Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 733 - 734

JACOB H. RHOADS, whose portrait we present in connection with this brief sketch of his life, is well known throughout Afton Township as one of its most thorough-going farmers and stock-raisers. He is the owner of 160 acres of good land, which is well watered by two never-failing wells, and among its other natural advantages, has a fine grove located near its southern line. The land is fairly improved, and the farm buildings, neat and substantial, fully serve the various purposes of the agriculturist and stock-raiser. 

            Our subject was born in Macoupin County, Ill., Sept. 29, 1843, and is the son of Charles and Ellen (Cawood) Rhoads, who were natives respectively of Kentucky and Tennessee. The father died at his home in Macoupin County, in April, 1880, when about sixty years of age. The mother is still living, and a resident of Alton, Ill. Their family included seven children, of whom two are deceased; Jacob H., of our sketch, is the eldest living. Margaret died in infancy; Carrie L. is the wife of P. G. Rickard, who is farming in Kechi Township, this county; they have three children. Sarah died in infancy; Amarilous died at the age of sixteen years, in Illinois; Edward C. was educated in the law school of Iowa City, and is now a resident of East St. Louis, Ill.; Hettie is the wife of Charles Jolly, who is a teacher in the public schools of Pana, and they have four children. 

            Mr. Rhoads was but seventeen years of age at the breaking out of the late Rebellion, but was one of the first volunteers, enlisting in Company H, 30th Illinois Infantry, with which he served three years and two months. He took part in the battles of Ft. Donelson, the siege and capture of Vicksburg, went through the Atlanta campaign, and fought at the various battles and skirmishes between. He was mustered out at Chattanooga, Tenn., and returned unharmed to the old homestead in Macoupin County, Ill. 

            Mr. Rhoads, in laying down the musket, took up the implements of agriculture, and followed farming in the vicinity of his birthplace. In the meantime he formed the acquaintance of Miss Sarah C. Haynes, and they were married on the 16th of January, 1867. Mrs. Rhoads is the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Berry) Haynes, who were natives of Virginia, and are both now deceased. Their family included eight children: The eldest son, Elias, a blacksmith by trade, married Miss Sarah Muntz, and they are residents of Nebraska; they have two children. Lewis married Miss Nancy Stone; of the five children born to him two are deceased; they live on a farm in Macoupin County, Ill. Martin married Miss Phoebe Loper, and they became the parents of three children, the mother of whom is now deceased; his second wife was Miss Elizabeth Kenworthy; they have five children, and are living on a farm in Macoupin County, Ill. Moses died in Illinois when twenty-two years of age; Aaron died when a youth of sixteen years, in Illinois; Nancy B. is the wife of Albert Young, a farmer of Macoupin County, Ill., and the mother of one child; John A. married Miss Lillie Darrah, and is a farmer of Macoupin County, Ill., and they have four children.

            Mrs. Rhoads was born in Preble County, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1846, and of her union with our subject there were seven children, the record of whom is as follows: Duncan L. was born Aug. 8, 1868, and died in infancy in Illinois; Minnie A. was born May 17, 1870, and died in Illinois at the age of eighteen months; Eva was born Feb. 29, 1872; Edward H., April 3, 1873; Jocie, Oct. 18, 1875; Otto, Feb. 24, 1877; Alonzo, Dec. 1, 1878; and Ernest, July 31; 1885; the latter died in infancy. 

            Mr. Rhoads continued a resident of his native State until 1875, then, crossing the Mississippi with his family, took up his abode in this county, and upon the land which he still occupies. He has been quite prominent in local affairs, officiating as Justice of the Peace three terms, and has been Clerk of the School District in which he resides for a period of nine years. He is now School District Treasurer, and as an ex-soldier, and a stanch Republican, politically, belongs to Tincher Post No. 352, G. A. R., Garden Plains, Kan. His industry and enterprise have secured for him an enviable position among the enterprising and well-to-do farmers of Afton Township.

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