Theodore F. Rhodes, president of the Citizens' Bank of Frankfort, is a native of the Empire State, born at Jordan August 8, 1843, and is a son of Thomas and Emily (Shepherd) Rhodes, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Connecticut. In early life the father was engaged in the woolen mill business in New York, and later was a farmer until he retired from business. Theodore F. Rhodes was reared on the farm adjoining the town of Jordan, N. Y. He attended the district school and the Jordan Academy, and then attended the Cazenovia Seminary, at Cazenovia, N. Y. After finishing school he went to Iowa. This was in about 1860. He engaged in the manufacture of lime at a place now known as Montour, Iowa. This was before the railroads were built to Council Bluffs, and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad stopped at Newton, and the Chicago and Northwestern railroad reached about the center of the State. Mr. Rhodes furnished the lime for building the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa. He remained there about five years, when he returned to New York and settled at Camillus, near Syracuse, where he engaged in farming and dairying. He remained there until July, 1878, when he came to Kansas and settled at Frankfort, and engaged in farming. He first bought 1,000 acres of land at $4.50 per acre, which is now a part of his 3,000 acres of some of the finest land to be found in the State. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising. His son, James M. Rhodes, is interested in the business with him, and owns 1,000 acres individually. The firm is known as Rhodes & Rhodes. They ship in cattle from old Mexico, Colorado and New Mexico and fatten them for market on this farm. Mr. Rhodes's career has not been confined to successful farming and stock raising. In April, 1891, he organized the Citizens' Bank of Frankfort. He was a stockholder in the First National Bank of Frankfort, which was the predecessor of the Citizens' Bank. He has been a director of this institution from its organization. Mr. Obendorff, of Centralia, was its first President, and after six months Mr. Rhodes, although not an experienced banker, assumed charge of the institution as its President, and has remained in that capacity at the head of this institution ever since. The bank was organized with a capital of $30,000, and in 1913 its surplus and undivided profits amounted to over $30,000, which shows a substantial growth and permanent development of the institution. It is one of the substantial banks of the State. Mr. Rhodes has piloted this bank through many money depressions and financial panics, but it has always come through safely. He also organized the State Bank of Lillis, Kan., and is its president. During Gov. John A. Martin's administration he was appointed as a member of the State Board of Charities, and re-appointed by Gov. L. U. Humphrey, serving five years. In 1883 he was elected a member of the legislature, and reëlected at the expiration of his first term. He was the author of the election laws, which were in force prior to the adoption of the Australian system, and was also the author of the law to prevent the spread of contagious diseases among hogs, and the law prohibiting the pooling of grain and lumber interests. He has served one term as mayor of Frankfort.

Mr. Rhodes was married in New York, February 9, 1870, to Miss Hattie R. Munro, a daughter of Hon. James M. and Ann (Sherwood) Munro, natives of New York, where the father was a farmer and manufacturer. Hattie Munro was born at Camillus, N. Y., where she was reared and attended the local schools and her education was continued in Buffalo and Union Springs Seminary, of Union Springs, N. Y. To this union were born three children: James M., who is now associated with his father as a member of the firm of Rhodes & Rhodes; Emma D. married Alexander Keating, Los Angeles, Cal., and Nellie E. died in infancy. The wife and mother of these children died August 10, 1901. June 6, 1904, Mr. Rhodes married Miss Emma A. Miller, of Dixon, Ill. Mrs. Rhodes was born in Dixon, where she was reared and educated, graduating at the high school. She then attended the State Normal School at Normal, Ill., and later took a commercial course. In 1898 Mrs. Rhodes went to the Territory of Arizona, and studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1903, and has the distinction of being the second woman admitted to the bar of Arizona. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes are members of the Presbyterian church.