- MATHIAS P. RHOADES, the successful fruit grower and apiarist
of Browntown, Green county,
- comes of a family whose names for three generations have
been engraved high on their country's roll of honor, and who
have consistently been on the side of progress and patriotism.
- Nicholas RHOADES, his grandfather, was a native of England,
but having cast his fortunes with
- the American Colonies, he assisted in the struggle for liberty,
and became one of the trusted soldiers of the Revolutionary war,
serving under Gen. Washington, and enduring the hardships of
that terrible winter at Valley Forge. He was the father of five
children, three daughters and two sons, the sons being John W.
and Walter.
- Walter RHOADES was born in 1793, in Maryland, and early moved
to the West, for a time
- living in Ohio, and in 1826 moved to Champaign county, Ill.
When the struggling Republic was called upon in 1812 to engage
in a second war with the mother country, Mr. RHOADES enlisted
in the army, and served as long as he was needed, and then returned
to agricultural pursuits. After his removal to the West, there
came Indian troubles that for Illinois, Wisconsin and vicinity,
culminated in the Black Hawk war, and Mr. RHOADES again gave
his country his services. In 1824, just two years prior to his
location in Illinois, he married Miss Mary RHINEHART, and by
her became the father of ten children, as follows: Frances married
James W. BOYD, of Illinois, and both are now deceased; Isaac
R., married a Miss HEATER, of Iowa; Elizabeth married William
H. ADAMS, of Illinois, who now lives retired in Iowa; Eliza J.
married Benjamin AYDOLOTTE, of Iowa; Mathias P. is the next in
order of birth; Nancy Ann married Jacob WINKLEMAN, of Iowa; John
W. was a soldier in the 39th Iowa V. I., and died in the Civil
war; Mary E. is the wife of J. W. ADAMS, of Iowa; Phebe married
Herman DRESSER, of Duluth, Minn.; and Alfred N., of Green county,
Iowa. With the exception of Frances, all the children were born
in Champaign county, Illinois.
- Mathias P. RHOADES was born Sept. 22, 1838, and was early
trained in all the details of farm
- work. His schooling was necessarily neglected to a large
extent, as the schools were few and far between, and the time
for attendance in such as did exist was limited, the work of
clearing up a farm engrossing the entire time. In 1855, he removed
with his parents to Iowa, and remained there until 1870, when
they removed to Sacramento county, Cal. In 1873 he came to Green
county, Wis., locating in Cadiz township. During the Civil war
Mr. RHOADES enlisted in 1862 in his country's service, becoming
a member of Co. H, 71st Ill. V.I., and was mustered out at the
expiration of his term of enlistment. When he returned from the
war he took up his former work, that of farming, and then engaged
to some extent in milling. He now devotes himself largely to
fruit growing and to his apiary; in the latter he runs for sixty
to eighty hives in a season, which net him about $300 per year.
He has been very successful in his undertakings, and at this
time owns a fine two-story dwelling and seven acres of ground,
as well as having considerable personal property.
- On March 4, 1863, Mr. RHOADES was wedded to Miss Julia TRICKLE,
who was born Nov.
- 24, 1845, one of the eleven children of Ashford and Jane
(MORTON) TRICKLE, pioneer settlers of Green county. Ten children
have been born of this marriage, all of whom are yet living:
Phebe, born April 5, 1865, married Louis BROWN, of Greene county,
Iowa; Orpha, born April 10, 1869, married Peter FRYSLEY, of Green
county, Wis.; Oren A., born March 20, 1871, at home, married
Merta SISSON; Byron, born Jan. 29, 1873, married Gusta BUDKEY,
of Merrillan, Wis.; Alice, born March 5, 1875, is the wife of
James FAUBEL, of Green county; Oliver P., born Aug. 24, 1877,
at home; Elmer, born Jan. 9, 1880, Effie, born Nov. 17, 1882,
Mertie, born Feb. 17, 1884, and Walter, born June 3, 1887, are
all at home.
- Politically Mr. RHOADES is a Populist, and in religious belief
has greater faith in charity, honesty
- and upright living than in any denomination or creed. He
has striven to do his duty to his country and his fellowmen,
and merits the high place he holds in the estimation of men.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 814-815.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|