THE RHODES/RHOADS  FAMILIES OF THE AREA

There are several Rhodes families living in this area in the early pioneer days, but have not been able to connect them for sure into a family.   Perhaps there is someone out there who has researched this family and can help to put them together for us.    Here are some of the info on these early Rhodes men.    Sometimes spelled “Rhoads”.  

The History of Spencerville tells of a “Mr. Sanders” who from his family record says that there were 4 brothers who came to this area from Virginia about 1834-1835.   (Daniel’s daughter, Minerva, married a Sanders.)

Possible brothers might be these early men:

William, who married Betsey in 1839

John, 1796, who married Hannah or Mary or both

Daniel, 1798, who married Louisa and Mary

Jeremiah, 1807, who married Ann Fleming

Jacob, 1817 who married Sophia Blyler

Possible that William and Jacob could be children of the brothers  

WILLIAM RHODES

William may have owned land in Spencerville, IN.   He and Betsey were married in DeKalb Co., IN.

William ran a saloon and at the time the WCTU was quite active and confronted him.   He was converted and quit the saloon business.   

1860 Census for Concord Township, DeKalb Co., IN

The children’s ages seem to match with an 1839 marriage date

The mother, Mary, from VA matches some of the history of the family

Note that “Grandma Rhodes” was the cook in the hotel at Spencerville (look under John)

JOHN RHODES, 1796  

John came to Indiana about 1835

DeKalb County marriages have a John Rhodes marriage to Hannah Couch.

“Mary” is on the tombstone as his wife

Possible sons, John, William, and Jeremiah

DANIEL RHODES, 1798 in VA by Cemetery records, died 1852 in DeKalb Co., IN

From the History of Northeast Indiana, LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Vol. 11 under Ira Ford, Orville Stevens, William H. McEwen and William H. McIntosh.   The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago and New York, 1920

Biography of F. E. Rhodes, whose father was Milus and his father was Daniel   Source:  DeKalb Co. Webpage, Biographies, by Arlene

“He (F. E. Rhodes) is the son of Milus and Elizabeth (Beams) Rhodes.   His father (Milus) was born on the same farm, February 22, 1838, and died January 16, 1918.   The pioneer grandfather, DANIEL RHODES, who came from Ohio and was numbered among the very earliest settlers in Concord Township of DeKalb County.   He entered 160 acres of land and that farm has never been in any other ownership except the Rhodes family and the government.   Daniel Rhodes was a Democrat.   His children were, Daniel, Newton, Milus, Nancy, Mary, Matilda, Sarah, Alice, Manda, Minerva.”  

Ancestral File of Minerva says that Daniel was born 1799 in Virginia and Mary was born 1809 in VA and died Nov. 16, 1890 at Huntertown, Allen Co., IN.     Minerva was married at Spencerville.   The 1880 Census of prob. daughter, Mary Ann (Rhodes) Simon says her father was born VA and her mother born Ohio.   

1840 Census of DeKalb Co., IN

Daniel Rhodes

            1 male under 5

            1 male 40 to 50

            2 females under 5

            2 females 5 to 10

            1 female 30 to 40

1850 Census of Concord Township, DeKalb Co., IN 

Though the children are listed as being born in Iowa, Daniel had been in IN as shown in 1840 census, so probably meant to be Indiana though the writing looks like IA.   

It appears that Daniel’s daughter, Mary Ann Rhodes, married Solomon Simon and lived in Perry Township, Allen Co., IN.   Cemetery records show her birthdate as 1831.   

We find that Daniel died in 1852 and his wife, Mary then lived with son, Milus, in the census records.  

In 1860 Census of Concord, DeKalb County, IN

1870 Census of Concord, DeKalb Co., IN

JEREMIAH RHODES  about 1807 in Ohio, but parents born in VA 

Died April 3, 1889 according to Ancestral File

Married Ann Fleming

From the History of Spencerville:

“Jerry Rhodes” settled at Bear Creek and took over the hotel that was started by his brother, JOHN.   John had started the hotel and called it “Exchange”.   When Jerry took it over he called it the “Pioneer Hotel”.   It was in business under Jerry (Jeremiah) until 1882.  “Grandma Rhodes” was the cook and she didn’t allow any liquor in the hotel.”   History of Spencerville, Rootsweb, DeKalb Co. Website.  

Jeremiah settled about 1836 in the northern part of Concord Township.   Spencerville History also says that John R. Rhodes was the father of John and Jeremiah Rhodes.   The father lived across the road from the sons. 

1840 Census of DeKalb Co., IN

Jeremiah Rhodes

            1 male 5 to 10

            1 male 30 to 40

            1 female under 5

            1 female 5 to 10            

            1 female 20 to 30

1860 Census of Concord Township, DeKalb Co., IN

1880 Census of Spencerville, Concord Township, DeKalb Co., IN

JACOB RHODES of Perry Township, Allen Co., IN 

Jacob married Sophia Blyler.    Sophia had a sister who was married to Solomon Shilling of DeKalb Co., IN and living near Spencerville.   The Blylers came from Summit Co., Ohio.    Both Sophia Rhodes and Esther Shilling are named in their father, Daniel Blyler’s will.   “Daughter, Sophia, intermarried with Jacob Rhodes”.  

1850 Census of Perry Township, Allen Co., IN

1860 Census of Swan, Noble County, IN   Post Office Cramer’s Corners