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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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STEPHEN H. RHODES, a veteran of the Civil War, who is now a prosperous resident and an extensive real estate owner of Pelham, was born in that town, June 14, 1836, son of Joel and Lucy (Allen) Rhodes. Mr. Rhodes’s father, who was the son of Zebulon Rhodes, was born in Leyden, Mass., and was employed in lumbering. He also worked at the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for a greater part of his active period. He settled in Pelham, where he resided for the remainder of his life, and died July 6, 1864. His wife, Lucy Allen, who was born in Pelham, became the mother of nine children, four sons and five daughters. Of these four are now living, namely: Caroline, widow of Nelson Horr, of Enfield; Nancy, widow of Lorin Woods, of Enfield; Stephen H., the subject of this sketch, who is the eldest son; and John, a resident of Enfield. The mother died in 1891.

Stephen H. Rhodes was educated in the district schools of his native town; and, after completing his education, he learned the carpenter’s trade. When a young man, he started as a carpenter and builder upon his own account; and that has been his principal business through life. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company C, Thirty-first Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. He participated in several important battles of the Civil War, receiving injuries from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He was honorably discharged in May, 1864, and, returning to Pelham, resumed his former occupations, which he has followed since. For the thrift and industry he has practised he now can show his large farm in Pelham of four hundred acres, besides valuable real estate in Amherst and Holyoke.

In March, 1874, Mr. Rhodes was united in marriage to Lizzie Benjamin. She was born in Pelham, daughter of Peter and Lorisa Benjamin, the former of whom is no longer living. Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes had seven children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are: Bertie A., Joseph E., Mertie E., Edward H., Nina L., and Alice C. The mother died June 22, 1885. Mr. Rhodes is independent in politics and liberal in his religious views.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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