kentucky campaign. He was promoted to first lieutenant, and was a captain at the close of the war. He surrendered at Salisbury, N.C.; returned to Talladega, and from there to Calhoun County, where he followed farming four years. In 1872 he again came to Talladega, and engaged in the mercantile business, which he has since followed, with much success. He was appointed Tax Collector of this county in 1876, and held the office one year. He was married March 22, 1855, to Miss Sarah A. McLean, daughter of William McLean, Esq., one of the early settlers of this place.
M. G. [ Malachi Green ] and Mary A. J. (Arrington) Rhodes, the parents of William J. Rhodes, were natives of the States of Georgia and North Carolina, respectively.
Mr. Rhodes was a carriage-maker by trade. He came to Alabama and settled in Clark County in 1831. He shortly afterward moved to Mobile, where he was in the carriage business until 1836. From there he moved to Morgan County, and in 1839 to Talladega County. He came into Talladega City in 1841, and was here in the carriage business until 1855, when he engaged with the Southern Express Company, and remained with them until his death, which occurred September 30, 1885. He reared five sons, four of whom were soldiers in the confederate Army during the late war.
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1850 Census, Talladega Co., AL, M-432, Roll 15, p. 395 (Talladega District): Dwelling 639, Family 655: M. Green Rhodes, 39, carriage maker, real estate $1,200, born Georgia; Mary A. J. Rhodes, 36, born North Carolina; William Rhodes, 17, laborer, born Alabama; Sarah Rhodes, 15, born Alabama; Thomas Rhodes, 8, born Alabama; John Rhodes, 6, born Alabama; Malachi Rhodes, 4, born Alabama; Mary A. Rhodes, 2, born Alabama.
1860 Census, Talladega Co., AL, M-653, Roll 24, p. 637 (Talladega P.O.): Dwelling 109, Family 109: W. J. Rhoads, 25, carriage maker, real estate $1,500, personal estate $500, born Alabama; S Rhoads, 26, born Alabama; F. Rating, 59 (female), born Tennessee.
[Dwelling 108, Family 108 is the family of M. G. Rhoads, father of W. J. Rhoads]
