Jeremiah R. Rhodes, one of the prosperous farmers of Highland township, also dividing his attention with stock-raising interests, was born in Noble county, September 12, 1840. The family is of German lineage, and the paternal grandfather was John Rhodes, who was born in Virginia in 1767, and died in 1837. His wife bore the maiden name of Lydia Moore. and was born March 17, 1791. Their son, William Rhodes, was born near Alexandria, Virginia, March 4, 1804, and after arriving at years of maturity he wedded Ann Rich, whose birth occurred October 15, 1811. They became the‘ parents of eleven children. namely: Elizabeth, who was born June 20, 1830, and died in February, 1903; George R., who was born September 20, 1831, and is living in Caldwell, Ohio; Lydia, who was born January 6, 1833, and died June 10, 1902; John W., who was born August 17, 1834, and died December 26, 1881; William H., who was born February 12, 1836, and makes his home in Los Angeles, California; Sarah, who was born August 13, 1837, and is now deceased; Mary M., who was born March 15, 1839, and died January 18, 1884; Jeremiah R., of this review; Maria, who was born May 24, 1842, and died October 29, 1868; Columbia, who was born February 5, 1844, and is now deceased; and Miamma, who was born July 8, 1845, and has also passed away. Following the death of the mother of these children the father afterward married Cynthia Morris, who was born August 25, 1827, and died May 29. 1881. They. too, had ten children: Ishmael W., who was born April 25, 1849; Gamaliel T., wno was born September 8, 1851; Victoria E., born March 7, 1854; Tacy Ann, April 25, 1856; Orrel, August 6, 1858: Charles Freemont, June 16, 1861; John B., November 12, 1863; Vesta O., April 12, 1866; Bunyan S., April 8. 1869: and Robert D.. September 2. 1871. The father died in September, 1884. He was a farmer by occupation, and owned one hundred and twenty acres of land in Noble county, where his death occurred. He was active in political affairs in his locality, served as one of the directors of the county infirmary, and was also justice of the peace for many years. rendering decisions which were strictly fair and impartial. Prior to the war he was a staunch abolitionist, and was one of the conductors on the famous underground railway whereby many a fugitive slave was assisted on his way to freedom in the north. Subsequently he became a republican, when that party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery, and he was not only interested in political questions but also gave active co-operation to many substantial measures for the general good.
Jeremiah R. Rhodes was educated in the common schools of Noble county, in the normal school at Summerville, Ohio, and in the college at Sharon, this state. He afterward engaged in teaching school for twenty-five consecutive years with the exception of a brief period of less than three years, during which time he was a soldier of the Civil war. Feeling that his chief duty was to his country he enlisted in August, 1862, as a member of Company H, 116th Ohio Infantry. He participated in several skirmishes, and was in the battle of Moorefield, West Virginia. For six months he was in the hospital and later he transferred to medical headquarters and after a military service of two years and seven months he was honorably discharged April 7, 1865, two days before the surrender of General Lee.
Returning to his home Mr. Rhodes resumed the profession of teaching, and when he abandoned that vocation he followed farming in Noble, Guernsey and Muskingum counties. In April, 1893, he purchased the farm in Highland township upon which he has since resided. and he now has one hundred and forty acres of rich farming land on sections 19 and 20, two miles north of New Concord. Here he carries on general agricultural pursuits, stock-raising and dairying and his farm 1S well improved, being supplied with substantial buildings, the latest improved machinery and all modern accessories and equipments.
In 1865 Mr. Rhodes was united in marriage to Miss Ruey Stratton, who was born June 2:, 1845, and died September 27, 1885. Her birth occurred in Maryland, where she spent her girlhood days. She became the mother of eight children: William T., who was born in 1867, and died in infancy; Alexander, who died January 11, 1872, at the age of two and a half years; Ruey and Robert, twins, but the former died October 7, 1885, and the latter two days later; Charles L., who was born September 2, 1871. and is now working in the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad shops in Zanesville: Howard D., who was born November 16, 1873. and is a carpenter of Zanesville: Clara T., who was born April 29, 1876, and is the wife of W. D. Smith, of New Concord, and Mary M., who was born August 15, 1878. and married Clarence Garner, their home being near her father's farm. Mr. Rhodes was again married in Zanesville, December 22, 1886, by the Rev. Holliday to Sadie N. Sawhill, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, February 7, 1845.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he belongs to Olive Lodge, No. 310, Free and Accepted Masons. He is likewise a member of the Grange and the Patrons of Industry, and also of the Grand Army Post of New Concord. In politics he is an earnest republican, and was township clerk for twelve years, while for twenty years he has been notary public. He is regarded as a very progressive and influential citizen of his communityas loyal to his county, state and nation to-day as when he followed the stars and stripes upon the battle-fields of the south.
Title: Past and Present of the City of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio
Author: J Hope Sutor
Publisher: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1905
