My Genealogy Hound

PLEASANT M. RHODES. Farming and stock raising claim the attention of Pleasant M. Rhodes, who resides in Everett township, Woodson County and who is now classed among the well-to-do citizens of the community, a position which he occupies as the direct result of his individual efforts in the active affairs of life. He was born in McLain County, Illinois, November 10, 1838, a son of James S. and Elizabeth (Adams) Rhodes, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky. The father removed to Illinois, living there with the first six families who located in the county. The Indians roamed in large numbers over the prairie, and the land was in its primitive condition, little indication being given of the development and progress which were so soon to bring wonderful transformation. In 1855 Dr. Rhodes removed with his family to Iowa and there engaged in the practice of medicine. He also carried on farm work and engaged in preaching the gospel as a minister of the Christian church. He led a very active, useful and honorable life, and died in 1897, at the age of eighty-four years, respected by all who knew him. His widow still survives him and is living in Winterset, Ia., at the age of eighty-two years.

Mr. Rhodes of this review is one of a family of eight children, six of whom are yet living. He spent his youth upon a farm and in town, and pursued his education in the common schools, supplemented by a high-school course. Up to the time of his marriage he remained with his parents, but in 1861 completed his arrangements for a home of his own by winning as a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Miss Mary Elizabeth Clark, a native of Ohio. The young couple began their domestic life upon a rented farm which Mr. Rhodes operated until August, 1862, when his patriotic spirit prompted his enlistment in the Union army. He joined company A, Thirty-ninth Iowa infantry and served for three years as a private soldier, participating in several important engagements, including the battle of Polk’s Crossroads, Sugar Valley, Small Creek and the four days’ engagement at Kingston, North Carolina, together with many others of lesser importance. At Shady Grove, Tennessee he was captured, but soon afterward was paroled and sent to St. Louis, Missouri, to await exchange.

At the close of the war Mr. Rhodes returned to his home, and for several years continued the cultivation of rented land until he had acquired capital sufficient to enable him to purchase property. He then bought land and was engaged in the cattle commission business for a number of years with excellent success, following that pursuit in Iowa until 1897, when he sold his property there in order to seek a milder climate, hoping to benefit his wife’s health thereby. With his family he spent one year in eastern Oregon, after which he came to Kansas and purchased four hundred acres of prairie land about seven miles east and north of Yates Center, where he has erected an attractive residence and built a good barn. He has also added other substantial improvements and now has his entire farm under fence. He has led a very busy, active and useful life, idleness and indolence having no part in his nature. His reputation as an auctioneer is equal to that of any man in the county. He has engaged in that business for twenty years and has cried as many sales as any one of his age. He is well known as an auctioneer in many counties in Iowa, as well as in southeastern Kansas. Since locating in this state, has resumed stock dealing and expects to handle all of the stock which his farm can support.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes have been born five children, namely: Carpenter E., who follows farming near his father’s home; Mrs. Mary Etta Blohm, a widow, who with her children, Edna, Willie and Donald, aged respectively fourteen, twelve and eight years and now in school, is living with her father; William Estell, at home; Lillian May Grout, in Madison County, Iowa and Myrtle Edith, who is still with her parents. The family is one of prominence in the community and the members of the household have many friends, which is an indication of their sterling worth. Mr. Rhodes is a stalwart Republican in politics and has done considerable campaign work in Iowa, laboring earnestly for the interests of the party. While in that state he served as justice of the peace, and to those who are at all familiar with his upright career it is needless to say that his duties were faithfully discharged.